No. There is no traffic police fine for driving on summer tires from December 1st of winter 2017-2018! The confusion arose due to the new norms of the Technical Regulations of the EAEU Customs Union “On the safety of wheeled vehicles”, which do not directly affect the lives of motorists.
In 2017, the Administrative Code, based on the articles of which Russian drivers are fined, does not contain clauses related to the mandatory “change of shoes” of car tires in winter or summer. There are no legal fines for “not changing shoes” in the Russian Federation!
The information department of the website service has collected all available information on the topic of fines for summer tires from December 1 in the winter of 2017-2018.
In 2017, the law does not prohibit driving in winter on summer tires with a tread depth of more than 4 mm.
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What is the Technical Regulation and why is it needed?
The confusion over the fine for summer tires in winter (from December to February) arose due to clause 5.5 of the Technical Regulations of the so-called EAEU Customs Union.
The Technical Regulations of the Customs Union are an attempt by three friendly, economically connected states of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan to develop common safety standards for the production and use of essential products.
Conventionally, the Technical Regulations of the Customs Union can be equated to the Soviet GOST. The idea is to introduce general rules of the game, bringing national standards, regulations and rules to a single modern and safe model.
Technical regulations of the Customs Union regulate about 50 areas, such as pyrotechnic products, packaging, children's toys, food, etc. The rules for operating vehicles should be regulated by the regulation “On the safety of wheeled vehicles” (TR CU 018/2011), which formally came into force effective January 1, 2015.
Among other things, the Technical Regulations of the Customs Union “On the Safety of Wheeled Vehicles” contain clause 5.5, which is referred to by journalists from many major automotive publications.
Clause 5.5 of the Technical Regulations of the Customs Union (came into force in 2015):
It is prohibited to operate vehicles equipped with tires with anti-skid studs in the summer (June, July, August).
It is prohibited to operate vehicles that are not equipped with winter tires that meet the requirements of paragraph 5.6.3 of this appendix during the winter period (December, January, February). Winter tires are installed on all wheels of the vehicle.
According to the regulations of the Customs Union, winter tires are considered to be both studded and non-studded rubber products that have the designation “M+S”, “M&S” and “M S” on the side surfaces or a design in the form of a mountain with three peaks and snowflakes inside it.
Why is there confusion with the fine for summer tires in winter?
Journalists assessed the strict wording of clause 5.5 of the Technical Regulations of the Customs Union as a ban on operating cars on summer tires in winter and on winter tires in summer. However, it is not!
A traffic police officer has the right to fine the driver or owner of a vehicle solely on the basis of a clause of the Code of Administrative Offenses. At the time of writing (December 2017), the Administrative Code does not have a clause providing for punishment for the “irremovability” of tire types depending on the season of operation.
Article 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, as well as the traffic rules together with annexes, do not contain any instructions on replacing types of tires in winter and summer. There is no penalty for summer tires.
Confusion occurred because some of the innovations from the technical regulations of the Customs Union in previous years were transferred to the Code of Administrative Offenses. But there are still no bans on summer tires in winter.
Can a traffic police officer fine you for summer tires in the winter of 2017-2018?
It is for “summer tires in winter” that a traffic police officer cannot fine a motorist without violating the law. As we found out, there is no such clause in the Code of Administrative Offenses; there is no corpus delicti in the actions of the motorist.
However, from some regions of Russia there are reports of fines issued under Part 1 of Article 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. They are trying to accuse motorists operating vehicles in the winter of 2017 of “driving a vehicle with a malfunction for which the operation of the vehicle is prohibited.”
Police officers may either be poorly informed themselves or take advantage of the ignorance of motorists. Part 1 of Article 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, like the traffic rules together with all appendices, does not contain information about prohibitions on certain seasonality classes of tires.
The reader must understand correctly. There is no penalty for summer tires in winter and winter tires in summer. But no one has canceled other fines regarding wheels:
- Fine for tread depth less than 4 mm (RUB 500);
- Fine for not having a “spike” sign on the rear window of cars with studded tires (RUB 500);
- Fine for cuts and tears to the cord (500 rubles);
- Fine for missing wheel fastening elements (RUB 500);
- Fine for different wheel sizes on the same axle (RUB 500).
In the winter of 2017-2018, a fine for summer tires in winter is illegal and subject to appeal to the traffic police or court.
A traffic police inspector stopped me and wants to punish me for using summer tires, what should I do?
First you need to make sure that this is a real traffic police officer. Ask the person in the uniform to clearly state his last name, present documents, give the badge number and explain the reason and reason for the stop.
If misunderstandings between you grow, you can turn on the voice recorder on your smartphone or start recording video - the law allows this.
You should clarify the clause of the Code of Administrative Offenses that you violated and read it out together. If the traffic police officer persists, insist on drawing up a protocol rather than drawing up a resolution.
In the comments field, indicate “There was no violation of the article of the Administrative Code. The fine was issued for the type of tire not matching the season of the year.” Carefully read the signed papers, pay attention to the fact that traffic police officers fine you specifically for summer tires in winter. If next to the word “installed” there is no violation associated with the seasonality of the tires used, add this in the comments field. Indicate that you have a recording of the conversation with the traffic inspector.
NOTE: Subject to everything described above, the site team recommends changing tires from summer to winter at near-zero temperatures. Even the simplest and most worn winter tires significantly reduce braking distances on winter roads.
Are you for or against summer tires in winter? Write your opinion in the comments to the article.
When is it legal to change tires to winter tires in 2017 in Moscow and other Russian cities? From what date and month? Recommendations from the traffic police.
Winter in Russia, as always, creeps up unexpectedly. And although September is just ending, many are already looking for information on when to change tires to winter ones.
Many people do not know that the timing of the transition to winter tires in Russia is now established by law. When is it better to change your car's shoes for the winter in 2017 - recommendations from weather forecasters, traffic police
When is it legal to change tires to winter tires in 2017?
Many still do not know that on January 1, 2015, the Technical Regulations of the Customs Union “On the safety of wheeled vehicles” came into force. This document contains Appendix No. 8, which sets out the legal requirements for tire seasonality. According to the regulations, in winter (December, January, February) winter tires must be installed on the car. That is, according to the law, you need to change tires to winter ones no later than December 1, 2017. Even fewer people know that there is no fine for failure to change tires in Russia yet. However, on December 1, winter is already in full control over most of Russia, so when changing tires you should be guided by common sense, and not regulations.
When to change tires to winter ones in 2017? - recommendations from weather forecasters
Forecasters recommend installing winter tires when the average daily temperature drops below +7 degrees. At these temperatures, summer tires become hard and their properties deteriorate. In principle, this is quite reasonable. It is also worth paying attention to the weather forecast. If it’s warm outside now, and the weather forecast predicts temperatures below zero for the entire next week, then you can think about changing your car’s shoes this coming weekend.
For example, on October 2 and 3, 2017 in Tatarstan, temperatures are expected to be below zero at night. However, warming is then expected again to 10-12 degrees throughout the week. But in the second half of October 2017, it’s already worth thinking about changing tires - at this time the weather is already unpredictable - literally in a day, warmth can give way to cold and snowfall.
When to change tires to winter ones in 2017? - traffic police recommendations
The traffic police advises car owners to change summer tires to winter ones when the average daily air temperature drops to 5-7°C for at least a week. Changing tires in a timely manner will allow the driver to confidently cope with road situations associated with adverse weather conditions. This, in turn, will help to significantly reduce the number of road accidents, and therefore save the lives and health of road users.
Drivers also need to psychologically adapt to winter driving style. It is necessary to refrain from sudden lane changes and other maneuvers without ensuring their safety. Also, do not forget about the need to maintain distance and lateral spacing between vehicles. It is mandatory to drive a car with the external lights on at any time of the day or night; in bad weather, be sure to use fog lights; and in heavy fog, reduce the speed to the safest possible speed and drive with the hazard warning lights on.
Drivers need to be extremely careful when driving across bridges, railway crossings, at multi-level intersections of roadways and interchanges. It is also necessary to concentrate near pedestrian crossings, and when approaching a zebra crossing, reduce speed in advance, warns the traffic police.
When to change tires to winter ones in 2017? - general recommendations
Proponents of changing tires late most often motivate this by the fact that with an early change, tread wear increases and studs may fall out. Proponents of early tire change want to prepare for the season in advance and install winter tires while it is still warm enough.
Indeed, with prolonged use of winter tires at high temperatures, their wear increases, so if you install winter tires too early, their service life may decrease somewhat. On the other hand, if you want to install winter tires when the first snowfall occurs, there is every chance you won’t even get to the tire shop. How to find the golden mean?
The timing of replacement depends on whether you change the wheels yourself or entrust it to a tire service. If you change your tires at a tire shop, you should do it in advance, since when the temperature drops, the queues at these organizations grow like a snowball. If you change the wheels yourself, then you can delay the installation of the winter kit a little. The timing of tire replacement varies from year to year. For example, in 2016 the author changed tires on October 16, in 2015 - on October 5. In any case, it is better to be prepared in advance for changing tires. Even a small accident when snow falls unexpectedly, as always, will cost you more than a pair of lost studs or slightly more than usual tire wear.
When to change tires to winter ones in 2017? Reasons to switch to winter tires early
Queues at the tire shop. The first reason why you should switch to winter tires earlier is the seasonal rush in tire shops. Traditionally, 90% of drivers leave changing tires until the last day, which is why after the first snow falls, there is a sharp rush and queues at tire shops. By changing tires in advance, you will avoid wasting time.
Running in winter tires. If you have installed a new set of winter tires (especially studded ones), they need to be broken in. For the first hundred kilometers, sharp braking, slipping, and driving at speeds over 80 km/h should be avoided. It's easier to break in your tires in advance, before snow falls.
Convenient tire replacement. If you have two sets of seasonal wheels and you change them without resorting to tire service, early tire replacement is also preferable for you. It is much more pleasant to change tires on the street under the October sun than after a week or two of digging under the car, sheltering from sleet, rain, unscrewing bolts with frozen fingers.
Prepare for the vagaries of the weather. The last but most important reason. If you changed your car's shoes in advance, then you are ready for any vagaries of the weather. Even if tomorrow morning the city is covered in ankle-deep snow, you can go out and go to work, watching as your neighbors try to get out of the parking lot on summer tires or stubbornly call an overloaded taxi line.
The time frame within which it is necessary to change tires is determined in paragraph 5.5 of the Appendix under No. 8 TR CU 018/2011:
At the moment, you cannot be fined for not having winter tires. The law on studded tires is at the stage of draft No. 464241-6, which has already been considered in the State Duma and sent for revision. If the law on winter tires is finally adopted, part 3.2 of Article 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses will change. The fine for wheels that do not match the season will be 2 thousand rubles.
The essence of the current law on studded tires
The only law in force in Russia is TR CU 018/2011. The following conclusions can be drawn from it: summer tires can be used from the beginning of March to the end of November, winter tires with studs and marked M+S - from the beginning of September to the end of May, winter tires without studs and marked M+S - all year round.
This means that from the beginning of June to the end of August it is prohibited to use tires that have lugs; from the beginning of December to the end of February it is allowed to install winter tires without lugs and with lugs if they have the following pattern: 
If you have summer tires without lugs or markings, you need to install them from the beginning of March to the end of May. Try to replace summer tires with winter tires from the beginning of September to the end of November. The time intervals are quite long; when to change tires, decide depending on weather conditions.
A separate type is all-season tires. They can only be used from the beginning of December to the end of February if they are marked M+S. If there is no marking, the tires are not considered winter, that is, tires are replaced at the end of November.
Local authorities have the right to change the ban on certain types of tires only upward.
Bill No. 464241-6 was sent to the Legislation Committee and the Transport Committee for revision on November 1, 2016. To finalize it, a working group was created from deputies. The Ministry of Internal Affairs was given recommendations on how to take into account the peculiarities of climatic conditions in different regions in order to coordinate the timing of the use of studded tires. If the bill is passed soon, it will come into force no earlier than September 1.
The likelihood that there will be a new law is quite high. If there had been a reason to reject the bill, it would have been rejected. The government responded positively to the document, since statistics show that many accidents are caused by incorrectly selected wheels. This means that the law is important for increasing the level of security of Russians.
Fines related to the condition of tires
While there is no law on studded tires, traffic police officers must be guided by traffic rules. There, changes were made to the classification and a ban was established on the use of tires with worn tread.
This means that drivers are not responsible for driving on wheels that are not appropriate for the season. A fine is imposed only if the tread depth does not meet the following standards:
Moreover, the minimum indicator for cars of different classes is different:
The traffic rules also state that only those drivers whose tires have ruptures, cuts to the cord or peeling of the tread, delamination of the frame, or do not correspond to the model in terms of load or size are fined. The same punishment is provided for installing wheels of different sizes on one axle, installing tires with different wear on one car, with and without studs, new and used, with different tread patterns. The fine amount is only 500 rubles.
How much will you have to pay if there is no "Spikes" sign?
The “Spikes” sign is a white triangle, all sides of which are equal to 20 cm (or more), the width of the border is 1/10 of the length of the sides, the letter “W” is black. Mandatory for installation on vehicles equipped with knobby tires.
The “Spikes” sticker must be installed at the same time as the studded wheels. Its purpose is to warn drivers behind that the braking distance has become shorter. This will help them choose a distance in accordance with traffic regulations.
Until March 24, 2017 (the release of Resolution No. 333), no sanctions were provided for the absence of this sign. This document included this sticker in the list of faults prohibiting the operation of the vehicle. This is evidenced by changes in the following important document:
Based on this, the Code of Administrative Offenses, effective April 4, 2017, provides for a fine of 500 rubles for the absence of a “Spikes” sign on the rear window. If the glass is not tinted, you can hang the sign from the inside. It is glued on the outside if the glass is tinted. When purchasing, you need to check the dimensions of the sides of the triangle. If the sticker is too small, it will not comply with traffic regulations.
It is not clear what to do with the sticker in the summer. The law does not prohibit driving with it after changing tires. There will definitely not be a fine.
Conclusion
There are no fines for driving with wheels that do not correspond to the season yet; the penalty for low-quality tires is only 500 rubles. It's not a lot of money, but it's not the main thing. “Bald” wheels very often cause accidents in winter. Your own safety is much more important than saving money. You should also not destroy the asphalt with spikes in the summer. Russian roads are not of high quality, let’s not reduce it.
In accordance with the Decision of the Customs Union Commission of December 9, 2011 N 877, the technical regulations of the Customs Union “On the safety of wheeled vehicles” came into force on January 1, 2015
How did the adoption of this regulation affect drivers and will they face any consequences for using summer tires in winter in 2017-2018?
Summer tires are prohibited in winter
Summer tires are prohibited in winterIn order not to languish, let’s say right away that the use of summer tires in winter is not prohibited. Let's look at how and why below.
Clause 5.5 of Appendix No. 8 “Requirements for vehicles in operation” of the technical regulations of the Customs Union “On the safety of wheeled vehicles” prohibits the operation of vehicles with studs in summer and without winter tires in winter.
5.5. It is prohibited to operate vehicles equipped with tires with anti-skid studs in the summer. (June July August).
It is prohibited to operate vehicles that are not equipped with winter tires that meet the requirements of paragraph 5.6.3 of this appendix in winter. (December January February). Winter tires are installed on all wheels of the vehicle.
5.6. A tire is considered unsuitable for use if:
5.6.3. The remaining tread depth of winter tires intended for use on icy or snowy road surfaces, marked with a sign in the form of a mountain peak with three peaks and a snowflake inside it, as well as marked with the signs “M+S”, “M&S”, “M S” (if absence of wear indicators) during operation on the specified coating - no more than 4.0 mm;
Marking with “M+S” signs Please note that in summer, studded tires should not be installed, but In winter, the use of summer tires is prohibited. That is, the regulations allow the use of winter tires without studs in the summer.
Due to different climatic conditions in the territories where this technical regulation is in force, the period of prohibition of operation may be increased, but not reduced.
The terms of the operation ban may be changed upward by regional government bodies of the member states of the Customs Union.
In accordance with Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of July 15, 2013 N 588, from January 1, 2015, changes were made to the main provisions for the admission of vehicles to operation. The new edition contains paragraph 5.1 of the list of faults and conditions, in which the operation of vehicles is prohibited.
5.1. Passenger car tires have a residual tread depth of less than 1.6 mm, truck tires - 1 mm, buses - 2 mm, motorcycles and mopeds - 0.8 mm.
Note. For trailers, standards for the residual height of the tire tread pattern are established, similar to the standards for tires of vehicles - tractors.
5.1. The remaining tire tread depth (in the absence of wear indicators) is no more than:
- for vehicles of categories L - 0.8 mm;
- for vehicles of categories N2, N3, O3, O4 - 1 mm;
- for vehicles of categories M1, N1, O1, O2 - 1.6 mm;
- for vehicles of categories M2, M3 - 2 mm.
Residual tread depth of winter tires intended for use on icy or snowy road surfaces, marked with a sign in the form of a mountain peak with three peaks and a snowflake inside it, as well as marked with the signs “M+S”, “M&S”, “M S” ( in the absence of wear indicators), during operation on the specified coating is no more than 4 mm.
Note. The designation of the vehicle category in this paragraph is established in accordance with Appendix No. 1 to the technical regulations on the safety of wheeled vehicles, approved by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of September 10, 2009 No. 720.
Please note that in accordance with the requirements of the basic provisions for the approval of vehicles for operation there is no ban on the operation of vehicles under the conditions described in the technical regulations. That is, in accordance with this document, it is not prohibited to use summer tires in winter.
The new edition adds a requirement for the residual tread depth of winter tires, but there is no obligation to use them. However, the requirements of the basic provisions for the admission of vehicles to operation do not cancel the requirements of technical regulations.
Penalty for summer tires in winter in 2017-2018
A fine is imposed if the tread depth of winter tires is less than 4mm, summer tires are at least 1mm Responsibility for violations in the field of traffic is established in the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation:
Article 12.5. Driving a vehicle in the presence of malfunctions or conditions under which the operation of vehicles is prohibited
1. Driving a vehicle in the presence of malfunctions or conditions under which, in accordance with the Basic Provisions for the admission of vehicles to operation and the duties of officials to ensure road safety, operation of the vehicle is prohibited, with the exception of malfunctions and conditions specified in parts 2 - 7 of this article, -
entails a warning or the imposition of an administrative fine in the amount of five hundred rubles.
Responsibility for violation by the driver of the requirements of the technical regulations “On the safety of wheeled vehicles” not provided.
Reasons for there is no fine for using summer tires in winter in 2017-2018.
A bill introducing a fine for summer tires in winter and studded tires in summer is under consideration in the State Duma and has not yet been adopted this year.
