Are Winter tyres considered a modification?

agrinnall

Gloomendoom wrote: »

I thought the same thing. As long as the winter tyres are the same size and load/speed rating as the originals I wouldn't bother informing anyone.

They don't have to be the same as the originals, they just have to be one of the specifications listed as valid for the vehicle. Both times I have bought winter tyres on steel wheels they have been smaller diameter but the correct profile from the handbook and the pillar sticker. Since the ABI guidance was issued I consider it none of my insurer's business which set are on the car.

londonTiger

Foruntunately no insurer on that list increases premoums but I am shocked to find that some insurers require you to disclose winter tyres!

Iceweasel

londonTiger wrote: »

Foruntunately no insurer on that list increases premoums but I am shocked to find that some insurers require you to disclose winter tyres!

I too was very surprised when I was told this a few years ago - so I decided I wasn't going to give them any opportunity to call a future claim into question.

Also I can't understand why alloy wheels would have anything to do with it.

I agree with others posters who have said that they feel it's none of their insurance company's business which tyres I have fitted - but I told them anyway.

I have no intention of telling them about every changeover so I sent them this:

I have the vehicle manufacturer's approved size winter tyres (smaller than my summer tyres) on a spare set of genuine alloys and swap them over when the clocks change.

IamNotAllowedToUseMyName

I think most of the companies are interested in winter tyres fitted to alternative wheels.

I'd certainly recommend people investigate all season tyres. Winter tyres are a bit over the top and the expense and nuisance of swapping about. All season still work in the UK in the summer, and have good rain properties and cold weather properties, and are better at snow than standard tyres. The only downside I noticed was that they were a bit noisier.

UsernameAlreadyExists

Iceweasel wrote: »

I have the vehicle manufacturer's approved size winter tyres (smaller than my summer tyres) on a spare set of genuine alloys and swap them over when the clocks change.

Really? Do you not look at the weather before deciding to swap? I don't think nature sticks so rigidly to our time reference points :P

facade

Unless you are prepared to get up early enough to change them when it is actually frosty in the morning, it is probably better to stick to the calendar, just like petrol stations supply winter blends from October.

Iceweasel

UsernameAlreadyExists wrote: »

Really? Do you not look at the weather before deciding to swap? I don't think nature sticks so rigidly to our time reference points :P

No - I don't look at the weather at all really.

The temperatures from October to March are low enough to justify their use - especially early in morning or late at night.

Almost all of the countries which have rules and regulations for winter tyres use those dates.

I know that some folks see winter tyres as only for snow and want to use them for the minimum length of time or don't see the need for them at all - I don't see them like that - for me they are cold weather winter tyres.

I have 2 sets of good alloys as I want my car to look smart all the time, so a set of cheapy steel wheels is not on for me.

Gloomendoom

Iceweasel wrote: »

No - I don't look at the weather at all really.

The temperatures from October to March are low enough to justify their use - especially early in morning or late at night.

Almost all of the countries which have rules and regulations for winter tyres use those dates.

I know that some folks see winter tyres as only for snow and want to use them for the minimum length of time or don't see the need for them at all - I don't see them like that - for me they are cold weather winter tyres.

I have 2 sets of good alloys as I want my car to look smart all the time, so a set of cheapy steel wheels is not on for me.

I do the same thing with my wife's suv which came with summer tyres as standard.

My (saloon) car came with 'all season' tyres as standard and when they wear out they will be replaced with more of the same. I have found them an excellent compromise.

AdrianC

Gloomendoom wrote: »

My (saloon) car came with 'all season' tyres as standard and when they wear out they will be replaced with more of the same. I have found them an excellent compromise.

Really? I'm very surprised. Proper "all seasons" are almost unknown in the UK. Virtually every tyre on sale here is what, to more enlightened nations, would be "summer tyres".

What tyres (and car) are they?

IamNotAllowedToUseMyName

AdrianC wrote: »

Really? I'm very surprised. Proper "all seasons" are almost unknown in the UK. Virtually every tyre on sale here is what, to more enlightened nations, would be "summer tyres".

What tyres (and car) are they?

Try Klebber Quadraxer, genuine season tyres.

To be honest, I am starting to think that the typical British tyre is unfit for purpose!