11.11.2026 18:24
The mandatory winter tire requirement for commercial vehicles engaged in intercity passenger and freight transport begins on Sunday, November 15. The measure, which will remain in effect until April 15, 2027, imposes a fine of 6,000 TL on vehicle operators who fail to comply. Inspections will also check tire tread depth and the snowflake marking. Meanwhile, tire changing fees have risen to as much as 3,000 TL.
The date that concerns millions of drivers in the winter tire practice is approaching. The requirement for commercial vehicles will begin on November 15. The penalty and tire replacement fees to be applied in the new period have also been announced.
WINTER TIRE REQUIREMENT STARTS ON SUNDAY
Under the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure regulation, the winter tire requirement will start on Sunday, November 15, 2026. The practice, covering commercial vehicles engaged in intercity passenger and goods transport, will continue until April 15, 2027. The Ministry of Interior is also preparing to send the circular regarding the practice to the governorships of 81 provinces. Governorships may extend the requirement period by one month before the start and after the end, taking into account the climate conditions of their region. For this reason, the implementation schedule may vary, especially in provinces where snowfall begins early.
WHICH VEHICLES ARE REQUIRED TO USE WINTER TIRES?
The winter tire requirement covers buses, minibuses, trucks, tractor units, tankers, vans and commercial cars used in intercity passenger and freight transport. In trucks, tractor units, tankers and buses, the tires on all axles must be winter tires. In vans, minibuses and commercial cars, all tires of the vehicle must be suitable for winter conditions. There is no nationwide legal requirement for private cars. However, experts note that as the air temperature drops below 7 degrees, the road grip of summer tires decreases, and they recommend using winter tires for safe driving.
PENALTY OF 6,000 TL FOR NOT USING WINTER TIRES
With Law No. 7574 published in the Official Gazette on February 27, 2026, an amendment was made to Article 65/A of the Highway Traffic Law. According to the regulation, an administrative fine of 6,000 TL will be imposed on the operators of vehicles that do not use winter tires despite it being mandatory. The penalty amount, which was 5,856 TL last season, increased to 6,000 TL with the new regulation. During inspections, it will not only be checked whether there are winter tires on the vehicle. The technical specifications of the tires will also be checked.
A SNOWFLAKE SYMBOL WILL BE REQUIRED ON TIRES
Winter tires must have a snowflake symbol on the sidewall. In addition, the tread depths of the tires cannot be below the specified limits. In trucks, tractor units, tankers and buses, the tread depth must be at least 4 millimeters, while in vans, minibuses and cars it must be at least 1.6 millimeters. These conditions will be among the technical criteria checked during inspections.
WINTER TIRE REPLACEMENT FEES ANNOUNCED
As the weather cools, activity has begun at tire dealers. The removal and installation fees announced for this season according to wheel rim sizes are as follows:
Rim size Removal-installation fee:
- 13, 14 and 15 inch 1,500 TL
- 16 and 17 inch 1,750 TL
- 18 inch 2,000 TL
- 19 inch 2,250 TL
- 20 inch 2,500 TL
- 21 inch 3,000 TL
The specified amounts do not cover the cost of purchasing new tires, but the tire removal and installation process. While the fees vary according to rim size, the highest amount reaches 3,000 TL for 21-inch rims.