Winter tyres and insurance - real experiences please!

[drchris]

Hi all,

I did a search and couldn't find an ansewer, just opinions.

I have winter tyres for my 330d, I used them last year and definitely approve of them and felt they were worth the outlay for my 80mile round trip to work - particularly when I was cruising past people who were stuck.

I am interested if anyone has any REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE with insurance companies taking issue with this. I have a set of OEM BMW alloys (17" unlike the 18" on my m-sport, but still OEM BMW) so I hope this will be acceptable. But what about the issue of putting non run-flats on a car intended to have them?

Chris

ps I don't have run flats in the summer either now I think about it - hateful things!

[dandle]

Ive been told when fitting winter tyres to my cars that as long as they go onto the standard wheels the car came with then there is no need to notify them, as long as the size and profile is the same. If changing the wheels though away from the wheel the car came with even if it is another BMW wheel they want to know as the car has moved away from its original base spec they have insured you for.

[Maxus]

I would say talk to your insurance company anyway. Mine had no problem with changing wheels (from the 18" M wheel to a 17" M wheel with winter tyres) however I would always ask them to make a note that we had informed them.

You wouldn't want them trying to back out of a claim because of an undeclared "modification".

[dandle]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Did you tell them you are changing the wheel size. A lot of people believe they can fit any BMW wheel and its OEM that isn't correct. An M-sport E60 wheel for example is an 18" M135 rim (unless you have the 19" wheel option). You cant fit a 17" wheel to it and call it OEM because it is a BMW wheel. When people say Original equipment the insurance companies think you are fitting another set of the same wheels.

[drchris]

Looks like I should probably call them then. Not worth the hassle of a disputed claim (God forbid I don't crash) for a few quid worth of 'policy adjustment' charges.

Thanks all.

[to3m]

I phoned my nautically-themed insurers about this and it didn't seem like there would be a problem.

It seemed that there would be no change in premium, and I didn't have to tell them about the change in tyres. No problem with changing the wheels either, provided I changed them from standard BMW alloys to some other type of standard BMW alloys. So I guess they'd treat it like any kind of tyre or wheel change.

I don't think I explicitly mentioned changing wheel sizes (I was intending to switch from 18" to 17"), so maybe that could be a sticking point.

Anyway, I got them to note that I'd mentioned it, but in the end it was all moot as I have decided to risk being stuck at home... the cost of the wheels alone pays for a lot of food...

[bga]

to3m said:

I phoned my nautically-themed insurers about this and it didn't seem like there would be a problem.

The same seafaring lot have twice told me (this year and last) that this is not notifiable (to them at least) when I swap tyres on the same wheels.
I haven't asked about different wheels though.

[drchris]

bga said:

The same seafaring lot have twice told me (this year and last) that this is not notifiable (to them at least) when I swap tyres on the same wheels.
I haven't asked about different wheels though.

Did the run flat vs normal tyres switch come up? I can legitimately see an insurance difference between these given the potential disaster associated with a blowout.

[thegreatdogwood]

bga said:

The same seafaring lot have twice told me (this year and last) that this is not notifiable (to them at least) when I swap tyres on the same wheels.
I haven't asked about different wheels though.

Same for me

[bga]

drchris said:

Did the run flat vs normal tyres switch come up? I can legitimately see an insurance difference between these given the potential disaster associated with a blowout.

No, they didn't ask. All they said was that there was no problem with winter tyres on the same wheels. RFT's weren't mentioned at all.

[drchris]

EDIT. duplicate. Stupid phone.

[sinizter]

Moved from 19" to 18" as specced by BMW for winter tyres (E92 M3)

Insured with Elephant. No charge, note made on file. Asked them multiple times to confirm.

[ribenavrs]

I posted this a while ago

http://www.abi.org.uk/Information/Consumers/Genera...

HTH

[drchris]

ribenavrs said:

I posted this a while ago

http://www.abi.org.uk/Information/Consumers/Genera...

HTH

This is very useful and clears up a lot of questions with FACT. Thanks!

But. It doesn't go into run flats or difference sized alloys.

Bloody insurance, makes us all paranoid!

[flyboyben]

I believe its all about changing the wheels, rather than the tyres. I too have a policy with a popular Multi-Car product and spoke to them to make sure. Indeed, as I was changing from 19s to 18s, they wanted to know.

I wonder if we will ever get to the point whereby fitting winter tyres for a defined period will actually reduce premiums. It would make sense to me!

[srooks]

I've switched to a winter setup on my X5. 20" off, 19" on.

Informed the Halifax, they want £25 admin charge to log the change .. ohh, and another £25 when I go back to summer set-up. Thieving bds!

[farbbm]

I'm also with the company who advertise's multi car polices and when I spoke to them they said that there was no change, in fact I didn't even need to tell them I was putting winter tyres on.

[RRS_Staffs]

Direct Line

Changed 20" standard fit rims on RR Sport to factory 19" LR alloys specced on same model but fitted with winters

IIRC 150 quid loading on premium plus further £25 admin charge when putting the standrad bling back on in April

Direct Line class changing my alloys to a less expensive mod in the same way they load you for "upgrading" to 22inchers and above
They dont care about the tyres making you less likely to initiate a claim

I no longer insure with them

• ******

EDIT: removed expletive

Edited by RRS_Staffs on Monday 19th December 07:27

[drchris]

I'm sure naming and shaming is frowned upon here but that is just ridiculous!
I don't insure with them and will be sticking with my ship themed bunch as reports here seem positive.

[Tea Pot One]

I have a 330d and BMW winter tyre package ... no charge from my insurer Admiral and no need to tell them when changing over - they just noted my policy. They did stress that it needed to be a BMW winter wheel / tyre package ... which it is.