Two markings, one difference
M+SAn inscription for a snow tire whose tread pattern and structure are designed to perform better than a normal tire in mud and fresh or melting snow. It is declared by the manufacturer; no certified test is required (UN R30, paras. 2.2 and 3.1.5).
3PMSF, the Alpine symbolMay be applied only to a tire classified as a snow tire for use in severe snow conditions, which means it passed the snow-grip test of UN R117 against a reference tire. For passenger car tires the minimum snow index is 1.07 with the braking method or 1.10 with the acceleration method (UN R117, paras. 2.11.1, 4.2.6 and 6.4).
The EU tire label uses the same test: a tire that meets the UN R117 snow-grip minimum shows the snow pictogram on its label (Regulation (EU) 2020/740, Annex I, Part D).
Summer, winter or all-season: what to look for
Summer
A harder compound designed to withstand heat. Manufacturers describe it for temperatures above about 7 °C.
Typical markings None
Winter
A compound that stays soft at low temperatures, with a tread designed for snow and slush.
Typical markings 3PMSF, usually with M+S
All-season
Designed for moderate conditions all year, including light snow, rain and dry roads.
Typical markings 3PMSF only on tyres that passed the snow test; M+S
- M+S
- M+S: declared by the manufacturer for mud and snow; no certified test is attached.
- 3PMSF
- 3PMSF (Alpine symbol): only on a tyre that passed the UN R117 snow-grip test.
- A summer tyre is designed for this; the 7 °C figure is manufacturer guidance, not a law.
- Compare wet grip on the EU label and check the speed symbol your vehicle requires.
- Look for the Alpine symbol (3PMSF): it is tested; M+S alone is a declaration.
- An ice pictogram on the EU label means a separate ice-grip test.
- Check the winter tyre rules for your country in the table below; some accept only 3PMSF.
- Not every all-season tyre carries 3PMSF: check the marking of the exact tyre.
- Where winter rules apply, what counts as a winter tyre depends on the country; see the table below.
An explanation, not legal advice: winter tyre rules depend on the country, the date and the vehicle.
Search tyres by sizeHow the three categories differ
| Category | Manufacturer description | Typical markings |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | A harder compound designed to withstand heat; manufacturers describe it as intended for temperatures above about 7 °C. | None |
| Winter | A compound that stays soft and flexible at low temperatures, with a tread designed for snow and slush. | 3PMSF, usually with M+S |
| All-season | Designed for moderate conditions throughout the year, including light snow, rain and dry roads. | 3PMSF on tires that pass the snow test; M+S |
The 7 °C figure is manufacturer guidance, not a legal threshold.
Winter tire rules by market (passenger cars)
| Market | Rule | What counts as a winter tire |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Situational: in black ice, packed snow, slush, ice or frost, all wheels must carry tires meeting StVZO § 36 (4). Minimum tread 1.6 mm. | Alpine symbol only, since 1 October 2024. M+S tires produced up to 31 December 2017 were accepted until 30 September 2024. |
| Austria | 1 November to 15 April, situational for vehicles up to 3.5 t: winter tires on all wheels in wintry conditions, or snow chains on at least two drive wheels when the road is covered by snow or ice. | M+S, M.S. or M&S inscription or the snowflake symbol. Minimum tread 4 mm for radial tires, 5 mm for diagonal tires. |
| Switzerland | No legal obligation. The driver must keep the vehicle under control in every situation; after an accident with unsuitable tires an insurer may reduce benefits or take recourse. | Not defined in law. |
| France | 1 November to 31 March in communes designated by prefects in 34 mountain departments (Alps, Massif Central, Jura, Pyrenees, Vosges): winter tires on four wheels, or chains or snow socks carried. | Alpine symbol together with M+S, M.S or M&S. Since winter 2024–25 only 3PMSF tires count as equivalent to chains; M+S-only tires are allowed only with chains on board. |
| United Kingdom | No winter tire obligation. The legal minimum tread is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread and around the entire circumference. | Not defined in law. |
| Slovakia | Situational for M1 and N1: when the road has a continuous layer of snow, ice or frost, winter tires on all axles. The driver must anticipate such conditions by season. | Alpine symbol, or M+S, M.S or M&S. |
| Belgium, Ireland, Poland, Romania | Not yet verified against an official source. RideVector does not publish rules it has not checked. | — |
Speed symbol relief for winter tires is a separate rule; see the speed rating guide.
Sources
- UN Regulation No 117 — Tyres with regard to rolling sound emissions, adhesion on wet surfaces and rolling resistance (Official Journal L 218, 12 August 2016)
- UN Regulation No 30 — Uniform provisions concerning the approval of pneumatic tyres for motor vehicles and their trailers (Official Journal L 201, 30 July 2008)
- Regulation (EU) 2020/740 on the labelling of tyres with respect to fuel efficiency and other parameters
- StVO § 2 — Straßenbenutzung durch Fahrzeuge (Germany)
- StVZO § 36 — Bereifung und Laufflächen (Germany)
- oesterreich.gv.at — Winterreifenpflicht (Austria)
- oesterreich.gv.at — Mindestprofiltiefe (Austria)
- TCS — FAQ Reifen (Switzerland)
- service-public.gouv.fr — Pneus hiver ou chaînes obligatoires en zones de montagne (29 October 2025)
- service-public.gouv.fr — Équipements obligatoires en période hivernale
- GOV.UK — The Highway Code, Annex 6: vehicle maintenance, safety and security
- RAC — Winter tyres: are they worth it? (United Kingdom)
- Zákon č. 8/2009 Z. z. o cestnej premávke, § 38 (Slovakia, version effective 1 January 2025)
- Michelin — Winter tyre markings
- Michelin — Summer, winter and all-season tyre categories
- Continental — Buying winter tires
- Continental — Summer or winter tires
- Continental — Winter vs all-season tires
All sources accessed September 8, 2026. UN Regulations are quoted from their Official Journal publications on EUR-Lex; later supplements may exist. This guide is general information, not advice for a specific vehicle: the vehicle documents and the applicable national rules take precedence.