As the weather is getting colder, do you spare a thought for your safety? And do you consider fitting winter tyres? Here’s everything you need to know on the subject.

Why switch to winter tyres?

Simply because if the temperature falls below 7°C, your tyres become less efficient. This is because, below this temperature, the rubber hardens and causes a loss of efficacy. The use of silicon in winter tyres and their different construction enables them to:

- Reduce the braking distance by 10% in the case of rain and 20% in the case of snow
- Guarantee better adhesion, which is synonymous with security
- Reduce the occurrence of aquaplaning

When should you fit winter tyres?

The use of winter tyres is recommended between mid-October and mid-March.

What does the Belgian law say on the subject?

In Belgium, winter tyres are recommended but not compulsory. In the event of an accident, an authorised person (e.g. police officer) may note the absence of winter tyres in a report, but this has no particular impact from a legal point of view, nor with regard to your insurer.

In which countries are they compulsory?

Winter tyres may be compulsory abroad in certain cases. To find out the countries in which winter tyres are compulsory, consult the table “winter tyres and snow chains” under the heading “driving abroad”.

Are you an Arval client and would you like to fit snow tyres to your vehicle?

Please contact your fleet manager in order to verify whether snow tyres are included in your contract. You can also find this information in your car policy.

If your employer uses this system, summer tyres are replaced in winter by winter tyres and vice versa. Twice per year (mid-October and mid-March), you will receive a letter from us with details of the authorised tyre centres.

Good to know

There is no point fitting winter tyres to only 2 wheels of your vehicle. This could even be dangerous, as it will effectively result in a difference in adhesion between your front and rears wheels.