How to choose winter tyres: EU label, the law and the price of a set

What the law says

Under § 40a of Act No. 361/2000 Coll., cars and other vehicles up to 3.5 t must have winter tyres on all wheels from 1 November to 31 March whenever the road has a continuous layer of snow, ice or frost, or the weather suggests it may have one during the trip.

Winter tyres must have a main tread depth of at least 4 mm, at least 6 mm on vehicles over 3.5 t. The only exception is a spare wheel used to reach a garage after a puncture.

What to look at

The tyre label under EU Regulation 2020/740 has applied since May 2021 and carries a QR code into the EU EPREL database with the data of every model and size.

• Rolling resistance (class A to E): affects fuel use or an EV's range; A is the most efficient.
• Wet grip (class A to E): braking distance on wet asphalt; A stops shortest. In winter this is the most important letter on the label.
• Noise (dB and class A to C): rolling noise outside the car; A is the quietest.
• Three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF): the tyre is approved for severe snow conditions.
• Ice symbol: a tyre for very cold, icy roads, typically Nordic; ordinary Czech roads do not need it.
• Size and indexes, e.g. 205/55 R16 91 H: width in mm, height-to-width ratio in %, rim diameter in inches, load and speed index. The right values for your car are in its registration papers.
• Production date: four digits on the sidewall (week and year), e.g. 3825 is week 38 of 2025.

Price bands today

Prices are per tyre; a set is four. The lowest band holds small sizes (14 and 15 inches) and cheaper brands. The middle band holds common 16 and 17-inch sizes from established makers. At the top are large sizes for SUVs and powerful cars (18 inches and up) and run-flat (RFT) tyres.

Examples by size

The bracketed price is per tyre, today. Label classes (A to E) differ by size; check them via the QR code or in the EPREL database.

Price history

Demand for winter tyres grows from October, most with the first snow; buying earlier gives a wider choice of sizes in stock.

Common mistakes

• Comparing the price of one tyre without shipping; tyre shipping is often charged per tyre or per set and varies.
• Buying another size or a lower load index than the registration papers state.
• Driving on winter tyres below 4 mm; the law then no longer counts them as winter equipment.
• Mixing different models or wear on one car.
• Buying 'new' tyres several years old; check the production date on the sidewall.
• Forgetting the cost of fitting and balancing.