RAC Insurance & Winter Tyres..

TheSage_2

Just off the phone with RAC Car Insurance Customer Services and I can't believe how hard it was to get answers on changing to winter tyres on my car was. I gave up in the end as I kept getting passed to people who either didn't understand my request or couldn't give me an answer to the questions I was asking... My car currently has the default 215/50/R17 alloys & tyres. Vauxhall state in the owners manual that winter tyres cannot be used on 215/50/R17 wheels.
I live in Scotland. We were snowed in for three months last winter..
For the next 4 months I wish to change to 215/55/R16 steel wheels with suitable winter tyres. These are a manufacturers allowed size for my car (i checked with Vauxhall).
All I wanted to know was will this affect my policy? If so by how much? and finally, If so, why? It surely reduces the risk by fitting winter tyres in areas where heavy snow & drifting is common place?
After last winter, why are insurers not geared up to answer these questions and why is their first line to try and charge for 'altering the car' from it's original state?
Arrgh.....
:mad:

Quentin

Write stating what you intend to do and ask if it affects your policy. Send it by recorded delivery then the ball is in their court.

vaio

Don't I remember the ABI issuing guidance (instructions??) to insurance companies that winter tyres weren't modifications and shouldn't need to be notified or attract a premium increase?

raskazz

vaio wrote: »

Don't I remember the ABI issuing guidance (instructions??) to insurance companies that winter tyres weren't modifications and shouldn't need to be notified or attract a premium increase?

It's not as straightforward as this as the OP is not just fitting winter tyres but will be changing the overall diameter of the tyres. Changing the diameter of tyres can have implications in terms of ride height, gearing and speedometer/odometer readings and is certainly a modification.

If you search for "tyre diameter calculator" then you can enter the currrent and new tyre codes and get a good idea of whether the new diameter is feasible.

The OP needs to ask them to refer to a senior underwriter who should understand stuff like this if at all competent. Having said that, you'd be amazed at the lack of technical nous among the direct style insurers.

mikey72

The handbook for mine lists several wheel and tyre options, to cover alloys and steel wheels.
And it does list the winter tyre option a being a smaller steel wheel for some of the alloys, so should be covered by the ABI guidance.
However, I agree some insurers get stroppy with even factory fitted options on new cars, so worth telling them beforehand.

k9387

raskazz wrote: »

It's not as straightforward as this as the OP is not just fitting winter tyres but will be changing the overall diameter of the tyres. Changing the diameter of tyres can have implications in terms of ride height, gearing and speedometer/odometer readings and is certainly a modification.

If you search for "tyre diameter calculator" then you can enter the currrent and new tyre codes and get a good idea of whether the new diameter is feasible.

The OP needs to ask them to refer to a senior underwriter who should understand stuff like this if at all competent. Having said that, you'd be amazed at the lack of technical nous among the direct style insurers.

This is not entire reason.

The difference is 0.6% or 3.9mm in diameter or 12.25mm in circumference - a tiny difference, your spedo will be showing 0.42mph faster than what you are actually travelling and speedos are not that accurate for this to make a difference.

As the OP says: These are a manufacturers allowed size for my car (i checked with Vauxhall). So could possibly have been factory fitted sized when the car was bought.

They want to know (and you should tell them because the last thing you want is the policy voided) because yes, technically you are making a 'modification' (be it for performance/value/looks) but it really shouldn't make a difference an don't ge pushed into paying more.

Info from the AA / ABI: http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/safety/winter-tyres-in-the-uk.html

raskazz

k9387 wrote: »

This is not entire reason.

The difference is 0.6% or 3.9mm in diameter or 12.25mm in circumference - a tiny difference, your spedo will be showing 0.42mph faster than what you are actually travelling and speedos are not that accurate for this to make a difference.

I didn't say that it would make a substantial difference in this case. I said that this is why the OP's case is not as straightforward as "winter tyres are OK according to the ABI".

vaio

if fitting the tyres specifically recommended by the manufacturer counts as a modification (which is what you seem to be saying) then it makes the ABI pronouncement a bit pointless

k9387

Whatever the reasons it is always best to check.

If they do want to charge more, most wont, then kick up a fuss and use the above info.

The first thing you should have done is just ask them, anything here is just speculation...

System

OP - RAC insurance, if an insurer who brand themselves as part of a major motoring organisation are not able to understand the concept of changing tyres in winter, then what hope have we with other insurers :rotfl:
Don't let them get away with not registering your intentions to swap tyres, and make sure they do not need you to contact them each summer and winter, they should not need to be informed every time you swap.

I too am considering buying winter tyres with the appropriate wheel rims in the size recommended by the vehicle manufacturer, so I will need to contact my own insurance company to check if they wish to increase my premium. I must admit that I am expecting problems when I do phone because the UK insurance industry do not have the experience to deal with this type of change (which is common practice in Europe) ( I will not be happy if they want to increase my premium )

I guess that if more motorists start to swap summer for winter tyres, the more commonplace it will become and insurers will realise that they should not charge for this safety related change (modification ).

Quentin

BAA1 wrote: »

OP - RAC insurance, if an insurer who brand themselves as part of a major motoring organisation are not able to understand the concept of changing tyres in winter, then what hope have we with other insurers......

This may be the answer (taken from the RAC Insurance website - it seems when you buy RAC Insurance it has nothing to do with the RAC motoring organisation):

RAC Car Insurance is administered by an independent intermediary, BISL Limited