Insurer won't cover "H" rated Tyres! I need new insurer.
Discussion
I've just put four Nokian "Weatherpoof" 215/65 R16 H102 XL on my 2010 Subaru Forester 4x4.
The car is a 2.0 litre, manual petrol, top speed 115mph.
After informing my insurance co. of the change from the standard "V" rated tyres to H-rated they are saying they will not insure this modification. I have pointed out the the H-rated tyres exceed my car's maximum top speed by some 15mph and that they have a higher load index than standard at 102 compared to 98. They are also "All-Weather" tyres suitable for cold, wet, winter roads.
A gripper, more stable and officially rated "Winter" rated tyre (3 peaks symbol) but insurer won't cover me. So I either need to ditch the tyres ( £400 worth fitted, plus another £80 to re-fit my old & slippy V-rated ones) or ditch my insurer.
Does any one know of an insurer (with some common sense and actual knowledge of cars & tyres) who will insure me & my car?
( The person I spoke to on the "help line" insisted that only tyres made by Subaru would be covered. I had to explain twice that Subaru & other car makers do not actually make the tyres fitted to their cars...jeez)
The car is a 2.0 litre, manual petrol, top speed 115mph.
After informing my insurance co. of the change from the standard "V" rated tyres to H-rated they are saying they will not insure this modification. I have pointed out the the H-rated tyres exceed my car's maximum top speed by some 15mph and that they have a higher load index than standard at 102 compared to 98. They are also "All-Weather" tyres suitable for cold, wet, winter roads.
A gripper, more stable and officially rated "Winter" rated tyre (3 peaks symbol) but insurer won't cover me. So I either need to ditch the tyres ( £400 worth fitted, plus another £80 to re-fit my old & slippy V-rated ones) or ditch my insurer.
Does any one know of an insurer (with some common sense and actual knowledge of cars & tyres) who will insure me & my car?
( The person I spoke to on the "help line" insisted that only tyres made by Subaru would be covered. I had to explain twice that Subaru & other car makers do not actually make the tyres fitted to their cars...jeez)
Thanks all for the replies. Sorry for the apparent silence. I was unable to post due to a ban on new posters following some kind of problem yesterday.
The car's "Tyre Size" plate says 215/65/ R16 98V but also gives snow tyres rated "Q" ( max 99mph) as an option. ( picture attached hopefully)
There's plenty to debate about the rights and wrongs of the issue, but as Leo says, the insurance Co. can do what they please; "computer says no" etc. No point in fighting them if they won't see sense.( I have lodged a complaint)
What I'm hoping to find is a user friendly insurer with enough brains to know that an H-rated, 130mph tyre with superior grip and water clearing ability, an "XL 102" load index ( 750 kg per tyre) and 8 ply Aramid fibre sidewalls is not a problem in a 114mph car weighing 1.5 Tonnes with a normally aspirated 2-litre petrol engine.
So, does any one know of a good, sensible insurer that allows minor, sensible deviations from standard equipment?
The car's "Tyre Size" plate says 215/65/ R16 98V but also gives snow tyres rated "Q" ( max 99mph) as an option. ( picture attached hopefully)
There's plenty to debate about the rights and wrongs of the issue, but as Leo says, the insurance Co. can do what they please; "computer says no" etc. No point in fighting them if they won't see sense.( I have lodged a complaint)
What I'm hoping to find is a user friendly insurer with enough brains to know that an H-rated, 130mph tyre with superior grip and water clearing ability, an "XL 102" load index ( 750 kg per tyre) and 8 ply Aramid fibre sidewalls is not a problem in a 114mph car weighing 1.5 Tonnes with a normally aspirated 2-litre petrol engine.
So, does any one know of a good, sensible insurer that allows minor, sensible deviations from standard equipment?
Sheepshanks said:
Was it a call-centre numpty who gave you the answer? I've had that a few times, but when they go away and ask someone else, you get a more sensible answer.
As others have said, I wouldn't have even told them. Wife's Tiguan is with LV= and don't tell them, even though the wheels and tyres are smaller than standard, as they're the official VW wheel and tyre set for that car.
However I've read of others being told it needs to be recorded as a modification if the wheel and tyre size isn't the same as those fitted as standard - which is a bit bonkers as the car could come with qute a range of wheel and tyre sizes from new.
Yes, it was a call centre "help-line" numpty. I do wish I hadn't told them and rattled their cage. I was trying to be sensible. I've heard stories of "claims being refused" because a car had non-standard tyres, but I can't see them making any kind of argument that H rated tyres could be a contributory factor in an accident. Maybe they wouldn't do that though and just say "We don't have a contract because you failed to inform us, therefore no insurance"As others have said, I wouldn't have even told them. Wife's Tiguan is with LV= and don't tell them, even though the wheels and tyres are smaller than standard, as they're the official VW wheel and tyre set for that car.
However I've read of others being told it needs to be recorded as a modification if the wheel and tyre size isn't the same as those fitted as standard - which is a bit bonkers as the car could come with qute a range of wheel and tyre sizes from new.
I have escalated my issue with them and am awaiting a response from some higher up, but still clueless, staff member.
OK. Sorry for lack of response from me; I still have limited posting rights because I'm a newbie.
I've had a second response from insurer following my "escalation" of the issue. They said they would need to speak to the underwriter and have come back with the following:
"Winter tyres are absolutely fine and will be covered under your policy. The tyres must be used in the correct driving conditions and be suitable for your vehicle."
So, it looks like I am covered and insurance co. have seen sense. Thank goodness for that.
Thank you for all you comments & support.
I've had a second response from insurer following my "escalation" of the issue. They said they would need to speak to the underwriter and have come back with the following:
"Winter tyres are absolutely fine and will be covered under your policy. The tyres must be used in the correct driving conditions and be suitable for your vehicle."
So, it looks like I am covered and insurance co. have seen sense. Thank goodness for that.
Thank you for all you comments & support.
KevinCamaroSS said:
Just one thought. Nokian Weatherproof are technically NOT winter tyres, they are all-season, therefore the Q rating does not apply to them. They are also available in many speed ratings, including V. Your insurance company will need to be understanding to accept them, but, do not tell them they are winter tyres.
I think they are winter tyres. They have the certified 3-peak mountain and snowflake symbol, so they are winter tyres AND are also suitable for all other seasons. Surely to say otherwise, would be a bit like saying that a "4-Season" sleeping bag is no use for winter?
SlimJim16v said:
All winter tyres have the 3PMS symbol.
Not all tyres with the 3PMS symbol are winter tyres.
Can you give an example of a tyre that is a "Winter" tyre but does not have the 3-peak symbol? I'm genuinely interested in knowing more about this topic, not wishing to cause friction (ha!).Not all tyres with the 3PMS symbol are winter tyres.
Here's an extract from the Goodyear web site:
"The introduction of a legal marking related to performance has made the identification of winter tires more simple. The "Alpine" symbol, or the three-peak-mountain with snowflake (‘3PMSF’) came into force in November 2012 under EU Regulation 661/2009 on the Safety of Motor Vehicles.
The 3PMSF can only be used if a tire passes a minimum required performance on snow - the so called “snow grip index”.*
“Mud and Snow” (either marked as M+S, M.S or M&S) has been used to indicate winter tires for many years. Although M+S has a legal definition*, it is not related to minimum performance requirements but has been widely used by tire manufacturers to indicate winter products. M+S remains a permitted marking but while M+S tires have better snow traction than regular tires, they do not necessarily pass the legal snow grip threshold.
True winter tires, carrying both M+S and 3PSMF markings, make an important safety contribution in winter conditions, particularly for cars and vans.
Goodyear EMEA* strongly recommends that cars and light commercial vehicles get fitted with four proper winter tires as the colder months approach. Indeed fitting M+S tires in the winter is obligatory in some European countries [see section below].
As legislation with the new marking progressively enters into force, national winter tire laws are likely to extend to tires with both the M+S and three peak snowflake symbols.
RogerDodger said:
You can go to the winter tyre section on here and see people arguing over this stuff for literally, 100's of pages. :-)
I get where you're coming from.Oh God!, sounds like a can o' worms...no thanks! ; )
(just spend 5 hours last night reading endless forum threads about fitting an SSD to my PC. Enough is enough)
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