Are winter tires obligatory?

There is no law in the Alps requiring vehicles to have winter tires, but if you break down on a snow-covered road in a vehicle that isn't properly equipped, you could still be held responsible. In practice, this means the police may intervene if the stranded vehicle creates a danger to other traffic or causes a traffic jam. The issue of a vehicle being 'inappropriately equipped' can also be used to determine fault in the event of an accident. Therefore, driving without winter tires is the driver's responsibility.