All-season tyres “only under certain conditions”

A few days before enforcing the law that imposes using winter tyres when driving, in certain conditions and periods over the year, the prices seem to be unchanged on the on- line sales sites, despite the fact that there have been rumours about putting up the price, according to the high demand.

A recent study of one of the main tyre vendors in the world shows that in Romania sales in the first three trimesters of this year have risen significant compared to the same period, but in 2010.

All-season tyres, that is for all seasons of the year, can be used only in certain conditions, and the fines apply only in cases of clear deviance.

The representatives for the Romanian Traffic Authority say that starting 1 November, drivers who travel on public roads, covered with ice, snow or glaze are forced to have winter tyres on their vehicles.

The all-season tyres are also accepted, but not all of them.

“There has been an entire debate on the all-season theme. In case the m+s, m&s, m.s, markers have been placed, they may be used for travelling in these conditions.

“No sanctions will be applied for travelling under other conditions, that is on a dry road or wet road. As long as there is no snow, ice or glaze no sanctions will be applied”, explained Florian Coman, manager of the Romanian Traffic Authority.

Also, authorities point out that drivers who go on the road without having their car properly equipped and because of that produce traffic accidents will pay for their mistake.

“The vehicle licensing certificate will be suspended, a suspending vehicle registration will be given, and the generated costs for reassuring good traffic conditions will be emitted by the road administrator, who will also release some indemnifications which include all these costs: the human forces movement, materials, logistics and so on, in case the assurance does not cover all these costs, leaving him to pay only the difference”, Florian Coman explained.

Officially, the winter tires price has not changed yet, but drivers say that the price has gone up, during the last month, with over 15 percent.


Translated by: Violeta Mavrodin
MA Student, MTTLC, Bucharest University