Other
insurers may have different views on fitting winter tyres
Important
note: other insurers may have different views on fitting
winter tyres but hopefully the concerns which have been driven
by many motorists trying to fit winter tyres when faced with
unusually harsh winter conditions in the UK will encourage motor
insurers to clarify their position and procedures soon.
Reassurance
from the Association of British Insurers
The media section
of the ABI website mentioned concerns with insurers responses
to enquiries regarding snow tyres:
Auto Express reported that several of its readers had faced
higher motor premiums as a result of fitting snow tyres to their
vehicles. This lead to a number of media enquiries, including
an interview on BBC Money Box. The ABI confirmed that (following
consultation with a number of leading motor insurers) that it
was unlikely that fitting such tyres would be seen as a relevant
modification, but if in any doubt advise your motor insurer
and let them decide. (2.12.10)
Posted: 15.12.10
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Contributing
to the V8BB thread on winter tyres concerns, Chris
Hunt Cooke noted his experience fitting winter tyres
to his everyday car:
What does the driver's manual say on winter tyres?
This thread has inspired me to see what my BMW manual
states. It says "Winter Tyres - We recommend
the use of winter tyres (M&S radial ply) for
driving in wintery conditions. Although all-season
tyres bearing the M&S designation exhibit better
properties for driving on snow and ice than summer
tyres with the speed code letters H,V,W, and ZR
they are generally not quite as effective as winter
tyres in such conditions"
It goes on to recommend the same type on all four
wheels and to use tyres approved by BMW, and remarks
that in Germany the law requires a reminder label
to be attached in the driver's field of view if
the vehicle's top speed is higher than the permitted
speed for the tyres. There is information elsewhere
that implies the speed rating for winter tyres will
be Q,T, or H, but it is a 12 year old car and things
may have changed. So it seems for some of us if
we do NOT fit winter tyres in wintery conditions,we
should not be following the manufacturer's recommendations
on tyres and might possibly be blamed by our insurers!
(13.12.10)
What
was the response from my insurer to fitting winter
tyres?
To conclude my personal saga, having got my second
hand wheels from a BMW breaker and received delivery
of winter tyres from www.tyres-pneus-online.co.uk
I contacted my insurance brokers who replied "It
is the case that different Insurance Company's have
different underwriting views regarding winter tyres.
Your own insurers used to decline cover for vehicles
with winter tyres but only last week Liverpool Victoria
have changed their underwriting criteria and will
look at each case individually based on the following
information:
The insurers first all require the tyre width, profile,
rim size and speed rating for the current tyres
and the new winter tyres for a comparison. Please
supply this information and we refer it to Liverpool
Victoria accordingly."
I
told them all these details were the same for the
winter as for the summer tyres and got the go-ahead
to fit them. My local tyre centre fitted them for
£41.97 (including VAT) which is just for new
valves and balancing. As they did not supply the
tyres and it was over one hour's work, I thought
that was very good! (14.12.10) |
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