What you should look at is whether the temperature is continuously above five degrees Celsius, says Lars Nordquist, operations manager at NTF (National Road Safety Association).
It is very important to check your local weather.
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What dates apply?
It is prohibited to use studded tires from April 16 unless there are or are expected to be winter road conditions. Until March 31, winter tires, i.e. studded tires or non-studded friction tires, are required in winter road conditions.
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What happens if winter road conditions occur after you have already changed?
Summer tires are not made for cold weather; they become hard. Ideally, you should refrain from driving, and if you absolutely have to drive, you should keep your speed very low, advises Lars Nordquist.
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How do you know if your old summer tires will last another season?
A tread depth of at least three millimeters is recommended, otherwise the braking distance will be significantly longer and the risk of aquaplaning will increase. A tread depth of less than 1.6 millimeters on summer tires is illegal.
If you have three millimeters at the start of spring, you should probably change your tires as early as August so you don't have to drive on very worn tires in October-November.
The age of the tire also matters: after five to six years, the rubber ages.
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Why is tire pressure so important?
Low tire pressure leads to increased fuel consumption and faster tire wear. In addition, the car can become difficult to handle in a critical situation.
Between December 1 and March 31, it is legal to use winter tires if there are winter road conditions.
From April 16 to September 30, studded tires are prohibited unless there are or are expected to be winter road conditions.
Winter road conditions apply if there is snow, ice, slush or frost on any part of the road.
During the period from April 1 to April 16, you can drive with either summer or studded tires; it depends on the road conditions.
Source: Police, Swedish Transport Agency.
Corrected: A previous version contained incorrect wording about winter tires in the fact box.
