No, this isn't Marks & Spencer moving into the tyre business.  It is a change to German traffic regulations meaning that all from Saturday 4 December, all trucks over 3.5 tonnes and buses with more than eight seats must use Mud and Snow (M+S) drive axle tyres on roads covered with ice, hard-packed snow or slush.  This applies to domestic vehicles and foreigners visiting or crossing the country.  German tyre-maker Continental welcomes the move that says clarifies the law by defining which tyres are suitable for winter and when to use them.  The firm says all its drive axle tyres are M+S rated and marked.  It also says winter-marked tyres such as its Scandinavia range used on all axles will give even greater safety on winter roads.
More from Udo Brandes on +49 (0)511 938 2923 or udo.brandes@conti.de