Insurers hike premiums for winter tyres

Gloomendoom

It looks like some insurers are treating fitting winter tyres as a 'modification'...

Motorists looking for extra grip in the cold snap are being frustrated not only by a major shortage in winter tyres – but also by insurers increasing 
premiums for fitting them!

Meanwhile, some insurers are failing to spot the benefit and are raising premiums. Auto Express subscriber David Gana, from Oldham, Lancs, said Frizzell told him the “modification” of winter tyres for his Renault Laguna would hike his premium by £230. And https://www.singletrackworld.com forum contributor Swalsey was surprised when he rang Admiral to see if his winter tyres would attract a discount. “It quoted an INCREASE of £22!” he fumed.

Read more: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/260503/winter_tyre_ko_as_big_freeze_hits.html#ixzz16mlfcyhC

jayme1

insurers can go :mad: themselves, if they think it should be classed like a 'chav' putting in a new useless speaker then they have some major delusions.

A_Doonhamer

I normally laugh at those who say its simply a money making racket by insurers but after reading that I may have to agree with them. There is no logical reason to assume somebody who goes to the time and expense of fitting tyres suitable for the conditions is a bigger risk and thus should be charged more.

They should be encouraging people to fit winter tyres.

leo~saphira

jayme1 wrote: »

insurers can go :mad: themselves, if they think it should be classed like a 'chav' putting in a new useless speaker then they have some major delusions.

+1

Talk about fleecing the very people who have safety in mind.

It should be the other way round - a nice discount more like

mikey72

Always after another way to fleece the customer.
I wonder how they try to justify it.
Mine are the right size, as mentioned in the handbook, and on the correct rims for the car. I haven't even thought to tell them though. I don't intend to either.

Gloomendoom

As long as you are only fitting the exactly same size and load/speed rated tyres as specified by the car manufacturer, there shouldn't be any need to inform your insurer.

ariba10

mikey72 wrote: »

Always after another way to fleece the customer. I haven't even thought to tell them though. I don't intend to either.

That in itself could be a problem if you have to make a claim.

vaio

Gloomendoom wrote: »

As long as you are only fitting the exactly same size and load/speed rated tyres as specified by the car manufacturer, there shouldn't be any need to inform your insurer.

Except than modern cars are often fitted with V or higher tyres (my summer ones are Y rated) but my winter tyres are only H rated

On a reasonably powerful car it seems it’s impossible to get winter tyres of the same speed rating.

I agree with mikey, just apply a bit of common sense (something generally in short supply at insurance call centres)

mikey72

ariba10 wrote: »

That in itself could be a problem if you have to make a claim.

Why?

As in the rest of my post.

"Mine are the right size, as mentioned in the handbook, and on the correct rims for the car. I haven't even thought to tell them though."

There isn't a speed rating in the book either.
Manufacturers specify a lower speed rating on winter tyres. Maybe not in the uk, if there is no listing, but the same car to a european spec will be on "H" rated tyres or similar. That should be enough to force a payout if they want a fight.

ariba10

mikey72 wrote: »

Why?

As in the rest of my post.

"Mine are the right size, as mentioned in the handbook, and on the correct rims for the car. I haven't even thought to tell them though."

There isn't a speed rating in the book either.

I will leave you to argue it out with your insurers as to what is a modification and what is not.

molerat

So in effect fitting any tyre other than what it rolled off the production with could cause an increase in premium. My car came with an 88V tyre as new but the manufacturers spec is 82H so what should I fit ? As others have said, just another way for the big bullies to rip the motorist off.