Since October 1st, some tires no longer meet standards. These are rubbers that only have an M+S inscription, i.e. “Mud and Snow”, “Boue et Neige” in French. Michaël Bürri, mechanic in Tavannes, explains that the letters M and S are present on practically all tires. But to meet the standards, you now need a mountain symbol with a snowflake inside next to these letters. It is this symbol which is decisive now. Michaël Bürri explains: “Over time, this M+S tire was mainly used on all-season tires, which were also approved for the snow market. But this is no longer really the case today. » The authorities’ choice was therefore to toughen the legislation and differentiate this acronym in order to guarantee greater safety in winter conditions.
Don’t play with risks
“To drive every day like in current conditions, where there is rain, the M+S tires will work very well and there is no risk,” explains the Tavannes mechanic. However, when the roads experience more complicated conditions, this rubber will no longer be adequate. “If there is a loss of control of the vehicle due to poor road conditions, the insurance companies could turn against the driver, who did not have suitable tires,” specifies Michaël Bürri. For the expert, it is therefore essential to have a tire that meets the standards in our regions.
Besides, it is good to remember to think about changing your wheels to winter tires. Michaël Bürri explains that by the end of October, it would be a good idea to visit your mechanic. “Above all, get ahead,” he asks, “when you are in the first snow on summer tires, it is completely catastrophic, both for traffic and for your safety. »
Furthermore, the workload increases significantly for mechanics during snowflakes according to Michaël Bürri.
As a reminder, in Switzerland, driving with summer tires in winter conditions is punishable, regardless of the vehicle. Note that the law prescribes a minimum tread depth of 1.6 mm for tires, but a depth of 4 mm is recommended for winter tires. /tbu
