Winter Tyres

gardnerj36

Anyboby useing winter tyres should check there insurance policy as some companys insist on being told they have been fitted.

I know it makes no sense but, I believe, there has been a case where an insurance company would not pay out for the insured car as they had not been told of the change to winter tyres. Again I believe, it was because the tyres were of a type not recomended by the car manufacturer. So check!

OddballJamie

gardnerj36 wrote: »

Anyboby useing winter tyres should check there insurance policy as some companys insist on being told they have been fitted.

I know it makes no sense but, I believe, there has been a case where an insurance company would not pay out for the insured car as they had not been told of the change to winter tyres. Again I believe, it was because the tyres were of a type not recomended by the car manufacturer. So check!

This list will help.
http://www.abi.org.uk/Information/Consumers/General/Winter_Tyres__The_Motor_Insurance_Committment.aspx

OddballJamie

TysonTheTyreMan wrote: »

I think it's very weird that you need to tell your insurance company that you've fitted winter tyres, when they actually are safer!

I presume it could be due to the speed rating and the wheel change, could count as a modification. Best to check though.

neilmcl

TysonTheTyreMan wrote: »

I think it's very weird that you need to tell your insurance company that you've fitted winter tyres, when they actually are safer!

Well, as you can see from the post above yours, the majority don't require you to inform them, so long as the wheels/tyre sizes/ratings meet manufacturer recommendation.

bigjl

alun4 wrote: »

I have a son in Austria. Legal requirement there is winter tyres through winter months. We needed three new tyres on our Merc Vito so bought winter tyres and have had two trips out to him this winter. At the moment, in French Alps and at all times really appreciate the safety and grip .... truly amazing. Wet road grip is also enhanced.

I don't think we will change back to summer tyres as we are getting about 4mpg MORE and no noticeable extra noise, reduction in comfort etc.

So my advice - go for a set of winter tyres (no real price difference) and see how they work for a year.

I have Goodyear Winter tyres and didn't change them in summer due to the car not being used much.

But they are not as good in the summer temps as they are in colder temperatures.

They also wear rapidly if they are subject to high speed use or longer journeys.

I am going to put a set of normal tyres on this year.

As I want my winters to last a few more years yet.

Winter tyres are also mush softer in compound so are less direct than normal tyres.

It is perfectly legal to use them all year.

But you are accepting lower performance and breaking and wearing them out faster than if swapping over.

If you have two sets of tyres it is highly likely you will get many years out of the two sets.

But to use the winters outside of their comfort zone you are reducing your return from your investment.

Winter tyres are also expensive, around 15-20% more than a similar quality normal (summer) tyre.

The only reason I have posted is that I have done exactly as you planned to do, albeit with less miles than normal, and found them lacking a little bit.

The amount of wear evident over the small number of summer miles I did was enough to tell me not to do it again.

Costco are going to have their four tyres for 25% off deal soon so a good time to buy a set of Michelins.

I am looking at the new Energy + tyre which has much improved wet weather grip or the new Primacy 3 which is now a little bit quieter and fuel efficient.

No discounts on the newly stocked Continental tyres that I have seen.

neilmcl

Even with their discount I've never found Costco that cheap in comparison to some.

bigjl

Interesting, as I have searched lots of places to find somewhere that undercuts Costco on the same tyre.

They all may seem the same or a bit cheaper but when you include delivery and fitting and a balance and then legal tyre disposal they all seem to fall by the wayside.

So who have you found cheaper?

I haven't checked every size they stock but they are cheaper on 205/55/16, 185/65/15 and 175/16 Taxi Tyres.

Which are the only three I need to buy.

If you can buy when they have one of their four for the price of three deals they are cheaper still.

But if you are comparing their normal prices with some other companies special offer you aren't really comparing the same thing.

They also stock Continental tyres but I haven't done a price comparison on them so couldn't tell you if they were cheap or not.

I will be happy to read your figures.

neilmcl

Can't give you any specifics right now but whenever I'm looking for a set/pair of runflat 205/55 R16 tyre, I usually check the internet first - kwik-fit, blackcircles, Camskills, Mytyres etc, ring around a few places including Costoc in Derby, then I usually find a couple of local independents who generally beat any of the above prices.

bigjl

I have tried Oponeo, Mytyres, Camskill and Blackcircles.

They have never been cheaper yet.

I have read all this talk of too an "independent" who will price match but have checked 5/6 different local places and they have not been able to meet the price of Costco on a Michelin tyre.

They have offered to supply me with a cheap tyre but not a Michelin cheap.

I will stick with Costco, got two Taxi tyres there a few weeks ago for £62:99 + Vat each, with balance, new valve, nitrogen filled (never actually paid much attention if this really does make them less likely to go loose a bit of pressure) and a legal tyre disposal.

I can get a cheaper Austone tyre for £60 fitted and balanced but the nearest price within the Taxi trade for a Michelin is £85, almost a tenner more and in South East London, so an hours journey away, Costco is five minutes.

Maybe independent tyre shops are more flexible further away from London?

In 205/55/16 Costco can under it by as much as £25 a corner from the research I have done today.

Mytyres seemed particularly expensive on Michelin tyres.

£10 more without delivery, fitting, balance and new valve.

So overall a difference of £30 minimum assuming £5 delivery, £15 fitting, balance and new valve.

Oponeo were closer, as was Camskill.

But since I can check Costco tyres prior to purchase and look for damage etc and get the tyres fitted there and then I would only go the online route if I was saving £10 or £20.

I am happy to pay a little for convenience.

But a tiny saving for inconvenience seems a high price.

But not relevant as at the moment Costco are cheaper.

Perhaps I am just lucky with the tyre sizes I need at the moment.