Driving from UK to Poland in Christmas Time - winter tyres?

"Year stamp is no older than five years."

Does that go for summer tyres as well.

Absolutely the rubber degrades over time and cracks, look between the tread patterns if you see cracking its time to get rid.

Thanks Dolnoslask will buy new summer tyres in the spring of 2017.

"Year stamp is no older than five years." - this is ultra conservative. Tyre life will depend on a number of factors - exposure, usage etc. A tyre may last 5-10 years. Start inspecting your tyre for wear on the sidewalls after 5 years but you can keep a tyre for up to 10 years. Some people travel less in winter so you may find winter tyres with little wear.

Tyres are not a part of the car I usually look to make savings on. I know, call me extravagant.

With a Honda CRV you have semi all wheel drive, so if the traction is low four wheels kick in. That being said, you could have the top of the range winter tyres, its not going to get you out of trouble if you have zero experience of driving in hazardous conditions.Snow is not really the problem in Poland its the black ice, hat men and boy racers which will get you into trouble,drive safely.

Hi, thank you all for the comments and guidance. The tyres I currently have are Michelin 225/60R18 with a marking "M + S". Can you please let me know what this M + S means?

Means mud and snow, an all weather tyre, so you would be ok in Germany.

To add the link below should help

theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/snow-chains-winter-tyres.html

I'd say you'll be OK on all season tyres this December. If there's a super blizzard and the main roads and motorways are blocked then you may find you have issues. However, the best winter tyres can't always cope with deep new snow anyway. Just drive slowly and carefully if the weather gets bad. Ignore the idiots on the road.

You could of course make sure the car is actually legally permitted to drive through Germany and have the correct tyres fitted.
The M and S marks are not genuine winter tyres unless the three peaks (winter symbol) is also marked on the sidewall.
Many of the cheaper imported types are not true winter tyres and if you are stopped in Germany the penalties can be harsh let alone the problems of having to have the correct tyres fitted before the car is released. FACT.... not guesswork as written by numerous above.

Three peaks is only a recommendation

The new law also spells out what a "winter tire" is. Specifically, it is an M+S-Reifen, a mud-and-snow tire that has an official M+S (Matsch und Schnee) marking on it. (M+S tires do not have to be "winter" tires. All-year or all-weather M+S tires also qualify.) The German automobile club ADAC recommends going a step further and getting tires with the "three-peak-mountain" seal, an indication of snow tires that meet the highest standards.

german-way.com/travel-and-tourism/driving-in-europe/driving/snow-tires-winter-driving

It makes no difference to me what garbage you continue to write, the facts I have given came straight from the horses mouth so to speak within the last 10 days. UK registered cars beware.

Can you provide the source for the horse that you have been speaking with.

The law pertaining to the display of M+S markings with the three peaks (Winter symbol) does not come into play until 2018

tyrepress.com/2016/04/germany-to-tighten-winter-tyre-rules

The current requirement to drive on winter tyres (or all-season tyres bearing the correct marking) in conditions where they represent a safer option than summer tyres, regardless of season, will remain the rule.