[McMuffin]

Hi Everyone,

I have just been told by a tyre dealer that he has had customers who changed from RF to non-RF and then found this invalidated their insurance as the vehicle is designed for run flats, he said some companies were OK if you declared them but others were not.

Anyone else heard this or is it just some BS to sell the more expensive tyre?

[minicabrio]

Hey,

At the end of the day, any mod from original spec undeclared has the potential to invalidate your insurance If you have a particularly fussy insurance company this may well be the case.

Do it though, I've got Goodyear Eagle F1s on my cabrio, best thing I ever did - second maybe to the GTT braces

Just give the insurers a call, ask them for advice

Jon

[McMuffin]

Quote: Originally Posted by minicabrio (original)

Hey,

At the end of the day, any mod from original spec undeclared has the potential to invalidate your insurance If you have a particularly fussy insurance company this may well be the case.

Do it though, I've got Goodyear Eagle F1s on my cabrio, best thing I ever did - second maybe to the GTT braces

Just give the insurers a call, ask them for advice

Jon

Cheers Jon,

This time round I am just going to replace the one that is punctured , I'll replace the lot when the others have worn down a bit more, I'll check with the insurance company first though.

[sef]

Direct Line said that they'd invalidate my policy if I went non-RF...

[batou]

what a load of toss!!!!

I could fit 30 quid remoulds to a car if I really wanted to, I obviously wouldn't but I can make my own choice. An insurance company cannot force you to use a specific tyre.... shocking!!

[minicabrio]

Quote: Originally Posted by batou (original)

what a load of toss!!!!

I could fit 30 quid remoulds to a car if I really wanted to, I obviously wouldn't but I can make my own choice. An insurance company cannot force you to use a specific tyre.... shocking!!

Erm, actually they can. If you change any aspect of your cars specification, you need to inform them, that includes tyres.

Obviously, if you currently have Pirelli Eurforias for example and your dealers fits Dunlop runflats for you, you don't really need to worry, as they're effectively a like for like swap.

If you fit remoulds, you seriously compromise your cars safety, and your insurance may be invalid.

[batou]

Utter rubbish, what tyres you buy should not be dictated by an insurance company

A manufacturer fits a certain brand of tyre. You as a consumer as still entitled to choose what type of tyre you fit, unless explicitly declared as a rule in your policy that only manufacturers tyres can be used. All thats mentioned about tyres is that damage to them is not covered, as they are an item that the insurance company will not cover then you should be allowed to choose a more hardwearing, endurance tyre if you so wish. If they force you to use a certain type of tyre then they should cover it lol!!

And i wouldn't fit remoulds, it was just a point. They are making their own rules if you let them, they will.

My cars standard spec was dunlops, so my insurance is invalid then...

[MarkW]

and whats happens with older cars (not necessarily MINI) where the tyre manufacturers stop making the OEM fit tyre?

Besides weren't RF's an option ?

[Restyle]

Quote: Originally Posted by MarkXR (original)

and whats happens with older cars (not necessarily MINI) where the tyre manufacturers stop making the OEM fit tyre?

Thats highly unlikely as more & more manufacturers are now specifying runflats as oem across their range, & as a consequence, runflats are becoming increasingly cheaper.

Quote:

Besides weren't RF's an option ?

I think they might have been on the earlier models, but now fitted as standard across the range.

Having said that, i changed my runflats to Toyos earlier this year, but made sure I told my insurance {ASFlux}, who were fine ... although some others would probably have choked at the idea

Quote: Originally Posted by minicabrio

If you fit remoulds, you seriously compromise your cars safety, and your insurance may be invalid.

Although not recommended for a sporty car like the MINI, there is nothing wrong or illegal about fitting remoulds to replace a standard type of tyre.
To quote ROSPA`s Tyre info sheet
"On 1st January in 2004, ECE Regulations 108 and 109 came into effect, making it mandatory for retreaded tyres to be subject to a type approval test. This ensures that retread manufacturers must meet a specified basic standard in terms of the tyres’ suitability for retreading prior to the process, and their performance after it. It is now illegal to sell retreaded tyres that that do not have the “e” mark."

[Shaun]

It is probably nonsense but wouldnt surprise me if it was true. Insurance companies have nothing better to do all day than rob money off people remember insurance is compulsory these people are not here to help you, you have no choice but pay for insurance.
There was a bloke in the garage shopping for tyres and they wanted to know why he needed a 175mph rated tyre on his diesel lexus and could save him £30 a tyre with a 140mph rated tyre. He had to have the exact tyre fitted as he had lexus brand insurance stupid but true.

[Martin F]

A contract of insurance is just that: a contract. Its terms are set out in the policy and in the documentation that accompanies it. An insurance company must stick to the terms of the contract it can't arbitrarily avoid a claim.

In the case of my policy, one of the terms is that I maintain the car " in good condition" So bald tyres, for example would be a breach of contract on my part.

The only provision that could be relevant if I changed to non-runflats would be my representation that the car has not been modified. It is not clear what my insurer considers to be a modification. They have told me that it is anything that affects the appearance or performance of the car. As modifications are not clearly defined, in my case I would need to disclose a change to non-runflats, although it may not affect the premium.

So it all depends on the wording of the insurance policy. But non-disclosure could allow an insurer to repudiate a claim.

[MarkW]

Quote: Originally Posted by Restyle (original)

Thats highly unlikely as more & more manufacturers are now specifying runflats as oem across their range, & as a consequence, runflats are becoming increasingly cheaper.

Just thinking about my track car, it originally came with pirelli P600's and since I bought it 9 years ago they haven't been available from pirelli as they changed to P6000's before I bought it. Tyres manufacturers do upgrade models and stop doing older one.

eg. If your car came with Ditchfinder Pro600's and then Ditchfinder produced a newer model the Pro600+, stopping making the old one what would insurers do then?

[slim_boy_fat]

If your tyres have more than 1.6mm tread, they are E marked and the correct size for your rims, there is no way an insurance company could avoid paying out.

There is alot of pants talked about insurance companies not paying out, but they actually have a legal obligation to pay all parties involved in an accident.

They would have to prove that the chnage in tyres had a direct influence on the bearing of the accident, which in the case of running decent non RF's there is no way they could.

At worse they might withhold the £20 or £30 that they might have charged extra due to not declaring the different tyres, same for most modifications.

[JohnWB]

I changed my runflats for Goodyear F1's & Esure charged more but only because i went wider. They had no problem with them not being run flats.

[sef]

Direct Line stated that if someone swaps from R/F's to standard then has a blow-out at speed and writes the car off they won't be insured as Runflats would have prevented it... It's all about what's standard with the car with them... I'm now with A Flux and they are fine with it all as long as they are told...

[batou]

Quote: Originally Posted by sef (original)

Direct Line said that they'd invalidate my policy if I went non-RF...

I would have never let them get away with that, ask for that in writing signed by the appropriate so you can get the office of fair trading to check over the statement. I would be surprised if this is something that they have written out in plain English in your insurance contract.


Personally it sounds like unfair contract terms.

Example...

If you were ever in a situation where you needed to replace a blown tyre and the nearest tyre provider did not stock runflats, but a non runflat of the correct size and specification this clause would make it impossible for you to comply with the agreed terms of your insurance contract (making your car roadworthy) which directly affects you rights as a customer.

If you let them treat you like a mug they will!!

Runflats proctect allow you to run on a flat not athough they probably help can they save an out of control car because the tyre has blown up!?

[sef]

I'm happy with runflats in anycase... We had this question pop up on our East Coast club site so we all phoned our insurance companies to see what they'd say... Hence my answer...
But you've always got to bear in mind that all Insurance co's will happily take your money, but they'll fight like hell when they have to give it back... So any potential 'get out' will be taken...

[minicabrio]

Quote: Originally Posted by batou (original)

athough they probably help can they save an out of control car because the tyre has blown up!?

Yes they can - due to their design, the runflat will not leave the rim and de-laminate like a normal tyre can do in a blowout. The runflats solid sidewall will support the weight of the vehicle meaning it does not become unstable and lose control.

[hoojkel]

Firstly, how do the insurance companies know what kind of tyres are on your car in the first place?? Saying that runflats can prevent a blowout which might prevent a serious accident is a bit wide of the mark if thats what insurance companies are saying as anything and anyone can cause an accident and runflats are certainly not the only factor which will prevent them or help you get out of one. What happens if a runflat blows out??Have they been given conclusive proof that they are better or are they being given bungs by insurance companies. Next they'll be saying to put a certain type of oil in your car and to put certain type of fuel in. I've got runflats and given that the car squirms in the wet when you go over white lines or pulls when you hit a bump in the road I think you are at times more likely to have a minor accident with them on.

[minicabrio]

I'm not going to agrue this anymore, all I will say is this:

"If you alter or modify your vehicle from the manufacturers original specification without informing your insurance company, you are at risk of having your policy declared void."

Is it worth the risk? Just tell them