Winter tyres and Chris Knott

[ChrisKnottIns]

Winter Tyres and Chris Knott

Hi, I'm often asked on club forums (and Facebook groups) about switching to winter wheels/tyres and whether an insurer will charge extra if you do.

As it's getting to that time of year again I thought I'd just reassure any Chris Knott clients that the insurers we use don't usually charge for this. However, if you are thinking of swapping your wheels we do have to log when you make the switch and then again when you go back to normal - so please let us know on 0800 028 6463.

Thanks,
Nick


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[rf065]

However, if you are thinking of swapping your wheels we do have to log when you make the switch and then again when you go back to normal - so please let us know on 0800 028 6463.

Why on earth would you need to log that?
It's perfectly legal to use winter tyres in summer or vice versa, so why keep a log and who could possibly benefit from it?

 

[ChrisKnottIns]

It is about the change of wheels really. Switching to winter tyres is one of the times that happens. Sometimes to save money people use steels or non-standard spec rims instead of alloys and we get asked if insurers need to know (modifications). It protects you from any comeback if you've notified the change even though there's no charge.

 

[mark.s]

I know of a member that went into the rear of a car, which the insurance company did not pay out as the Road Traffic Police checked tyre wear and was below legal limit.
Is this a similar thing Nick, to make sure you quote after market so you protect yourself of any possible comeback.

 

[umblecumbuz]

Sounds Jobsworth batty to me.
If winter steels and tyres are to the same dimensions as summer alloys and tyres, where's the big deal?

 

[Wighty]

Taking this further , if you had a puncture and put the spare wheel on , do you need to inform your insurance company ?

 

[Naraic]

Don't shoot the messenger. He's offering advice, take it or leave it.

 

[EmilysDad]

Taking this further , if you had a puncture and put the spare wheel on , do you need to inform your insurance company ?

No ... but it wouldn't pass an MOT

 

[mark.s]

No ... but it wouldn't pass an MOT

I thought if you had a spare tyre they checked it - Apparently they don't unless your cars space is fitted externally.

Seems strange to me that you need a space so why is it not checked ??

 

[Naraic]

No ... but it wouldn't pass an MOT

Why not?

I'm on the way to my MOT, I get a flat and change the wheel...automatic fail?
Doesn't sound right. This would mean any time you got a flat your car would be outside the MOT parameters.

 

[Naraic]

I thought if you had a spare tyre they checked it - Apparently they don't unless your cars space is fitted externally.

Seems strange to me that you need a space so why is it not checked ??

Even then they don't look. My wife's old RAV4 had bald spare on the rear door...never checked.

 

[umblecumbuz]

Here we go again .... back to five winters instead of four, in case you need to change a wheel.
Four winters and one summer? Automatic Mot fail?

 

[EmilysDad]

Why not?

I'm on the way to my MOT, I get a flat and change the wheel...automatic fail?
Doesn't sound right. This would mean any time you got a flat your car would be outside the MOT parameters.

That's exactly what happened to my brother in law on the way to his MOT. And the tester is normally pretty sympathetic .... he's tested my cars for years.
This car had a skinny spare so the car now had different sized tyres on the same axle.

 

[M80]

Doesn't that mean that if we fit the spacesaver we are then illagal to be on the road?

This has me thinking that as my spare is a rusty steel I'm better swapping it for one of my winters during summer, and a summer during winter.

 

[curious]

Spare wheels and tyres are not checked as part of the MOT.

 

[Blobcat]

Spare wheels and tyres are not checked as part of the MOT.

They check and report on the spare on my Land Rover as it’s sat in the bonnet in plain site. If it’s hidden away (or missing) then they don’t...

 

[davidsl500]

According to the Gov website, spare wheels are not checked. Back in the dim and distant, I think the rule was if it was there it was checked and if it wasn't there then they didn't check it (obviously!)

 

[umblecumbuz]

Slight deviation, but still Mot related.

I was in process of fitting a towbar to one of mine, but electrics were not yet wired in, when Mot became due. Fortunately well-known at local garage. He suggested I put tape over the electrical socket next to the ball hitch.

Apparently, as said, if it's 'inaccessible' it can't be tested!

 

[Blobcat]

Slight deviation, but still Mot related.

I was in process of fitting a towbar to one of mine, but electrics were not yet wired in, when Mot became due. Fortunately well-known at local garage. He suggested I put tape over the electrical socket next to the ball hitch.

Apparently, as said, if it's 'inaccessible' it can't be tested!

Same on my VW when the tow ball was stowed in its bag with the tools.

 

[flowrider]

This advice would seem to me to be fairly obvious, if you change anything on your car from its standard specification you have to tell your insurance company. Fitting different wheels and/or different specification tyres is clearly a modification.