Winter tires in Switzerland - Austria

[turms]

I will rent a car from 22 til 26 April from Zurich Airport.

However i could not understand if the winter tires are obligatory.
could you please give me some info about Switzerland + Austria
Are winter tires obligatory after 15.04 or not? (in both countries)

Somewhere i read that the period is 1.11-15.04 and somewhere 1.11-30.4
whats going on?

Thanx....

[Glünamylove]

In Switzerland, winter-tires are not at all obligatory, dosn't matter which time in winter. You can ride with summer tires all winter long, if you want, and it causes no problems with the law, if you don't have an accident!
But de insurances will take regress if you have a damage which is caused by the wrong choice of tires.
If you rent a car, you will be insured by the renters insurance? So I'm not an expert for law, but I think is also the hirers responsibility with which tires he fits the car.

For a simple notice, moste Swiss citizens change tires at Easter an in October (we call it "from O (like Ostern = Easter) to O (for October)") this ist plus minus the time it makes sense to change, but it depends also where you drive mostly, high alpine or flat land.

Austria I don't know, sorry.

[turms]

aha...ok. Thanx for the answer...

[Mark Jan]

If memory serves me correctly I do believe that winter tires are mandatory in Austria from November till the 15th of April. So if you come over after the 15th of April you should be fine with summer tires.

[Mt. Cervino]

Usually all rental cars in Switzerland (at least Sixt, Europcar, Avis etc.) are equipped with winter tires during winter season.
If you ask for winter tires explicitly when booking your car, you will be charged with an extra fee for winter tires.
If you don’t ask explicitly, you will get the same (winter) tires but without any extra payment .

[turms]

Usually all rental cars in Switzerland (at least Sixt, Europcar, Avis etc.) are equipped with winter tires during winter season.
If you ask for winter tires explicitly when booking your car, you will be charged with an extra fee for winter tires.
If you don’t ask explicitly, you will get the same (winter) tires but without any extra payment .

aha....i will keep my mouth shut then....thanks for the tip

[Oliver199]

In Austria you have to use winter tires on your drive axle obligatory from 11th of November to 15th of April (just checked with internet law information). In case of snow or ice on the street you would have to use winter tires on all 4 tires.
Source: Link

[Mark Jan]

Oliver, I know that there are people that think they only need wintertyers on their front wheels (in case for front wheel drive, which most cars have) but in fact that is not a smart thing to do. In such a set-up there is a real danger that, in case you hit a slippery part of the road your car will start spinning. Your front wheels will keep grip, your back tyers won't and they will break out causing your car to start spinning. This is especially the case when you drive down a mountain or hill.

How strange it may sound, but (in case of front-wheel drive) your best tyers should be at the back of the car, not in front. So just to be save, put wintertyres on all your four wheels.

[GMD]

Well, easter is late this year, in fact you will travel at this days. I think there will not be much snow left at this time. But as mentioned, it's a question of your journeys. If traveling via high alpine routes (which will be opened normally at easter), it's possible that winter tires are a good choice.

Btw. I live near Zurich Airport. What about a meeting?