What does the red symbol on the tyre indicate?

The red symbol on the tyre you see is the Alpine symbol, which looks like a mountain with a snowflake inside it. This symbol indicates that the tyre is specifically designed for winter conditions.

According to German traffic rules, tyres with this marking are suitable for wintry weather conditions because they meet certain performance standards in snow and ice (choice 1). These tyres have special rubber compounds and tread designs that also improve driving performance on snowy roads, providing better grip and safety (choice 2).

However, these tyres can be used on their own in winter conditions and do not necessarily need to be combined with snow chains (which would be optional or required only in very harsh conditions). So the third option about mandatory use with snow chains is incorrect for this symbol.

In summary, the symbol confirms the tyre’s suitability for snowy and icy conditions, enhancing safety and control without needing snow chains in normal winter driving, which is why both answers 1 and 2 are correct.