A method for influencing traction of motor vehicle tires made from polymer materials which are mounted and in the operating/driving state, in particular, pneumatic tires for motor vehicles, wherein an ionized gas (plasma) is generated in the vicinity of the surface of the rolling tire that is in the operating state, and wherein the ionized gas is conveyed onto a region of the surface in such a way that the ionized gas acts upon the respective surface region before said surface region rolls into the road contact surface region of the tire.