No, studded tires are prohibited nationwide in France under the Code de la route (Article R413-15), with no exceptions for alpine regions or seasonal use.
Key Regulations for Studded Tires in France
- National Ban: Since 2021, the Ministère de la Transition Écologique enforces a blanket prohibition via Arrêté du 29 décembre 2020, citing road surface damage and environmental concerns.
- Regional Exemptions: None exist; even departments like Savoie or Haute-Savoie, historically permissive, must comply with the national rule.
- Penalties: Non-compliance incurs a €135 fine (fixed penalty) and potential vehicle immobilization, enforced by gendarmerie and police patrols during winter checks.
Local Enforcement Context: The Direction Générale des Infrastructures, des Transports et des Mobilités (DGITM) collaborates with Cerema (Centre d’études et d’expertise sur les risques, l’environnement, la mobilité et l’aménagement) to monitor compliance, particularly on high-altitude routes where studded tires were previously tolerated. No legislative proposals in 2026 suggest revisions to this ban, despite lobbying from alpine municipalities.
Practical Implications: Drivers must rely on alternative winter tires (e.g., pneus neige marked “3PMSF”) or chains during snow conditions. Rental fleets and logistics operators face stricter audits under the Loi Climat et Résilience (2021), which ties road access to environmental standards.