Ken Divjak – Our man in Flanders
You can hardly call winter tires popular in the Netherlands, while in Germany they are de facto mandatory. Does Belgium keep the church in the middle in that area?
“Only 29 percent of Dutch motorists drive on winter tires in the winter,” writes colleague Joas Van Wingerden based on research by Autoverzekering.nl. With 33 percent, the Belgians hardly do better, although the relief in Wallonia and the Ardennes is a lot more challenging than in the Netherlands.
Despite height and snow, barely more than the Netherlands
No, winter tires are not mandatory in Belgium. This decision is just as justifiable for Flanders as for the Netherlands, where it only snows a few days a year. This is significantly different in Wallonia. There, rain more quickly becomes winter precipitation, which can remain at altitude and freeze. For comparison: the highest point in the Netherlands is the Vaalserberg at 322.4 meters above sea level, in Belgium this is the so-called Signal of Botrange at 695.4 meters. The southernmost province of Luxembourg (not to be confused with the country of the same name just below) is even higher in its entirety than the Vaalserberg, which only underlines the usefulness of winter tires. And yet Belgium as a whole is only marginally better than the Netherlands according to the recently published figures from VIAS.
Use of winter tires has even decreased
Even more striking is that the use of winter tires in Belgium has decreased in recent years. While 60 percent of Walloons opted for winter tires in 2016, today it is only 41%. The same applies to Flanders, where the share has fallen from 40 percent in 2016 to 28 percent today. Together this gives an average of 33 percent across Belgium. It is also striking that in Belgium the proponents are young drivers between the ages of 18 and 34, while in the Netherlands it is mainly people 34+ who opt for winter slippers. Or how the average Belgian prefers to postpone his journeys in bad weather, while the average Dutch person builds in an extra layer of safety.
All-season tires above
The reasons for the declining popularity of winter tires are numerous in the Low Countries. To begin with, winters have become less severe due to climate change. But when King Winter does poke, he does it more boldly these days. That is why many drivers in Belgium and the Netherlands now opt for all-season tires. These rubbers have not only improved – at least if you choose an A-brand – but also save on tire changes and storage costs. Just know that all-season tires involve a compromise both in the height of summer (when the rubber becomes soft) and in the depths of winter (in snow or icy conditions). However, this can be justified for the mild winters in Belgium and the Netherlands, which means that this type of tire appeals to 38% of Belgians and even 46 percent of Dutch drivers. The two lowest countries agree on that point.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl