Studded Tyres
Studded tyres are winter tyres with metal studs that bite mechanically into ice. In Latvia, driving on them is prohibited from 1 May to 1 October and they must be fitted on all wheels; they pay off most on icy and uncleared roads.
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When studs are allowed
Latvia's Road Traffic Regulations prohibit driving on studded tyres from 1 May to 1 October, so the stud season runs from October to the end of April. The mandatory winter tyre period (1 December to 1 March) is shorter, which means studs can also be used during the autumn and spring frosts of October, November, March and April.
Additional requirements in Latvia
- studs must be on all wheels – the roadworthiness rules (Cabinet Regulation No. 295) forbid mixing studded and non-studded tyres on one vehicle;
- the number of studs may not differ by more than 20% between the tyres, and no stretch of the tread circumference without studs may be longer than the length of the tyre's contact patch – worth checking if studs have fallen out;
- studs may protrude no more than 2 mm on average, and the number of studs per tyre is capped according to rim diameter unless the tyre's type approval allows more;
- during the mandatory winter period, studded tyres also need the 3PMSF symbol and at least 4 mm of tread.
Who studded tyres suit
Studs make the biggest difference on bare or polished ice: at icy junctions, on rural and forest roads that are not cleared regularly, and in freeze-thaw weather when roads glaze over by morning. If you drive a lot outside town or early in the day, studded tyres are a logical choice.
Downsides of studs
- Noise: louder on dry and wet asphalt.
- Road wear: studs abrade the surface and deepen ruts.
- Dry asphalt: no advantage on a clean road, and braking can be longer than with a good friction tyre.
- EU label: it does not apply to studded tyres, so you cannot compare them by label classes.
If you mostly drive on cleared city streets, consider friction tyres. Test findings and practical advice are in our guide to studded tyres in Latvia.