Overview
- This week experts advised motorists to perform a focused winter check that covers the battery, all lights, windscreen wipers and frost‑proof washer fluid, coolant antifreeze concentration and an accessible emergency kit.
- Inspect tyres before changing: the rule of thumb is 'von O bis O' (October to Easter), experts recommend about 4 mm tread for winter use while the legal minimum is 1.6 mm, and tyres older than roughly eight years should be replaced.
- German law requires tyres with the Alpine (three‑peak mountain with snowflake) symbol in cases of ice, snow or slush and the older M+S mark alone no longer meets the requirement.
- Drivers using summer tyres in winter conditions risk fines commonly reported at €60–€80 and a point in Flensburg, and workshops warn that late booking can lead to two‑ to four‑week waits once cold snaps hit.
- Taking the checks now can prevent common cold‑weather failures such as dead starter batteries, frozen washer systems or frozen coolant that cause costly repairs and travel disruption.