Alloy/Tyre insurance - recommendations please

[moj91]

Alloy/Tyre insurance - recommendations please

As per the title, can anyone recommend tyre & alloy insurance for the UK.

I have the 20" AMG rims on my new W213, and i expect to pothole damage them soon based on the dire condition of the roads. (Seemingly worse on Highways England roads than local authority at the moment).

(I am tempted to drop down to 19"s and loose the run-flats, but that's for another post. Many people discussing the same so i'll do some more digging first. Issue being what to do about a spare tyre. Also trying to ascertain if i can increase the sidewalls on the current rims by 5% without fouling. )

Thanks!

 

[Blobcat]

If you increase the sidewall height you’ll alter the speedo reading.

Didn’t even know wheel and tyre insurance was a thing, one thing it will be is expensive on 20” wheels as they’re well known to crack repeatedly on the roads we “enjoy” in this country

 

[Ron240]

Didn’t even know wheel and tyre insurance was a thing

It's been around for a while and is apparently quite popular.
Most people that take this type of insurance do so to refurbish kerbed wheels...and looking at the amount of cars driving around with one or more kerbed wheels I can see why.
There are claim limits though, which could mean that full wheel replacement might not be covered.

 

[moj91]

If you increase the sidewall height you’ll alter the speedo reading.

Didn’t even know wheel and tyre insurance was a thing, one thing it will be is expensive on 20” wheels as they’re well known to crack repeatedly on the roads we “enjoy” in this country

I have looked into the speed issue - by my calculations it will still read accurately (with the displayed speed at 70 being almost 70 actual.

Yeah - if they will cover the cost of a replacement RFT tyre and weld cost of an alloy then it surely is worth it. I'm pretty good at not kerbing wheels, although not perfect.

 

[mioba]

Do you intend in allowing your better half the use of the car???

As a side, I am sure mercedes used to offer this a few years ago. Maybe they still do. Look on the website.
If I recall claims were limited to 3 a year.

 

[moj91]

Do you intend in allowing your better half the use of the car???

As a side, I am sure mercedes used to offer this a few years ago. Maybe they still do. Look on the website.
If I recall claims were limited to 3 a year.

Just myself using the car
I believe they do still offer it, but on what i have found out so far it is over-priced and under-covers.

 

[Blobcat]

Just myself using the car
I believe they do still offer it, but on what i have found out so far it is over-priced and under-covers.

Insurance companies are in the business of making money… they don’t do that by paying out on policies…

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

My son has been running 20in AMG wheels on his W213 for three years without problems - as long as you take care with speed humps I wouldn’t be overly concerned. I’m of the opinion that MB had batch quality problems but all resolved as far as I can see there have been few posts on here concerning this lately.
Incidentally BMW had similar problems with 19in wheels a few years back and resolved the issue with better design and materials

 

[moj91]

My son has been running 20in AMG wheels on his W213 for three years without problems - as long as you take care with speed humps I wouldn’t be overly concerned. I’m of the opinion that MB had batch quality problems but all resolved as far as I can see there have been few posts on here concerning this lately.
Incidentally BMW had similar problems with 19in wheels a few years back and resolved the issue with better design and materials

My concern isn't speed humps its potholes. The oem tyres are very skinny and very expensive!!

 

[LostKiwi]

Fashion over function!

 

[sonic]

I bought a set of genuine Mercedes 17" wheels & almost new Nokian all season tyres for £440 delivered on ebay.
There are loads of adverts on ebay & marketplace for Mercedes wheels most with tyres for about £400.
You just need to find the ones to fit your car.

 

[rorywquin]

Insurance companies are in the business of making money… they don’t do that by paying out on policies…

I’ve never heard of an insurance company not paying a legitimate claim. The problem is usually the customer mis-understanding what their insurance policies cover and allow. Most people never read their policies.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

My concern isn't speed humps its potholes. The oem tyres are very skinny and very expensive!!

I can only speak as I find the roads here in Leicestershire aren’t any better than Northamptonshire. The tyres are expensive at circa £250 each. The W213 wishbone based suspension handles 20in wheels very well even with runflats and is much better than the W212 and probably one of the reasons why alloy wheels aren’t suffering as much damage