Georgia Toughens Winter Tire Requirements: New Rules are Also Important for Armenian Citizens
From December 1 to March 1, strict mandatory winter tire rules have been established in Georgia for vehicles traveling on mountain roads. The Patrol Service will monitor a number of international and state highways, which are also used by citizens of Armenia.
The use of summer tires is completely prohibited on the Mleta–Kobi section, the only land route between Georgia and Russia. A strict regime is also established in other mountainous regions of Georgia, including sections near the Armenia–Georgia and Georgia–Turkey routes, as well as on approximately 1300 kilometers of internal roads.
Under the new rules, tires must be less than 10 years old, and the year of manufacture must be visible. In addition, the groove depth must be at least 3 mm for private cars and trucks, and 4 mm for minibuses and buses weighing up to 5 tons. Tires must carry the snow symbol.
Buses and trucks with a load capacity of more than 3.5 tons are allowed to use tires without the snow symbol, but in this case, it is mandatory to have snow chains.
The Georgian police can stop a vehicle for a visual inspection of the tires and to measure the groove depth. A fine of 100 Lari is imposed for violating the rules. If the vehicle poses a danger to traffic, its entry into the country may be prohibited or the vehicle may even be confiscated.