When to switch from winter to summer tires (and back)
The most widely used rule is 7 °C: when the temperature stays above 7 °C, summer tires grip better, and below 7 °C winter tires do. In North Macedonia winter equipment is mandatory from 15 November to 15 March, so fit summer tires after 15 March and winter tires before 15 November.
The 7 °C rule
Tire manufacturers, Continental among them, use 7 °C as the threshold. Below that temperature the compound of summer tires hardens and loses grip, while winter tires stay soft. Above it, winter tires wear faster and take longer to stop, while summer tires grip better. Look at the temperature over several days in a row, not a single warm or cold day.
What the law says
From 15 November to 15 March a vehicle must have winter equipment, whatever the temperature. So:
- Winter tires: fit them when it gets cold, and by 15 November at the latest.
- Summer tires: after 15 March, once the temperature stays above 7 °C.
The details are in the guide Winter equipment in North Macedonia.
Before you fit the tires
- Check the tread: winter tires need at least 4 mm to be legal.
- Check the production date, see How many years tires last.
- After fitting, inflate the tires to the pressure specified by the vehicle manufacturer.
How much the change costs
Fitting and balancing four 16-inch tires costs 1,400 MKD. All prices are in the guide How much does a tire change cost in Skopje.
See our summer tires and winter tires with prices including VAT.
Frequently asked questions
What is the earliest I can fit summer tires?
After 15 March, when the winter equipment requirement ends. Ideally once the temperature stays above 7 °C.
Why not drive on winter tires all year?
In warm weather winter tires wear faster and have longer braking distances than summer tires.
More guides
- Winter equipment in North Macedonia: when it is mandatory and what the law requires - In North Macedonia winter equipment is mandatory from 15 November to 15 March. Passenger cars up to 3.5 tonnes need winter tires on all four wheels with at least 4 mm of tread, or summer tires with at least 4 mm of tread plus chains for the drive wheels. The fine is the denar equivalent of 45 euros. This season it starts on 15 November 2026.
- All-season or winter tires: which should you choose? - All-season tires marked M+S or with the mountain snowflake count as winter equipment in North Macedonia, as long as the tread is at least 4 mm. They are a good choice for city driving and mild winters without changing tires twice a year. For mountain roads and frequent snow, true winter tires grip better.
- How much does a tire change cost in Skopje? - At Ceres, fitting and removing one 15 or 16-inch tire costs 150 MKD and balancing 200 MKD, 1,400 MKD in total for four tires. For 13 and 14-inch tires the four cost 1,000 MKD, for 17 and 18-inch 1,800 MKD. Prices are per tire, from the October 2026 price list.
- M+S or 3PMSF: winter tire markings explained - M+S (mud and snow) means the tread is designed for mud and snow, but no test is required for the marking. A tire only gets the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) if it passes a standard snow test. In North Macedonia both markings count as winter tires.