Everyone (or almost everyone) knows the M+S brand, many fewer know what the 3Pmsf symbol is and what it means, that of the three-peaked mountain with the snowflake. Here’s what you need to travel in winter and how to make the correct choice
The obligation to equip winter tires or snow chains on board will come into effect shortly, on November 15th at a national level. There are those who have equipped themselves in advance, taking advantage of the possibility provided by the Code of fitting winter tires as early as October 15th, and those who will do so shortly. In any case, especially in the last one, it makes sense to have a basic smattering of both what is mandatory by law and the so-called accessory acronymseven more so for those who are approaching winter or 4-season tires for the first time or almost. Where the obligation exists, the Italian Highway Code considers tires that have the shoulder on the shoulder to be in compliance M+S brandbut the most attentive will not have missed the existence of a symbol with snowflakes. What is it, what does the Code say and which one should you prefer?
M+S: WHAT IT MEANS
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The M+S brand Everyone knows him a bit. It stands for Mud and Snow – from the English mud and snow – and can also be found as MS, M&S or MS. It is the only one that is valid by law: in the event of checks by the police on a road subject to the obligation to wear winter tyres, if there is one of those acronyms on the shoulder of the tires and if the tread thickness is greater than the legal limit (4 mm, both for winter and 4-season tyres), then you are in compliance and do not risk sanctions. There M+S marking is therefore a necessary and sufficient requirement to travel on roads where thermal tires are mandatory, e indicates that the tread has been designed for use at low temperatures such as in winter or on snow-covered and/or icy surfaces, conditions in which summer tires do not allow safe travel. The M+S mark in fact indicates that the tyre, according to the manufacturer, is suitable for use on snow, which is better than a summer one on muddy or snow-covered surfaces. However, there are no regulatory tests that certify this.
3PMSF: WHAT IT MEANS
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On the shoulder of some winter or 4 season tires together with the M+S brand you can also find the 3Pmsf symbolacronym for Three-Peak Mountain Snow Flakeliterally three-peaked snowflake mountain. Unlike in other countries, in Italy it is not a necessary requirement for driving on low-grip surfaces. However it represents a extra security: to be able to imprint the symbol of the three-pointed mountain with the snowflake on the shoulder of the tyres, the manufacturers must in fact subject that model to the tests required by the Unece R117 regulation, therefore objective and standardized tests. Only winter or 4-season tires comply with the standard, which therefore have successfully passed the strict requirements of the European regulation, can bear the symbol. Ultimately, if the only requirement for traveling in difficult environmental conditions is the M+S marking, those who live in areas with a particularly harsh climate or often travel on snowy or icy roads and want to respect the law but at the same time have greater guarantees in terms of performance and safety, it makes sense to evaluate winter or all-season tires that have, in addition to the M+S marking, also the symbol 3Pmsf.
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