Winter Tyres are a modification - Direct Line

[Morat]

Just a quick one for people fitting winter tyres. I thought I'd phone up Direct Line and see if they were interested in me fitting 185/60/14 winter tyres on some spare bottletops instead of 195/65/14 (which are a git to find in winter tyres).

It turns out that they're not very interested in the exact size (but it is your responsibility to ensure that they are road legal) but they DO require notification that you are fitting winter tyres, and notification when you return to summer tyres. They regard winter tyres as a modification and if you don't inform then of the change YOU ARE NOT COVERED.

There is no charge for this "modification".

I don't know about other insurance companies, but it would be worth checking.

[bab-91]

That's a odd one but good to know.

I have a related question. When I was in Austria, cars sporting snow tyres with metal studs seemed quite common.

Are they legal on UK roads? Not that they are necessary, it just tickled my curiosity!!

[bab-91]

and they look Ãaber cool!!

[bmw9818]

thats just fucking stupid! sorry but seems ins companys are changing itty bits to catch people out and trying to not pay up? winter tyres seriously?!

what next charging extra for michelin and branded tyres? resulting in me trying to explore the limits of grip? ive changed alloys etc on my old cars never informed anyone got into a fender bender they checked it, it was all good,

what do these ins comps do have regular meetings to see how they can further screw us out of money and to worm out of paying up?

such utter bullshit!

[jmc330i]

Changing from the 14" bottletops to the OEM 15" BBS wheels will be enough to invalidate your insurance if you don't declare it - even changing from 14" steelies to bottletops will do it.

Needing to declare winter tyres does seem excessive, but I expect the same will happen if you run track day tyres and not declare them.

In all honesty though, I'll just fit and forget my winter tyres - as far as I'm concerned, I asked the tyre place for 4 new tyres and that's what they fitted.

Although the insurance premium might not go up, I bet some of the robbing c8nts (sorry, I mean insurance professionals) will want their £25 admin fee for you letting them know that you're trying to be safer on the shitty roads this winter!

[DanThe]

So if fitting winter tyres is classed as a mod then filling the car full with a tank of petrol is increasing it's value and should also be declared then?

Indeed, as should using 'modified' extra concentrated winter screen wash

W4nkers, the lot of them

[verde]

Its been like this for a few years

Its EU law all cars must be fitted with winter tyres in the snow months, so being the bastards that they are the insurance companies are taking advantage of the fact we have no choice and charge us extra for obeying the law " hehem " C+NTs

[e301988325i]

for you letting them know that you're trying to be safer on the shitty roads this winter!

But are you going to be overconfident and have more chance of having a crash? / Perhaps you wouldn't leave the house with summer tyres on in a snow drift?

This is the crazy thinking of the risk game insurance companies play.

[FinalD]

Its been like this for a few years

Its EU law all cars must be fitted with winter tyres in the snow months, so being the bastards that they are the insurance companies are taking advantage of the fact we have no choice and charge us extra for obeying the law " hehem " C+NTs

lolwhat?

EU Law != UK Law

That law is not one for the UK at all, it is for places like Finland etc. that get real snow. We do not (despite what most people seem to think) get real snow over the winter months and so the law does not apply to us.

But are you going to be overconfident and have more chance of having a crash? / Perhaps you wouldn't leave the house with summer tyres on in a snow drift?

This is the crazy thinking of the risk game insurance companies play.

I had no problems running 205/55 R16 Eagle F1 GSD3s on my E36 a few winters back when we had a decent snowfall. Drive sensibly and you'll have no issues.

[DanThe]

Its been like this for a few years

Its EU law all cars must be fitted with winter tyres in the snow months, so being the bastards that they are the insurance companies are taking advantage of the fact we have no choice and charge us extra for obeying the law " hehem " C+NTs

Not in my country it hasnt...

Id never use direct line for anything, after how long it took to get money out of them for a blatantly non fault accident, I expect they are the same with any other form of payout. Vote with your feet ftw.
Had my insurers phone me the other day to remind me my renewal would be due soon, and what was I going to do, I told them id be looking elsewhere for insurance due to the 20% increase they'd slapped on the policy just as im coming up to 6 years no claims, the tart just said "oh ok, give us a ring if you find it cheaper and we should be able to beat it"
C00nts!!

[jmc330i]

for you letting them know that you're trying to be safer on the shitty roads this winter!

But are you going to be overconfident and have more chance of having a crash? Perhaps you wouldn't leave the house with summer tyres on in a snow drift?

This is the crazy thinking of the risk game insurance companies play.

Not really crazy thinking, they have to bring everyone down to the level of the idiots who try to drive on ice/snow like its the middle of Summer. They can't or won't take into account that some of us actually have a clue and will prepare our cars and drive according to the conditions.


And leaving the house in snow with summer tyres?? To say my driveway is steep would be an understatement, so I doubt the car could get out of the drive with snow chains on
I've got a 306 hack that got used in the last lot of snow we had, summer tyres in all their glory. Never had any issues (I think the diesel lump up front aided traction), but it stayed at the end of track and we had a 15min walk to and from the house each day.

[FinalD]

And leaving the house in snow with summer tyres?? To say my driveway is steep would be an understatement, so I doubt the car could get out of the drive with snow chains on

I drove the E36 on summer tyres Bournemouth > Okehampton > Bournemouth in one day (Christmas day 2010) through various levels of snow. I also drove the car daily over Nov-Jan that year in the snow and ice on ungritted hills (I lived on a hill) for work in the early hours of the morning and late hours of the night.

It's a simple case of driving for the conditions, don't drive like a moron and you'll survive just fine. I saw many FWD and AWD vehicles struggle on the road I lived on yet my RWD on summer tyres had no issues at all.

The only time I had an issue was when I decided to be 'clever' and went to cut across a patch of grass that was about 6-8 inches deep in snow. Directional tread summer tyres turn to slicks at low speed when full of snow.

[jmc330i]

Yes, I can drive on snow, and did so when we had snowfall the last few years when everyone else seemed to struggle. It doesn't worry me at all.
I should explain that my driveway is steep from the start, 1 car is parked on the slope at all times. No run up area to gain momentum, there is just about a cars length of flat between the garage door and the slope and then at the top an almost hairpin to get up on the forestry track. Even with the drive cleared of snow and gritted, once on the track, some of the steep, tight turns (1st gear or struggle in 2nd) are no better.
As you and I both said, driving to the conditions is what you need to do, which is why I don't drive the mile or so from the road to my house - once there is even an inch of slightly compacted snow on the corners, the conditions are not good.

The 2dr stayed at home tucked away in those conditions, because a) I didn't want any idiots sliding into it on the road and b) I'd rather leave the 306 at the end of the track on the side of the road - its been vandalised a couple times when its been left there overnight, so rather it than the E30!

[FinalD]

Yeah, that it is fair enough. Wasn't sure if you mean an actual track or just a small road. My moment of being 'clever' was to avoid a slope that was covered in ice leading to a private track to my parent's place. They left all of their cars down in the village too...I did after I got mine out of the grass/snow.

Not sure how I'll feel about driving the E30 in the snow/ice but hopefully in ~1month it'll be on the road and be my only car so if I need to drive anywhere in bad weather I'll have to use it.

[Rancid]

I drove the E36 on summer tyres Bournemouth > Okehampton > Bournemouth in one day (Christmas day 2010) through various levels of snow. I also drove the car daily over Nov-Jan that year in the snow and ice on ungritted hills (I lived on a hill) for work in the early hours of the morning and late hours of the night.

It's a simple case of driving for the conditions, don't drive like a moron and you'll survive just fine. I saw many FWD and AWD vehicles struggle on the road I lived on yet my RWD on summer tyres had no issues at all.

I had the same winter before last in Ireland, drove my e30 through all the winter threw at me on the summer tires and had no issues, wasn't out of control once and yet seeing FWD modern cars sliding into roundabouts and landing on top of them, a police car losing control and sliding onto the hard shoulder's grass bank on the motorway and passing 4WD vehicles that were floundering up a hill near my house.

Taking your time and driving for the conditions is the way to do it, if they'd introduce a skid pan aspect to the driving test that'd be awesome, I just learned as I went by taking my time and being careful.

[jmc330i]

Yeah, that it is fair enough. Wasn't sure if you mean an actual track or just a small road. My moment of being 'clever' was to avoid a slope that was covered in ice leading to a private track to my parent's place. They left all of their cars down in the village too...I did after I got mine out of the grass/snow.

Oh no, its a track! I live in the middle of woodland that is maintained by the forestry commission, only access is via their tracks. The house used to be 2 houses built for the woodsmen that worked the woods - one of them being my grandfather.

Not sure how I'll feel about driving the E30 in the snow/ice but hopefully in ~1month it'll be on the road and be my only car so if I need to drive anywhere in bad weather I'll have to use it.

Only drove the 2dr once on snow, with the S50 fitted Rolling in 3rd gear at idle would produce wheel spin as soon as the throttle was even tickled!

[Gavla]

Sorry am I missing something here...

Direct Line has no idea what tyres are fitted to my car at the moment so how are they going to know if I change to winter tyres in winter and summer tyres in summer, unless I tell them?

So what difference does it make to my insurance policy...

[Rtaylor2208]

Direct line as well as others also dry bum your premium these days for manufacturer fitted options. Anything which is not the standard spec for that specific model of car is deemed a modification. This includes all items that are optional extras.

It's a total piss take, a manufacturer fitted set of wheels, body kit, sat nav, upgraded stereo etc etc all have to be declared on the policy. In our case on the RS it doubled the premium.

[baggimodo]

Direct line as well as others also dry bum your premium these days for manufacturer fitted options. Anything which is not the standard spec for that specific model of car is deemed a modification. This includes all items that are optional extras

It's a total pee pee take, a manufacturer fitted set of wheels, body kit, sat nav, upgraded stereo etc etc all have to be declared on the policy. In our case on the RS it doubled the premium.

WTF.

[chewy320]

I think we all know insurance companies will do anything to bum the hell out of their loyal over paying customers. Makes my head hurt just thinking about insurance.

[Morat]

To be fair to direct line, they made it clear that there would be no charge for the swap to winter tyres, but you do have to inform them. The woman on the phone was thorough and checked with the underwriter....so you could well find the same applies to other brokers.