25.10.2025 12:22
The mandatory winter tire application starts on November 15th. Drivers should not wait for snow to install winter tires.
The "Regulation on the Obligation to Use Winter Tires" prepared by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure was published in the Official Gazette and has come into effect. In this context, it will now be mandatory to use winter tires in vehicles used for passenger and cargo transportation on intercity roads between November 15 and April 15 of the following year. When switching to winter tires, attention must be paid to compliance with the regulations, the winter symbol on the tire, and the tread depth.
"IT IS NECESSARY TO SWITCH TO WINTER TIRES FOR SAFETY"
Bilal Kara, who works at a tire shop in Ankara, emphasized that winter tires must be installed when the temperature drops below plus 7 degrees, stating that this is due to the cooling of the asphalt. Kara said, "As the asphalt cools, the braking distance of vehicles increases. Therefore, we need to switch to winter tires first for safety, and then for the safety of goods." "It is not necessary for it to snow to switch to winter tires."
"IT IS NOT NECESSARY FOR IT TO SNOW FOR WINTER TIRES"
Kara stated that it is not necessary for it to snow to install winter tires, saying, "Our drivers know winter tires as snow tires, but the correct term is winter tires. Therefore, it is not necessary for it to snow. The rubber lifespan of winter tires is denser compared to summer tires. Therefore, when the asphalt cools, it doesn't matter if it's snow, mud, or rain; we must switch to winter tires." Explaining when winter tires need to be replaced, Kara said, "For normal vehicles, our recommendation to customers is 4 years or 40,000 kilometers. But this can vary from car to car. In new cars and powerful cars, this lifespan can be even shorter. Therefore, we check these when changing them every year," he stated.
PAY ATTENTION TO THE LABELS WHEN BUYING WINTER TIRES
Kara shared the following statements regarding the important points to consider when buying winter tires:
"There are appropriate labels for winter tires on winter tires, which comply with regulations. If they pay attention to these, they will not encounter any problems. On the side of the tire, there is a label that says 'M + S', which stands for mud and snow in English. There is also a symbol with a snowflake inside three mountain symbols. These are tires that are both compliant with regulations and suitable for use in severe winter conditions. Winter tires are more treaded and have more edges compared to summer tires. Therefore, they are thicker tires to hold the snow better."
"ONE SHOULD NOT FOCUS TOO MUCH ON THE PRODUCTION DATE"
Kara mentioned that customers pay attention to the production date but should not focus too much on it, stating, "One of our customers' biggest obsessions is the production date of the tire. One should not focus too much on the production date. A new tire has a shelf life of 10 years under suitable storage conditions. We can use a 2025 tire or a 2022 tire when it is new. It does not create any problems; this is the biggest concern and thought of our customers, but it should not be a concern at all," he said.