[Removed user]

2 February 2017 at 11:47:03 #810715

Hi,

i’ll be driving with my family from Mulhouse to Milan in April 2017 and I would like advice on the route and whether i’ll be affected by any passes not being open? Also as this would be my 1st time driving through Switzerland then would there be any requirements regarding ‘winter tyres’.

thanks

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[Slowpoke]

2 February 2017 at 19:53:11 #858639

Hi Andy68 –

Welcome to My Swiss Alps!

A rule of thumb is that high alpine passes open during the first two weeks of June. Some open earlier. Depends a lot upon the residue of the Winter snowpack.

This is a start.

http://www.myswissalps.com/ca r/trafficinfo

I know that there websites, perhaps such a TCS (Touring Club Switzerland) site, that also tabulate pass openings. Don’t have the links handy at the moment.

Major tunnels such as the Gotthard Pass car tunnel are open all year, but the scenery inside the long tunnels is not all that nice.

Slowpoke

[Snowman]

3 February 2017 at 10:38:12 #858640

Hi Andy,

Winter tyres: The rule is that your car must have appropriate equipment. We Swiss residents have two sets of tyres, and have the winter tyres on the car from December to April or later. For your international trip, if you stay on the major roads and use either the Gothard or the San Bernardino tunnel, I would say you don’t need winter tyres. In April, the access roads to those tunnels are likely to be snow free (although there is no absolute certainty!) If you use the Simplon Pass (no tunnel there, but they try to maintain that road open throughout the year) or the Grand-St-Bernard tunnel (access road to high elevation) you might need snow tyres, and will even want to have snow chains of the appropriate size available in your trunk. Police may decide that winter equipment is mandatory on certain road sections based on weather conditions.

If you use a rented car, check with the rental company what is their policy on winter equipment. I would assume that in Mulhouse, and in April, they don’t routinely provide cars with winter tyres.