winter tyres

[Rolfe]

From the article.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) says that is a mistake and premiums should not be higher.
The mistake is being blamed on insurance company call centres, where not all staff may be aware of the safety implications.

I didn't even tell my insurer (the RAC).  I needed a couple of new tyres anyway.  What should it matter what make I chose, if they're legal?

Rolfe.

[Guy]

From the article.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) says that is a mistake and premiums should not be higher.
The mistake is being blamed on insurance company call centres, where not all staff may be aware of the safety implications.

I didn't even tell my insurer (the RAC).  I needed a couple of new tyres anyway.  What should it matter what make I chose, if they're legal?

Rolfe.

well lets hope all the mk5.5 boys have declared it on their insurance and not being charged an extra 20% on their insurance as well as the £1500 it cost them for the tyres and new alloys 

[Rolfe]

Cost me £240, as I said.

What would it have cost me if I'd fitted two new summer tyres (in November), since my existing tyres were that close to illegal?

Not that much less.

It's a no-brainer.

Rolfe.

[Ess_Three]

More scaremongering...

Changing tyres does not affect your insurance.
Changing wheels, may do. So tell them.

It's nice to see those who don't get snow, or don't run a £30k car in the snow have the most to say about not needing winter tyres.
Funny that those who have tried them, know.

£1500 on new wheels and tyres is very little over 3-4 winters, on a car that cost over £30,000.
But if you run a £500 Mk3 then I suppose it's madness.

[am1w]

More scaremongering...
Changing tyres does not affect your insurance.
Changing wheels, may do. So tell them.
It's nice to see those who don't get snow, or don't run a £30k car in the snow have the most to say about not needing winter tyres.
Funny that those who have tried them, know.
£1500 on new wheels and tyres is very little over 3-4 winters, on a car that cost over £30,000.
But if you run a £500 Mk3 then I suppose it's madness.

Thank you Glen. We think alike.

[Snoopy]

INSURANCE read this

http://www.smmt.co.uk/articles/article.cfm?articleid=22819

[Guy]

Cost me £240, as I said.

What would it have cost me if I'd fitted two new summer tyres (in November), since my existing tyres were that close to illegal?

Not that much less.

It's a no-brainer.

Rolfe.

did you only fit two winter tyres?

[Rolfe]

Changing tyres does not affect your insurance.
Changing wheels, may do. So tell them.

Well, exactly.  I've got the standard 17" Monza's, not the 18" Shadows.  And the more I hear about these Shadows, the happier I am about that.  Life's too short to spend it worrying about kerbing an alloy.

The 17" Monzas took the winter tyres just fine, I don't care if I kerb them quite honestly, and they don't get white worm.

Gotta pay for new rubber sometimes.  Running a couple of winters spares the summers.  Really, all you're having to budget for is having the tyres changed more often than you would in the normal course of events.  And having tyres checked and balanced twice a year is no bad thing.

Rolfe.

[Guy]

ABI still recommend that you check with the head office of your insurer

http://www.abi.org.uk/Bulletins/Media_Outlook/2010/12/ABI_Media_Outlook__12_December_2010.aspx

[Rolfe]

Cost me £240, as I said.

What would it have cost me if I'd fitted two new summer tyres (in November), since my existing tyres were that close to illegal?

Not that much less.

It's a no-brainer.

Rolfe.

did you only fit two winter tyres?

Yeah.  Wasn't my idea.  In October I asked my garage to fit the car with winter tyres when it had its service, which was due in November.  The owner demurred a bit and said, well maybe I can source you a couple and fit them later.  I dug my heels in and insisted he do it at the November service, which was just as well because the big snow dump came five days later.

It was the garage owner's idea only to do the front pair.  I was in two minds about it, because obviously you have to be careful cornering and I don't imagine the stopping distance will be as good as with four, but frankly I'm struggling to see the downside in practice.  The main object was to prevent the car getting stuck and wheel-spinning, and that has been completely achieved.  The sort of snow it will now drive over is astonishing.

Rolfe.