Every year, thousands and thousands of winter sports enthusiasts travel to the mountains by car. No other means of transport is more popular for travelling to the snow. Not the train, not the aeroplane and not even the bus. But to get through the cold season safely, drivers need to pay attention to a few things, and not just in alpine terrain. Life on four tyres in the white splendour is much more pleasant with the right winter equipment on and in the vehicle. SnowTrex has summarised the importance of snow chains, winter tyres, ice scrapers, roof boxes etc. for car owners in winter.
Basic rules for driving in winter
Safety before aggression. All drivers should follow this rule when it comes to driving safely on snow and ice. Due to the challenging road conditions, it is essential to adapt your own driving style in winter in order to protect not only yourself but also other road users. Darkness, cold and moisture are the main factors that change the “rules” on the roads in the mountains and in the lowlands in winter. For example, the best reaction time is of no use to a driver if the braking distance more than doubles on a snow-covered surface or the vehicle starts to slide and only reacts slowly to steering movements.
The following video explains in detail what else needs to be considered on the roads in winter:
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Winter tyres – Prevent slipping with certainty
First things first: even when it’s freezing and shining, winter tyres are not compulsory in Germany. However, if you want to get through the cold season with summer tyres, you are not well advised. As soon as winter arrives on the roads with sub-zero temperatures and the white splendour, cars with these tyres have to stop. This is because drivers who are caught by the police without winter tyres during snowfall face a fine of at least 60 euros and a point in Flensburg.
There is also no direct answer to the question of when winter tyres must be fitted. The “from O to O” rule – from October to Easter – comes more from the vernacular than from the legislator. However, Section 2 of the German Road Traffic Act (StVO) stipulates that the appropriate tyres must be fitted if the road conditions are wintry with “black ice, slippery snow, slush, ice or frost”.
In the tyre segment, manufacturers today distinguish between three different models: summer tyres, winter tyres and all-season tyres. Winter equipment for the car naturally includes the right winter tyres. These are frost-proof thanks to a special rubber compound and offer the best grip even on slippery roads treated with grit thanks to a tread pattern with sipes that is up to 8 mm deep on new winter tyres. All-season tyres, also known as “M S” tyres (mud and snow), can also be used in winter, but only if they have the “Alpine” symbol on the outside of the tyre: a jagged mountain pictogram with a snowflake. Compared to winter tyres, however, all-season tyres with this marking have significantly less grip when tested on ice and snow. This is why traffic experts and automobile clubs such as the ADAC advise vehicle owners to always use winter tyres during the cold season.
Snow chains – keeping cars on track in the depths of winter
In the lowlands or in the low mountain ranges, they are only needed in extreme winter conditions, but in the Alps, snow chains are mandatory winter equipment for all car owners. After heavy snowfall, snow clearance services can quickly reach their limits, even on busy, low-lying roads. The same applies to the best winter tyres. To a certain extent, they still offer sufficient traction on flat stretches of road even when the snow cover is closed. However, as soon as you have to negotiate inclines in the mountains under these conditions, the journey quickly turns into a slippery ride. In this case, the good old snow chains come to the rescue.
Mounted on the tyres, snow chains provide plenty of grip and, above all, driving safety, even in dense snow flurries or on high Alpine passes. However, in order for the chains to work properly and without any problems on your own vehicle, drivers must first be very familiar with their own car. After all, the car – whether petrol or electric – determines which snow chains can be installed. Depending on the type of drive, there are clear rules as to where the winterised little helpers must be installed. For front-wheel drive vehicles, they must be fitted to both wheels on the front axle and for rear-wheel drive vehicles to the rear axle. Owners of four-wheel drive cars also only need one set of two snow chains and not two sets of four. However, they should pay attention to the packaging. This is because the manufacturer clearly states whether the chains must be fitted at the front or rear.
Before buying, it is also important to check the size of your car’s tyres and the width of the rim. Because only if the snow chains fit correctly, i.e. are not too small and not too large, will they offer optimum driving safety even in the depths of winter. In the car parts shop or online, buyers can choose between three different types of snow chains. The traditional cable chains are generally the cheapest models, but also require the most effort to fit. The now widely used ring chains are somewhat easier and slightly more expensive to fit, while quick-fit chains – as the name suggests – are quick to install. However, this requires a special adapter on the bike itself, which in turn explains the relatively high price compared to the other two counterparts.
Once the chains have been fitted, the same rules apply to all three models on the road: With snow chains on the car, the maximum permitted speed is 50 km/h and as soon as the tarmac is clear of snow, the chains have to come off again.
Roof boxes – winter sports enthusiasts love these space savers
Ski equipment, luggage and food: Winter sports enthusiasts who have ever travelled to a ski resort in their own car know that their own vehicle can suddenly become very small when packing at home. However, roof boxes can help here. They offer additional storage space, which either provides more room in the passenger compartment for additional luggage or for the vehicle occupants themselves. Of course, this also provides passengers with more comfort on the sometimes long journey into the mountains.
However, drivers should inform themselves thoroughly about what is on offer before fitting. And above all, check whether the winter equipment can be installed on your own car at all. The car does not necessarily have to be fitted with fixed roof rails. Some car manufacturers also equip their vehicles at the factory so that there are fixed points for roof boxes and other accessories in the rain gutters on the roof. The exact location of these is usually noted in the vehicle description. However, there are now also retrofit brackets for cars that do not have such devices. They can simply be clamped into the door frame for optimum hold.
The next step is to decide which roof box will fit on the car. With a volume of 400 to 460 litres, the boxes are real space miracles. However, in combination with their own weight and the weight of the luggage, they also exert a lot of pressure on the vehicle. It is therefore essential to check the maximum permissible load capacity in the car’s operating instructions before installation. For winter sports enthusiasts who rarely go on holiday with their families in their own car and therefore don’t always need so much storage space, renting a roof box is also an option. From a local car dealership, for example. Another argument at this point is the price. The cost of a new roof box can be between 250 and 650 euros, although even inexpensive models often come out on top in product tests.
Emergency equipment – little effort, big help
Unlike winter tyres, for example, it is a legal requirement to carry emergency equipment in your car. At least as far as the first-aid kit and warning triangle are concerned. In this case, it is sufficient if both are simply available, whereby the expiry date of the first aid kit must be observed. Since 1 July 2014, it has also been mandatory in Germany for the driver to have a high-visibility waistcoat in the car. Depending on how many people are travelling in the car on a longer journey, it is also advisable to have one for each person in case of an emergency.
A whole range of everyday items, some of which are normal, are not mandatory, but are highly recommended as part of the winter equipment in the car. Especially in the event that the car breaks down or gets stuck in a traffic jam on a snow-covered motorway for hours overnight. When temperatures are below freezing, the main thing for vehicle occupants is to keep warm. The best way to do this is to keep a blanket or sleeping bag in the boot as part of an emergency kit. In addition, provisions consisting of non-perishable food and two litres of drinking water should always be part of this package.
And to arm yourself and your vehicle against further wintry weather capers, the winter equipment in the car should also consist of a small bottle of door lock de-icer, additional windscreen washer fluid, a sturdy ice scraper and a compact shovel. This way, the car can be quickly cleared of snow and ice in an emergency. In the event that the car battery goes flat in a snow-covered mountain village, for example, your own jumper cable will also come to the rescue. And if winter sports enthusiasts are unfortunate enough to get stuck alone in their car, for example on a dark Alpine pass, it is extremely important to be able to call for help and draw attention to yourself. In addition to a mobile charger or a power bank for your smartphone, a torch is also worth its weight in gold. Both should therefore also be part of your emergency equipment in winter.
In an interview with SnowTrex, Martin Schork explained how drivers can optimally prepare their car for winter and then get through the cold season safely. As Head of e-Commerce at Schork, he is a real car accessories expert and shares his tips and tricks here:
FAQs on winter equipment in the car
What winter equipment is recommended?
Traffic experts and automobile clubs such as the ADAC recommend that drivers should always have the following winter equipment on or in the vehicle: Snow chains, winter tyres, door lock de-icer, anti-freeze, ice scraper, small broom, blankets, provisions, water and a torch.
What do car owners need for the car in winter?
To get through the winter well, car owners should first equip their car with winter tyres. Preferably before the first frost. If it is also snowing heavily, it is also highly recommended to carry snow chains in the car. After a cold night, all windows must be cleared of ice to ensure adequate all-round visibility. This requires either an ice scraper in the glove compartment or a specially insulated windscreen cover. To prevent the windscreen wiper fluid and coolant from freezing at sub-zero temperatures, both should also be filled with antifreeze.
What belongs in the car during the cold season?
Especially in the cold season, it can be unpleasant in the car if the car is stuck in a traffic jam on a closed motorway in snow flurries or breaks down in the middle of the night due to a breakdown. To be prepared for such cases, warm blankets should be stowed in the boot, preferably for all vehicle occupants. In addition, there should be some long-life provisions and two litres of drinking water.
What do I need to carry in the car?
The Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO) clearly regulate which items must be carried in the car. A first-aid kit, a warning triangle and a high-visibility waistcoat are required by law. During traffic checks, police officers are authorised to check whether the safety accessories are in the car in accordance with the regulations. If this is not the case, the officers may issue a warning fine for not carrying a first-aid kit (5 euros) and for not carrying a warning triangle or high-visibility waistcoat (15 euros each).
What should car owners have in the car in case of an emergency?
In order to be able to react to an emergency on or off the road, vehicle owners should always have a first aid kit in the car. A warning triangle and a high-visibility waistcoat are also needed to secure the accident site, preferably one for each vehicle occupant so that they are clearly visible to other road users, not just in the dark.
What should be in the glove compartment?
The glove compartment is the ideal place for drivers to keep small but important items to hand when travelling. These include: a parking disc, an ice scraper, a cloth or sponge, paper and pen, glucose, sunglasses and a USB adapter for the cigarette lighter.
What should drivers have in the boot?
Drivers who want to be prepared for almost all situations on the road should pack a few things in the boot. These include snow chains, antifreeze and blankets in winter and a first-aid kit, warning triangle, warning waistcoat, tow rope, lashing straps, jump-start kit, 2 litres of water, 1 litre of engine oil, torch and gloves at all times of the year.
