The winter weather in Germany is changing - compared with the 1950s, the number of days of snowfall has gone down by around a third.

Some motorists think this means they can do without winter tyres. This is however a rash reaction, because on cold, wet roads summer tyres offer far less safety than winter tyres. The absence of snow does not mean that winter has withdrawn to higher regions. Cold days, both wet and dry, now account for 85% of winter weather.

And it's not just the climate that speaks for winter tyres. The use of thawing agents is constantly being reduced to protect the environment. Since 1997, roads in Germany have been gritted and cleared according to their priority status. Salt is spread on important or dangerous road sectors, whilst minor roads are cleared or gritted. Roads in residential-only areas are often not cleared at all. That means it is the motorist's responsibility to drive carefully and suitable winter tyres are more important than ever before, because after the next junction, the road ahead might already still be covered with snow.