Winter tyres in Geneva: when should you change over?
By AZ Carrosserie · Published on
The Federal Roads Office recommends driving on winter tyres from October to Easter: plan the change from the start of October. Before refitting last year’s tyres, check the tread depth. In Geneva, AZ Carrosserie handles tyres and brakes in the same workshop as bodywork and wheels.
When should you switch to winter tyres?
The Swiss rule of thumb is short: from October to Easter. That is the period the Federal Roads Office (FEDRO, OFROU in French) recommends for winter tyres, which it considers essential for driving safely in the cold season. Source: OFROU, “Pneus d’hiver : d’octobre à Pâques”, in French, read on 07.10.2026.
Once October has started, a car still on summer tyres is past that marker: book the appointment without waiting.
Why not wait for the first snow?
The federal marker is a period, not the day’s weather. On the morning the road is white, it is too late to book calmly, and that morning you would be driving on tyres made for summer.
In town, snow is sometimes slow to come, and it is easy to think the lowlands will be spared. But a trip up the Salève, into the Jura or to a ski resort is often decided at the last minute, and morning frost gives no warning.
Will last year’s winter tyres do another season?
Look first at the tread depth, that is, the height of the grooves in the tread.
The law sets the minimum at 1.6 millimetres, summer and winter alike. For winter, FEDRO advises fitting only tyres that still have at least 4 millimetres, against 3 mm for summer. A tyre can therefore be legal and still fall short of what the office advises for the cold season. Source: OFROU, “Pneus d’hiver : d’octobre à Pâques”, in French, read on 07.10.2026.
If you have a doubt when you bring the wheels up from the cellar, say so when you book.
Is it compulsory in Switzerland?
No, the law does not require winter tyres. According to FEDRO, anyone who causes an accident or seriously holds up traffic on summer tyres in winter still risks a fine, or even losing their licence, and their insurer may refuse to cover the damage. Source: OFROU, “Pneus d’hiver : d’octobre à Pâques”, in French, read on 07.10.2026. What your own policy provides is written in its terms.
What to prepare before the change
Three points save a second visit:
- say whether your winter tyres are already fitted on their wheels, or need fitting;
- mention a wheel scuffed against a kerb: it can be raised in the same call;
- mention a brake pedal that travels further or a squeal when slowing down, if there is one.
At AZ Carrosserie, every tyre change includes fitting, balancing and a pressure check. Bodywork, mechanics and broken glass are all handled under one roof: one call, one file, even if the change of season shows up another problem.
How to book
Call the workshop on 076 429 04 12, or write from the Contact page, with the make and model of the car and what you want done: seasonal change, cut tyre, pedal that travels further, squeal.
The services are described on the Tyres and brakes page.
Where is the workshop?
The workshop is at Avenue Pictet-de-Rochemont 33ter, 1207 Genève, in Eaux-Vives. Open Monday to Friday, 7.30 am – 12 noon and 1 pm – 5.30 pm. 34 Google reviews, 5.0 out of 5 as of 19.10.2026: the workshop’s Google listing.
See also: wheel repair among the workshop’s services.