Fines for out-of-season tires

Fines for out-of-season tires in 2019 - for studs or winter tires in summer, bald or summer tires in winter

In recent years, there have been regular conversations and rumors that Russia will soon introduce a fine for using winter tires in the summer and summer tires in the winter. They even named exact dates, and sometimes they even named the exact amount of a 2,000 ruble fine for summer tires on a winter road. First of all, we want to reassure all drivers at once - these fines for out-of-season tires were not introduced in 2019, but Bill N 464241-6 “On Amendments to the Code of the Russian Federation on Administrative Offenses (to ensure safety during the operation of vehicles)” , which stipulated penalties for using summer tires in winter, was not adopted in the first reading.

But what kind of tires can a car owner be fined for if his vehicle runs on summer tires in winter and winter tires in summer? How to behave in a dialogue with a traffic police inspector in the event of a stop and inspection of the car’s wheels?

However, vehicle owners need to know the intricacies of the issue of regulating the legality of using one or another type of car tires in summer and winter, since it is possible that soon another bill will be approved in the State Duma and penalties will be introduced. In this article we will look at the problem in detail.

Are there penalties for out-of-season tires?

Back in 2014, bill No. 464241-6 was introduced into the State Duma of the country, which proposed supplementing Article 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation with part 3.2:

“Part 3.2 as follows: “3.2 Driving a vehicle in violation of the requirements for the operation of tires and wheels - entails the imposition of an administrative fine in the amount of two thousand rubles.”

For two years, consideration of this bill was postponed, but on October 20, 2016, it was sent for consideration to the State Duma and was to be considered in three readings. But in fact, the bill on a fine for using summer tires in winter did not even pass the first reading , and on November 1, 2016, it was decided to postpone its consideration indefinitely, and as of 2019, consideration of the “tire bill” was no longer started.

So what is the fine for summer tires in winter today?

The issue of changing winter and summer tires in Russia today is NOT regulated by anything, and drivers do not need to fear fines for using summer tires in winter, or sanctions for another version of tires that are not suitable for the season - simply because there are no such fines! Car owners, at their own discretion, decide to replace summer tires with winter ones, based on weather conditions and air temperature. If we talk about specific dates, then in central Russia the unspoken guidelines are November 15 for changing tires from summer to winter, and March 15 for switching from winter tires to summer.

Of course, these dates are rather arbitrary, and they differ in certain regions of the Russian Federation. Drivers, relying on common sense, when changing tires, focus not on dates, but on weather conditions. That is, if it’s already spring on the calendar, and there’s still snow on the roads and the forecast promises icy conditions, then no one will “change their shoes” to summer tires . And if in the warm Crimea or Sochi in November, and sometimes even in December, the weather is sunny, warm, and the road surface is dry and clean, then drivers are unlikely to switch to winter tires urgently.

What penalties were offered for summer tires in winter?

As we said above, rumors that in the near future it will be prohibited at the legislative level to “shoe” a vehicle out of season have been circulating for a long time, and several bills were submitted to the State Duma for consideration, but for various reasons, none passed even the first reading. The essence of these tire bills was as follows:

To be fined for driving a vehicle using tires that are not in accordance with the season (the driver must use winter tires in the cold months, or “change the car’s shoes” taking into account the average daily temperature.
To be fined for driving a vehicle on winter tires with studs in the summer.
Refusal of insurance payment in the event that during an accident the culprit’s vehicle was wearing tires that were not appropriate for the season.

But, as we see, so far all these legislative initiatives have not gone further than bills, and you still decide for yourself when to change tires from summer to winter and vice versa! There is no fine for summer tires in winter in the Russian Federation!

Is there a penalty for wearing winter tires in summer?

If you study the Technical Regulations of the Customs Union TR CU 018/2011 “On the safety of wheeled vehicles,” you will find out that it brought new rules for Russian motorists. In this technical regulation, in paragraph 5.5 of Appendix No. 8, there are the following provisions on the use of certain car tires at different times of the year:

You can drive on summer tires from June to August (they must be studless).
From December to February, drivers can take part in road traffic while driving a car shod with winter tires (studded or not).
In the CU regulations 018/2011 you will not find the concept of “all-season tires”.
Compliance with tire wear limits is mandatory.

At the level of regional authorities, it is allowed to change the months of the established ban on the use of tires by season - these nuances must be recorded in regional regulations.

When is it legal to install winter tires in 2019?

Good afternoon, dear reader.

Every year, as cold weather approaches, drivers begin to wonder when to put on winter tires. Currently, the answer to this question is partially regulated by a regulatory legal document.

In this article we will talk about the legally established deadlines for changing summer tires to winter ones. In addition, a fine for improper use of tires will be considered.

When is it legal to switch to winter tires?

Let's consider paragraph 5.5 of Appendix 8 to the technical regulations of the customs union TR CU 018/2011 “On the safety of wheeled vehicles”:

5.5. It is prohibited to operate vehicles equipped with tires with anti-skid studs in the summer (June, July, August).

During the winter period ( December, January, February ), the operation of vehicles of categories M1 and N1 that are not equipped with winter tires that meet the requirements of paragraph 5.6.3 of this annex is prohibited. Winter tires are installed on all wheels of these vehicles.

A period different from that specified in paragraph one of this paragraph may be established by the legislation of a member state of the Eurasian Economic Union in connection with climatic and geographical factors characteristic of member states of the Eurasian Economic Union.

So, what can be understood from this paragraph:

During the summer months (June, July, August) only studded tires are prohibited. This requirement applies to all vehicles.
During the winter months (December, January, February), only winter tires are permitted. You can put both studded and non-studded tires on your car. The main thing is that they are marked “M+S”, “M&S” or “MS” and the corresponding drawing (in the picture on the left). The requirement applies only to category B (M1 cars and N1 trucks). The restriction does not apply to other vehicles from November 11, 2018.
The terms of the ban on exploitation can only be increased by the legislative authority of any level (federal, regional) and cannot be reduced. Those. In your region, for example, the use of studded tires may be prohibited from May to September. At the same time, regional authorities cannot reduce the period of the ban, i.e. From June to August, cars in all regions must not use studs.

Thus, there are the following intervals for using car tires:

Summer tires (without M+S marking, etc.) can be used from March to November.
Winter studded tires (marked M+S, etc.) can be used from September to May.
Winter studless tires (marked M+S, etc.) can be used all year round.

Let's look at a table with periods of possible tire use throughout the year:

Does the traffic police issue a fine for summer tires in winter, for studs and bald tires?

The first frost is always a test for drivers on the road. Those who have not had time to change to winter tires often fail to control the vehicle and become the cause of a traffic jam or accident. In addition, careless drivers will face a traffic police fine for summer tires. The opposite situation, in which winter tires continue to be used in the summer, is also dangerous for all road users.

Are there penalties for out-of-season tires?

Traffic police fines for out-of-season tires are not specified in the law. However, according to traffic regulations, there are a number of vehicle malfunctions, operation of which is prohibited.

Clause 5.1 of the Traffic Rules makes it a violation to drive a vehicle on an icy and snowy road if it is wearing winter tires with a remaining tread depth of no more than 4 mm.

Therefore, every driver should know the consequences of untimely replacement of tires for his wallet.

Penalty for driving on summer tires in winter

In the manufacture of tires for sub-zero and positive temperatures, rubber with different properties is used. Summer tires initially have greater rigidity, and at temperatures below 0 degrees it becomes even stiffer and loses traction, which often leads to tragic events.

However, to date, a fine for summer tires in winter has not been legalized in our country. All that a traffic police inspector can do in relation to a car owner who has not changed his tires on time is to issue him a warning. But in the event of an accident, the driver who knowingly operated the car with gross violations and allowed to drive onto a snowy road wearing tires that were not suitable for the season and weather conditions will be found guilty.

The inspector does not have the right to issue a fine for the lack of winter tires when the cold season sets in.

However, worn tires, regardless of seasonality, with a tread depth of less than 4 mm are a good reason for collecting a minimum fine of 500 rubles.

Driving with winter tires in summer

Driving on winter tires in summer is also dangerous, and not only because of the potential fine. If soft winter tires overheat, irreversible melting processes begin, which significantly increases the braking distance. In addition, tires can ignite at extremely high temperatures. Due to their softness, they quickly wear off on the asphalt, which makes their further use impossible in either summer or winter.

You will also not find a fine for wearing winter tires in the summer in the Administrative Code. But if the tires have studs, the inspector has the right to issue a fine for studded tires.

Spikes destroy the asphalt surface, and driving on studded tires on melted asphalt is dangerous due to a significant increase in the braking distance and possible skidding when cornering.

There is another type of all-season tires - friction, or Velcro, as drivers call it. This type of tire easily adapts to any temperature. In cold months, friction rubber wins on wet surfaces and at temperatures below -20 degrees, when even the studs lose their grip on the icy crust.

Considering the characteristics of Velcro, it is not recommended for residents of central Russia, where winters are usually snowy and temperatures range from -5 to -20 degrees. But in Europe and southern Russia, friction tires have proven themselves well and are popular among drivers.

Fines for out-of-season tires

A fine for tires on wheels that are out of season in 2019 cannot be issued, since this requirement of the technical regulations of the Customs Union is not included in the Code of Administrative Offenses.

Despite this, the traffic police inspector has the right to issue a fine to the driver if he wears summer tires using the depth of the pattern in winter with obvious signs of wear. The degree of old age is easily determined by the tread depth: in the most worn area of the wheel it should be at least 4 mm.

In 2019, a fine of 500 rubles will be charged for tires that are not suitable for use. However, at the discretion of the inspector, a warning may be issued for a violation.

A driver can be fined 500 rubles for driving on winter tires with studs in the summer.

Although there are all-season tires and summer tires with a tread size of more than 4 mm, the traffic police does not recommend relying on such half-measures. In Russian winter conditions, an all-season vehicle does not guarantee safe driving. Likewise, summer tires, despite their sufficient tread size, due to their rigidity, will not provide adequate safety in extreme weather conditions.

So far, traffic police representatives can only recommend replacing tires before the start of the new season.

Over the past few years, Russia has been developing a legislative framework for a new fine for off-season use of tires. The adoption of the rule is complicated by the large number of different climatic zones in our country and the need to take into account the natural characteristics of each region. In this case, the fine is quite significant. So far, traffic police representatives can only recommend replacing tires before the start of the new season.

When to change tires

The Technical Regulations stipulate that driving on winter tires during the calendar summer (in June, July and August) and on summer tires in the winter (in December, January and February) is prohibited. Meanwhile, the technical regulations stipulate that each country that is part of the Eurasian Economic Union can independently regulate tire changes based on climatic conditions. Local authorities also have the right, by regional regulations, to extend the service life of winter and summer tires.

If you live in the middle zone, you need to equip your car with tires for summer and winter. You are required to replace tires at any time during the off-season, unless otherwise specified by local authorities. That is, you need to change your tires to winter ones any day from September to November, and change to summer tires any day from March to May. Moreover, in the off-season, driving on any type of tires is not formally considered a violation. But you need to take into account the weather factor, plan in advance to change tires according to the season and not create emergency situations on the road.

It is important to change tires on four wheels at the same time. Otherwise, the car will be considered not to comply with technical regulations. Its operation may lead to an accident, and the driver faces a fine of 500 rubles.

Operating tires with violations is dangerous not only because of fines. If tires are used incorrectly, their properties are seriously violated, and this is fraught with accidents.

Take care of yourself and your loved ones, carefully monitor the changing weather and replace tires in a timely manner. If every driver treats his car and road safety responsibly, no additional fines will be required.

Don't drag your feet

In any case, there is no penalty for this. Let us remind you that all the fuss flared up on the eve of the entry into force of amendments to the technical regulations of the Customs Union “On the safety of wheeled vehicles”. These changes, which came into force on November 11, relate to the requirement that only vehicles of categories M1 and N1 be equipped with winter tires in winter.

That is, cars and trucks with a gross weight of no more than 3.5 tons. Just the day before, there were reports in the media that drivers would face a fine for not using winter tires in winter. Moreover, the amount of the fine was even named - 5 thousand rubles.

So what really happened on November 11? Indeed, amendments to this technical regulation have come into force, which imply the mandatory installation of winter tires on cars and light trucks in winter.

But it is impossible to oblige even the owners of passenger vehicles to “change their shoes” according to the season. The State Traffic Inspectorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia explains that the only document that today regulates the use of winter tires is the specified technical regulation. At the same time, the current norms of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation do not provide for liability for violation of the requirements of the technical regulations of the Customs Union. That is, there are requirements, but there are no fines.

The Code of Administrative Offenses provides for responsibility for driving a vehicle if, in accordance with the Basic Provisions for Admission, its operation is prohibited. But it is prohibited for passenger cars if the residual tread depth is less than 1.6 mm, and on ice and snow - less than 4 mm. These violations are punishable by a fine of 500 rubles.

Penalty for not having winter tires in 2018-2019.

As the winter season approaches, many motorists are afraid of getting a fine for winter tires or the lack of them. The need to switch to seasonal tires is due to weather conditions in Russia. But is there a fine for winter tires? Is it possible to get a fine for summer tires in winter? What are the risks for drivers when using out-of-season tires? What legislation regulates these issues?

When and why to switch to winter tires?

Most of the territory of Russia is located in the temperate zone, the northern continental territories are in the subarctic. Some regions located in the temperate zone are characterized by a clear division of seasons. In winter there is constant snow cover and the average air temperature drops below zero. In such conditions, the road surface is mostly icy or snowy; therefore, for safe driving, you must have special winter tires. They allow drivers to effectively maneuver on the road, reduce braking distances, improve traction with the road surface, and together contribute to driving safety in winter. This happens due to the following points:

Winter tires are made from a soft rubber compound that becomes flexible at low temperatures. This type of rubber has a high level of wear resistance;
Winter tires have a special tread pattern (asymmetrical, V-shaped, etc.), which ensures tighter contact between the road and the wheels, promotes better cross-country ability in snowy roads and guarantees effective braking;
Rubber micropores (depending on the manufacturer) allow tires to effectively absorb moisture (including from the surface of ice), which ensures good grip;
The studs found on some winter tires are designed to resist skidding. Their use will be effective outside the city on roads and highways that are rarely cleared of snow and have a smooth (ice or snow) surface.

Most drivers do not know what the fine is for not having winter tires in winter and, in order to avoid sanctions, change tires in advance. But the transition to winter tires, as a process that helps ensure road safety, is beneficial to the motorist himself. By changing summer tires to winter ones, he reduces the likelihood of getting into an accident due to weather conditions and road surface, thereby “saving” himself and other drivers from injuries and damage that may occur during accidents. There are no provisions in federal legislation on the transition to winter tires, but the Technical Regulations “On the Safety of Wheeled Vehicles,” which are in force in the countries of the Customs Union, oblige all drivers to make such a replacement. The table below provides information on the possibility of using certain types of tires depending on the season.

Several times in the history of Russian lawmaking, proposals were made to introduce a fine for the lack of winter tires, but by 2018, none of the proposed laws had been adopted. The last one put forward for consideration was bill No. 464241-6, which proposed establishing a fine of 2,000 rubles. But during the first reading in the State Duma, the initiator of the bill withdrew it from consideration due to amendments to the Technical Regulations clarifying the responsibilities of drivers for seasonal tire changes.

Thus, Appendix No. 8 of the regulations states that studded tires cannot be used during the three summer months. But the fine for winter tires in summer is not established by the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. Cars of categories “M1”, “N1” (passenger cars and trucks up to 3.5 tons) must be equipped with studded tires for 3 months of winter. It is possible that legislation may change the timing of the ban based on the climatic characteristics of a particular region. Traffic police officers should also not issue a fine for summer tires in winter in 2018, since there is no such rule in either the Traffic Regulations or the Code of Administrative Offences, the provisions of Chapter 12 of which are based precisely on the Traffic Rules.

Despite the absence of a statutory penalty for one type of tire or another in different seasons, every motorist must understand that he is responsible for what happens on the roads and highways. For the sake of your safety and the safety of others, it would be wisest to “change your shoes” to winter tires. When to do this depends on the territory where the vehicle is used. In some regions, snow may fall as early as September, while in others it will not even fall in December.

Features of using all-season tires

All-season tires were developed as a compromise between winter and summer tires. Re-equipment of a vehicle with tires in the cold season is an expensive pleasure. Especially for car owners who live in the southern regions, where winter is short. Rubber manufacturers were looking for a common solution in which all-season tires would retain the important characteristics of winter and summer tires - contact with the road surface, tread depth, special tire pattern, etc. All-season tires have the following qualities:

Minimum permissible temperature for use -7°C;
The tread pattern is asymmetrical, most often with rhombuses and rectangles in the center, and lines (longitudinal or transverse) on the sides. That is, the central part of the tire resembles the winter pattern, and the part located closer to the inside of the wheel resembles the summer pattern;
Tread depth is a cross between winter (up to 4 mm) and summer (up to 1.6 mm) characteristics and may vary depending on the manufacturer.

Despite the seemingly obvious advantages associated with savings, all-season tires have a number of disadvantages. The first of them is the limited temperature range of use. Such tires will not be effective at temperatures below -7°C and ineffective at temperatures above +15°C. They will wear out much faster if the vehicle is used for a whole year. Grip on a road covered with loose snow, slush or ice will be practically zero. All this allows us to conclude that it is not advisable to use vehicles equipped with such tires in regions with hot and extremely cold climates. Traffic police inspectors will not issue a fine for driving without winter tires to the owner of a car with all-season tires, but the quality of operation of vehicles with such tires allows one to speak out more against than for.

Fines for improper use of tires in 2018-2019.

The Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation does not provide for penalties for unspecified seasonal tires in summer or winter. As winter approached, news began to appear in the media that a fine for winter tires had been established from December 1, 2018. They were not true, but prompted many drivers to install new tires that meet seasonal requirements even before the first snow. Such news was partly fabricated or based on the provisions of the Technical Regulations, but was not supported by the norms of Russian legislation. In accordance with Article 12.5 of the Administrative Code, a motorist can be fined only for non-compliance of the wheels with the parameters stated in paragraph 5 of the “Basic provisions for the approval of a vehicle for operation.” But even at this point there is not a word about the need to switch from summer tires to winter ones.

For summer tires in winter

Many motorists who are new to the law believe that they can get a fine for summer tires from November 1. That is, if after this date winter tires are not installed on the car, traffic police inspectors will have every right to issue a resolution on an administrative violation. But this is not a violation. Such misconceptions may be due to the fact that, according to an unspoken rule, the transition to winter tires occurs in November.

For winter tires in summer

The use of winter tires (especially studded ones) in summer is contraindicated for several reasons. This tire is made of soft elastic rubber that is in close contact with the road surface. If such a coating is dry asphalt, the tire will heat up, the car will become difficult to control, and this can lead, at best, to cracks in the wheel, at worst, to a rupture.

Studded tires can easily damage dry road surfaces, but this is not the worst thing for the driver. Driving on summer roads on a vehicle equipped with such tires can be compared to driving on ice on summer tires - unpredictable and unsafe. The Code of Administrative Offenses does not provide for a fine for winter tires, but the traffic police can check the level of wear, which, with such use, can increase sharply in a short time.

For bald tires

The fine for using worn-out winter tires is 500 rubles in accordance with clause 1 of Article 12.5 of the Administrative Code. The level of wear is determined according to the standards of the “Basic Provisions. " When driving on snowy or icy surfaces on winter tires marked with a snowflake, the tread depth cannot be more than 4 mm. If the depth of the drawing does not meet the standards, then the traffic police will have every reason to draw up a protocol and a resolution.

For different tires

In accordance with the same norm of the Code of Administrative Offenses, a vehicle driver can be punished for using different tires installed on the same axle. The fine for winter tires and summer tires installed at the same time, for the simultaneous use of studded and non-studded tires, tires of different sizes and with excellent designs, etc., is 500 rubles.

Conclusion

Thus, Russian legislation does not provide for penalties for summer tires in winter and vice versa. However, the traffic police may issue a fine for wear of winter tires. If there is no reason for replacement or there is not enough finance, then you can choose a universal version of tires that are used all year round. It is better not to use universal tires in regions with difficult climatic conditions, outside city roads. Responsibility for the consequences of operating a car at any time of the year lies with the owner of the car, regardless of the presence of penalties.