Winter tire obligation in Poland – what does the law say?

In 2026, Poland remains one of the few countries in this part of Europe where there is no statutory, strict obligation to change tires to winter ones. Polish road traffic law obliges the driver to maintain the vehicle in a safe condition, but it does not specify the tread type depending on the season.

Although the lack of a fine for driving on summer tires in January may seem like freedom, it is actually a trap. In the event of a collision, insurers increasingly apply provisions on "gross negligence". If you cause a fender bender on an icy road with summer tires, your insurer may refuse to pay compensation from the AC policy, arguing that the vehicle was not prepared for the weather conditions.

The 7 degrees Celsius rule – why is it crucial?

Road safety experts agree: the calendar is a bad advisor, the thermostat is better. The boundary value for rubber compounds is 7°C.

Summer tires are made of hard compounds that harden in low temperatures, losing grip even on dry roads. In contrast, winter tires contain a large amount of silica and natural rubber. Thanks to this, they remain flexible in frost, but start to work too hard at higher temperatures.

So when to change to summer tires? It is best to do it when the average daily temperature exceeds 7 degrees Celsius for at least a week. In Polish climatic conditions, this usually falls at the end of March or the first half of April.

All-season tires – is it worth giving up the change?

In recent years, the market for all-season (multi-season) tires has experienced a real boom in Poland. Increasingly milder winters in cities mean that drivers are looking for time and money savings.

For whom are all-season tires ideal? Primarily for drivers who mainly drive on regularly cleared roads in large cities and for those with low annual mileage (below 10,000 km).

Winter tires in Europe – deadlines and vignettes

When traveling in Europe, you must adapt to local timeframes: