Studded or non-studded winter tyres: which should I choose in Norway?
Rules, dates and city fees for studded and non-studded tyres.
Short answer
Both are allowed, but non-studded winter tyres can be used all year, while studded tyres are limited to the winter season and need a permit in Oslo, Bergen and Trondheim. Studded tyres are not required by law, and they wear the road more and create more dust. NAF advises choosing the tyre that suits the roads you drive on.
Why
- Statens vegvesen allows studded tyres from 1 November to the first Sunday after Easter Monday, and from 16 October to 30 April in Nordland, Troms and Finnmark, while non-studded winter tyres may be used all year.
- When road conditions require it, the car must have winter tyres with or without studs, chains or similar, so studs are one option, not a requirement.
- In Oslo and Bergen a studded tyre permit for a car costs NOK 35 for 24 hours, NOK 450 for a month or NOK 1,400 for the 2026–2027 season, and Trondheim charges the same.
Details
If you use studded tyres, all wheels must have them. In its 2026 winter tyre test, NAF says the best non-studded tyres combine solid winter qualities with better performance on bare roads, but wet asphalt is still the weakest side of Nordic non-studded tyres. Studded tyres and chains may also be used outside the official dates if the road conditions require it.
Tip
If you mainly drive in and around Oslo, Bergen or Trondheim, non-studded tyres save you the permit; with studded tyres, buy the permit before you enter the city, as Oslo requires it even if you only drive through.
What may differ
In Nordland, Troms and Finnmark the studded tyre season runs from 16 October to 30 April. In Oslo the 2026–2027 permit season runs from 1 November 2026 to 4 April 2027, and a valid permit from Oslo or Trondheim is also accepted in Bergen.
Common misconception
You must have studded tyres to drive in Norway in winter.
What actually happens
Studded tyres are not required; the rule is that you must have winter tyres, with or without studs, when the road conditions call for it.
People also ask
- Are studded tyres better than non-studded in Norway?
- Do I need studded tyres to drive in Norway in winter?
Sources
- Norwegian Public Roads Administration: Tyre requirementsChecked at:
- City of Oslo: Studded tyre feeChecked at:
- City of Bergen: Studded tyresChecked at:
- NAF: Winter tyre test 2026Checked at:
- Store norske leksikon: Winter tyresChecked at:
This answer is for reference only. Rules and fees can change, so check Statens vegvesen and the city council before you travel.
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