Overview
- From November 1 to March 31, vehicles traveling in designated zones across 34 departments must have four 3PMSF‑certified winter or all‑season tyres or carry chains or textile socks.
- Prefectures list more than 4,000 affected communes, with road signs marking entry and exit to the obligation zones on specific routes.
- All four‑wheeled vehicles are covered, including light cars, vans, motorhomes, buses and heavy goods vehicles, and tyres marked only M+S no longer qualify.
- Police and prefectures are planning regular checks focused on awareness; the theoretical €135 fine and possible immobilisation cannot be applied until the implementing decree is issued.
- Garages report heavy demand and delays, with workshops in Alsace and the Alpes‑de‑Haute‑Provence changing roughly 20–30 tyres a day and booking appointments days in advance, as more drivers opt for compliant four‑season tyres and insurers caution about non‑coverage without required equipment.