France in Focus

I live in an area covered by the Loi Montagne which requires four all-season tyres or 4 winter tyres on cars from 1Nov-31 Mar to be in compliance and to avoid any insurance problems. I've just bought a new car which was delivered with summer tyres (as I believe is normally the case everywhere). The dealer would only put 4-season tyres (a brand of his choice which do not have the best reviews) on the car at an additional cost much higher than Norauto etc, without any allowance for the original vehicle tyres.

Given the snow, ice, etc on the Vosges cols I now really need to have all-season tyres for the new car. For my old car I had two sets of tyre rims with summer and winter tyres but the cost of just getting the rims swapped over twice a year is getting expensive.

After I get all-season tyres fitted next week I'm going to have four Michelin summer tyres that have been used for less than 150km and I'm wondering how I can best get maximise there value when disposing of them? There already seem to be plenty on offer on leboncoin and at low prices and I'd probably have to limit my possible market as I think they'd have to be collected? Whatever I do to try to sell them, would it be better to wait until spring when possibly buyers might need summer tyres?

Has anyone any suggestions?

I specified 4 season tyres when I bought my new car. I too live where that is a requirement, as did the salesman.

You could always ask the garage changing the tyres for an offer. You never know.

It’s a bit of a scam. How can these dogs legally sell you a car that does not meet the regulations. I gave up trying to get them fitted for my forthcoming new EV and decided I will not go out in it if the temperature is less than 4 degrees with a chance of ice. Fortunately I can use the 4x4 for emergency although it does have a drink problem.

You need tyres with the "Three Peak Mountain Snowflake 3PMSF" symbol on the tyre, not all "Four season or Off Road/ M+S/ Winter" tyres have this symbol. Easiest is another set of rims with "3PMSF" tyres, they will last many years if stored correctly, you will only need them from November to March, depending on local regs. If you have difficulty undoing the wheel nuts invest in a cordless impact drive 40/50€ on Amazon, but in MHO all drivers should be able to change a wheel.

The loi Montagne I referenced states only 3PMSF tyres conform.

Can you provide a link for an easy-to-use jack, and a device to remove and then lift and centre a 20+kg rim and tyre on to the hub for someone in their 70s with a back problem?. I believe you forgot the torque wrench.

@ Elsie, It does ring a bell... there's nothing wrong with the tools. Not too difficult. But then: how do you get such a heavy wheel off and, even more difficult for the older youngsters among us, get it back on again, perfectly aligned...I have to think hard about when I last did that, in one smooth movement, as if you were picking up a cup of coffee...

New cars do not have a spare wheel. They issue a bottle of slime and a battery powered compressor.

Which can be next to useless.

When I changed my car here in 2018 I requested, and received, a full sized spare tyre. Obviously there was an additional cost but the other advantage means the boot floor is flat so it’s easier for for my dog to get in.

In my previous French car I had the slime and compressor system and never felt comfortable driving back and forth to the UK on my own.