Winter tyres in Estonia 2026/2027: dates, studs and rules

Winter and studded tyre dates for 2026/2027

The dates for winter and studded tyres in Estonia are set in the regulation on technical requirements for motor vehicles and their trailers ("Mootorsõiduki ja selle haagise tehnonõuded ning nõuded varustusele", Annex 1). They are the same every year, so for the 2026/2027 season:

The winter tyre requirement covers passenger cars, vans up to 3.5 tonnes, O2-category trailers (0.75–3.5 t) and L6e/L7e vehicles with a body. According to the Estonian Transport Administration (Transpordiamet), studless tyres can be used all year round – the time limits apply only to studded tyres.

When should you fit winter tyres?

The law tells you when winter tyres become mandatory, but the weather does not follow the calendar. Transpordiamet notes that summer tyre rubber loses its elasticity, and with it its grip, below about +5…+8 °C. In Estonia the first night frosts and icy mornings can arrive in October, well before 1 December.

A sensible rule of thumb:

• Change before the first night frosts, not after the first snow. Transpordiamet advises against waiting, especially if you drive early in the morning, late at night or long distances on different types of road.
• Wait until 15 October for studded tyres unless the weather turns wintry earlier. Studless tyres can go on whenever you like.
• Book early. Queues at tyre workshops usually build up from mid-October, and especially after the first snow. The earlier you call, the more times you have to choose from.

Studded or studless?

Both are legal in Estonia. Which suits you better depends on where and how you drive.

• Studded tyres give the best grip on ice and packed, icy snow. They suit you if you drive a lot on main roads, in the countryside or early in the morning. The downsides are more noise, more road wear and a limited season.
• Studless (friction) tyres are quieter and work well on salted, slushy city streets. On bare ice they grip less than studded tyres. Nordic studless tyres use a softer compound designed for ice and snow; Central European ones are designed more for wet roads and slush – for an Estonian winter, choose Nordic.

Transpordiamet recommends choosing tyres that also carry the ice grip symbol. These tyres have been tested on both snow and ice and are designed for the Nordic climate.

Rules worth knowing:

• If a car or van has studded tyres, they must be fitted on all wheels. As an exception, a studless spare may be used if a tyre is damaged.
• The number of studs in the car's tyres may not differ by more than 25% from the tyre with the most studs.
• Tyres with different tread pattern types may not be mixed on the same axle. The safest choice is four identical tyres.

Winter tyre markings: 3PMSF and M+S

Since 1 December 2022, studless winter tyres must carry the three-peak mountain snowflake mark (3PMSF, UNECE Regulation No. 117). A studless tyre with only the M+S mark is no longer allowed during the winter tyre period. The exception is off-road tyres under UNECE Regulation No. 54 that are marked POR.

The markings are moulded into the tyre's sidewall, so you can check them yourself. The 3PMSF requirement does not apply to studded tyres: a studded tyre must be a winter tyre with the M+S mark.

Winter tyre tread depth

During the mandatory period, winter tyres must have at least 3 mm of tread. The minimum for summer tyres is 1.6 mm.

How to check:

• Use a tread depth gauge – they are sold in car accessory shops.
• Measure in the main grooves at several points, not on the wear indicator. Under the regulation, no point in the main grooves across 75% of the tread width may be below the limit.
• Check all four tyres, as front and rear tyres often wear differently.
• Look at the general condition too: Transpordiamet says tyres must not have cracks, cuts or bulges.

If a winter tyre starts the season with barely more than 3 mm, it may not last the whole winter. It is worth buying new tyres before the peak season starts.

Changing back in spring: when to fit summer tyres

The winter tyre requirement ends on 1 March. You can drive on studded tyres until 31 March, and until 30 April if wintry conditions continue. Transpordiamet advises not to rush in spring: even when the days are warm and the main roads are clear of snow, night frosts keep the risk of ice.

Measure your summer tyres before fitting them. The legal minimum is 1.6 mm, but Transpordiamet suggests thinking about new tyres once the tread is down to 2 mm.

Tyre change in Laagri

Laagri Autobox is at Hoiu 16, Laagri, on Tallinn's south-west border next to Pääsküla, Nõmme and Saue.

• Tyre change for a passenger car: 46–68 € per set of four wheels (one car) – 46 € on steel rims, 68 € on 20–22″ alloys.
• Wheel swap, if your tyres are already on rims: 36 €.
• SUVs, vans and MPVs: 56–71 €.
• Prices include VAT. See the full price list.

Tyre-change appointments are booked by phone only: call +372 5622 2933 (Mon–Fri 9:00–18:00, lunch 13:00–14:00). Your time is agreed and confirmed during the call, so you know straight away when to come – no waiting for a reply.

If you would rather not keep your off-season set in the basement or on the balcony, leave it at our tyre hotel: 26 € per season for tyres only, 36 € for tyres on rims. That way your tyres are already here for the next change. Address and map are on the contact page.