14.11.2026 15:10
The mandatory winter tire requirement for commercial vehicles starts on November 15 and will continue until April 15, 2027. As the rush at tire shops increases in Sakarya, business owner Yusuf Boz said that tire changes, which are 1-2 on normal days, reach 400-500 on busy days. Boz noted that the removal-installation and balancing fee is between 1,000 and 1,200 lira, and a new tire costs between 3,000 and 25,000 lira per unit, warning drivers not to wait for snowfall.
With the mandatory winter tire requirement for commercial vehicles set to start on November 15 and temperatures dropping, auto tire shops in Sakarya have become busier. The tire repairman, noting that the number of daily tire changes reaches 400-500 on busy days, warned drivers to switch to winter tires without waiting for snowfall.
The mandatory winter tire application covering commercial vehicles engaged in intercity freight and passenger transport across Turkey will start on November 15, 2026, and continue until April 15, 2027. With only hours left before the application begins, activity has also increased at tire shops in Sakarya. As drivers seeking to prepare their vehicles for winter conditions head to service shops, tradespeople are working long hours to meet rising demand.
DAILY TIRE CHANGES REACH 400-500
Yusuf Boz, a tire shop owner, noting that the rush in winter tire changes increases toward the final days, said, "Generally, there is a rush in the last week of the application. This year we are busier than last year. Last year, because it snowed, we had started changing tires, but this year we started a little earlier. On normal days, we do around 40-50 tire repairs and 1-2 tire changes. On these busy days, we carry out around 400-500 tire changes daily. At our own business, tire removal-installation and balancing fees for up to 16-inch rims range between 1,000 and 1,200 liras. As the rim size increases, prices rise too. New tire prices start at 3,000 liras per unit and can reach up to 25,000 liras," he said.
WINTER TIRES ARE NOT ONLY FOR SNOW
Emphasizing that winter tires should not be considered only for snowfall, Boz said, "People generally see winter tires as snow tires, but a winter tire is a tire that should be used when the air temperature drops below 7 degrees Celsius. Because hidden icing occurs in the morning and at night. This can even lead to chain accidents. Our recommendation on this matter is that they switch to winter tires before the weather gets colder and without waiting for snowfall," he said.
WARNING TO SECOND-HAND TIRE BUYERS
Boz, conveying that second-hand winter tires can also be used but caution must be taken during selection, said, "People can also use second-hand tires. As long as the tire is clean, it can be used, but there are points to pay attention to here, such as the production date, tread condition and brand. The lifespan of a winter tire is between 4-5 seasons. When this period is exceeded, the tire can lose its rubber properties. Even if it has treads, it cannot perform, braking grip decreases and it can slip. In 2025, the penalty for not fitting winter tires was 5,856 liras. This year it is 6,000 liras. However, what we should attach importance to here is our safety rather than the penalty," he said.