Winter and summer tyre rules: dates and tread depth
📅 Updated 2026-09-06 · Skaityti lietuviškai 🇱🇹
Lithuania has strict seasonal tyre requirements — one of the most common practical questions for drivers arriving from abroad.
Mandatory periods
| Vehicle | Tyre type | Allowed period |
|---|---|---|
| Cars | Winter tyres | Mandatory 10 Nov – 31 Mar (may be used all year) |
| Cars | Summer tyres | 1 Apr – 9 Nov |
| Cars | Studded tyres | 1 Nov – 9 Apr (prohibited in summer) |
| Motorcycles | Summer tyres | 1 Mar – 30 Nov (riding prohibited if any part of the road is snowy or icy) |
Tread depth requirements
- Winter tyres: minimum 3 mm of tread.
- Summer tyres: minimum 1.6 mm of tread.
- Mixing different tread types on one axle is prohibited.
Practical notes
"All-season" tyres marked M+S with the mountain-snowflake symbol count as winter tyres and satisfy the winter requirement. Driving with summer tyres during the mandatory winter period risks a fine and, more importantly, insurance complications after an accident. Tyre condition is also checked during the technical inspection.