Germany Switzerland Austria - winter tyres?
 

What's the score?

Is it that you will be prevented from proceeding further in snowy conditions if spotted without winter tyres?

Is it O'K to drive there in non snowy/icy conditions?

Will only be passing through on motorways.

Thanks for the Pm regarding this Linzi.

I found this forum thread on the law change in Germany.....any direct experiences as a consequence from hubb members?

Winter Winter tyres in Germany - Civinfo

How does that work with bikes as I'm not aware of any motorcycle tyres specifically designated as winter spec. What do German etc bikers do - stay off the road till March?

Continental TKC80s have the important "M+S" rating, which means they are approved winter tyres. Having said that, particularly in the South of Germany, many riders have "seasonal" registration numbers, meaning the bike is not registered for the road in the winter.

The way the law is written is that you must have tyres fitted that are suitable for the conditions - this means that it can be the middle of winter, but if it is dry and sunny, you don't actually have to have winter tyres fitted.

The Elephant Rally website here:
Bundesverband der Motorradfahrer e.V.: Elefantentreffen

has a link that takes you here:
Bundesverband der Motorradfahrer e.V.: Winter Tyres for Motorcycles

all in English.

It sounds pretty complicated and the conclusion that I came to was that the law as applicable to motorbikes is flawed, and maybe unenforceable.

Hope that helps a bit

(Wish I could decide whether I want to do this rally next month..... :confused1: )

The tyres law is enforcable, but not in a roadside checkpoint forty euro fine sort of way. If you crash and close the autobahn one of your early visitors in the krankhaus is going to be the public prosecutor. By deciding to ride in winter conditions with summer tyres you've turned an insured accident into a possibly uninsured willful act. The chances of loosing your house and/or your liberty increase accordingly. The Heidenaus actually work better on iced coobles and fresh snow too.

On an outfit the Elefant is pretty easy, low risk and well worth doing at least once. Get there early (no later than sunset Thursday), park on the road above the Hexe Kelle and walk in (you can leave when you like, if you ride in you'll be blocked in with tents and need dragging out of the snow by quad/lots of mates). Make sure your sleeping arrangements are comfortable at minus 15 (Arctic sleeping bag, thermarest, camp bed, straw or laminate floor foam on the tent floor), your stove is petrol (gas and solid fuel freeze) and you have ear plugs (fireworks all night every night). After that, walk round, enjoy the sights and have a beer or two while chatting to some really knowledgable people from at least a dozen countries (plus blokes with club badges galore and trailer strap marks on their cruisers and riders of large shiney new bikes who'll just moan about how extreme-adventury it is and how they'll never get their bike clean and will need to trade it at the dealers as soon as the new metal box catalogue is out!!). The fame of this rally attracts badge collectors, but it doesn't make it a bad experience just different to getting out in the snow with a few mates.

Andy

Thanks!

So......definitely need to keep a weather-eye open!

Thanks for the advice in that Andy - I did get to the Elephant and it was a great time.
(Weather this year not at all bad really).

People were saying attendance was down. There seemed plenty of room to ride your bike around the site and still get out OK. But thanks for the advice about parking on the road - that was handy as well.

Am very pleased to have done it at last!
I've done a little ride report here: Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers' Stories - Ken Thomas

Nice one. Glad you enjopyed it.

Andy