Safe Winter Driving: Continental Provides Overview of European Winter Tire Regulations 2020/2021

• Overview presents regulations on the use of winter equipment for trucks and buses
  
• All Continental truck and bus tires for the steer and drive axle in inch sizes 17.5, 19.5 and 22.5 are available as 3PMSF-certified variants

Hanover, September 23, 2020. To help fleet operators understand the latest regulatory requirements in individual countries, Continental – technology company and manufacturer of premium tires – is once again releasing an overview of the European regulations regarding winter equipment for trucks and buses at www.continental-tires.com/transport/knowhow/european-winter-regulations. In the coming the winter season 2020/2021, tires marked with the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) will be obligatory in selected countries. In line with these regulatory requirements, all Continental truck and bus tires for the steer and drive axle in inch sizes 17.5, 19.5 and 22.5 are available as 3PMSF-certified variants. Continental offers one of the broadest truck and bus winter tire portfolios of the industry.

M+S, Alpine symbol, snowflake symbol – what makes a winter tire?

For driving safely with optimal traction even on damp or icy roads, Continental recommends fitting trucks and buses with winter tires on steer and drive axles for the cold winter season. Identified by the snowflake symbol on the tire wall, the dedicated winter tire portfolio by Continental easily outperforms M+S tires and also significantly exceeds the requirements of the Alpine symbol certification. For winter tires to be labeled with the 3PMSF symbol, they have to pass a standard practical test defined in UN regulation 117 and exhibit suitability for winter use on snowy roads in a braking and traction comparison test. Tires marked with M+S (Mud + Snow) provide a tread pattern or structure that is designed to deliver performance that exceeds that of a standard tire in snowy conditions. The M+S label is not subject to a defined test procedure.