Do I have to fit winter tyres from 15 November?
Not everywhere — the calendar obligation from 15 November to 15 April applies only on the prescribed winter road sections. That is roughly 2,770 km of road: 839.2 km of motorway, 1,863.3 km of state and county roads and 68.1 km of port approaches — there it must be on the vehicle "regardless of weather conditions". Elsewhere the duty arises only once snow or ice is actually on the carriageway (ZSPC čl. 193. st. 1.). The myth "from 15 November everyone in Croatia must fit winter tyres" is wrong twice: the duty is not nationwide, and "winter equipment" need not mean winter tyres — summer tyres with at least 4 mm of tread plus type-approved chains for the driven wheels also comply.
📋 The rules
- A two-layer rule: ZSPC čl. 193. st. 1.–2. bans motor vehicles without winter equipment whenever winter conditions prevail (snow on the carriageway or ice) — on every road; and the Decision on the mandatory use of winter equipment (NN 121/20, 143/23, 36/25) additionally requires it on the listed winter road sections from 15 Nov to 15 Apr, "regardless of the weather and the state of the carriageway".
- Winter equipment for vehicles up to 3.5 t (Decision point IV.; Ordinance on technical conditions for vehicles, čl. 104.): winter tyres (M+S, M.S., M&S or 3PMSF) on all four wheels, OR summer tyres with at least 4 mm of tread on all wheels plus type-approved chains (or approved traction devices) for the driven wheels.
- Vehicles over 3.5 t and buses: winter tyres on the driven wheels, or chains/approved devices for the driven wheels. Studded tyres are banned on all motor vehicles.
- The general minimum tread depth for any tyre: above the TWI markers, i.e. 1.6 mm where there are none (MUP, police, citing Ordinance čl. 104.). A standalone 4 mm minimum "for winter tyres" could not be confirmed in any official text we checked — the 4 mm figure belongs to the summer-tyres-plus-chains option.
- The driver must also clear ice, snow and water from the windscreen and the vehicle before setting off (čl. 193. st. 2.); police may order you to stop or to fit the equipment, and if the order is ignored the vehicle is excluded from traffic and its plates removed.
🔓 Exceptions
- Roads not on the winter-sections list (much of coastal Dalmatia, city streets): no calendar obligation — equipment is required only while snow or ice is actually on the road (čl. 193. st. 1.).
- Summer tyres stay legal all winter, even on winter sections, for vehicles up to 3.5 t if they have at least 4 mm of tread on all wheels and you carry type-approved chains or approved traction devices for the driven wheels.
- Vehicles of the Croatian Armed Forces are expressly exempt from the Decision (point III.).
⚠️ Penalties & fines
A driver without the prescribed winter equipment pays 130 euros (čl. 193. st. 6.); a company or sole trader who orders or permits it pays 660–1,990 euros, and the responsible person 190–660 euros (st. 4.–5.). Ignore a police order and the vehicle is excluded from traffic and its plates are removed; driving an excluded vehicle costs 390–920 euros, three penalty points and a driving ban of one month to two years. The non-obvious cost: in winter conditions lorries with trailers are banned from the road without exception, and after a crash on snow without the required equipment insurers may contest comprehensive cover and damage claims (practice, not separately verified in this research).
📎 Official sources
- Zakon.hr · statute register (consolidated text of the Decision on the mandatory use of winter equipment) →
- MUP (police/interior ministry) · ministry home page (winter equipment notices and FAQ) →
- Narodne novine (NN) · the official gazette (text of the NN 36/25 amendment) →
❓ Frequently asked
Do I have to fit winter tyres on 15 November if I live in Split?
Not automatically. The calendar duty applies only on the listed winter road sections, and on other roads equipment is needed only once snow or ice is on the carriageway. If you drive onto a winter section, it applies to you too.
Are summer tyres with chains in the boot enough?
For vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes yes, provided the tyres have at least 4 mm of tread on all wheels and you carry type-approved chains or approved devices for the driven wheels. It is a fully equivalent option to winter tyres.
Is the minimum winter tyre depth 4 mm?
In official texts that threshold is tied to the summer-tyres-with-chains option, while the general minimum is above the TWI markers, i.e. 1.6 mm. We could not confirm a standalone 4 mm threshold for winter tyres in any official source.
What changed in 2025?
The Decision was amended on 11 March 2025 (NN 36/25): tyres marked 3PMSF are now expressly recognised alongside the existing M+S, type-approved traction devices are allowed instead of chains, and studded tyres remain banned.
Are the sections and dates the same as before?
Yes. The 15 Nov–15 Apr dates and the list of winter sections were not changed by the 2025 amendment. Only the definition of winter equipment in point IV. changed, adding the type-approval condition for chains and devices.
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