What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
Winter wheels and tyres and increased insurance premiums
I currently own an Audi A6 with 235 35 R19 summer tyres on. I decided to change them to a 225 50 R17 winter/all season tyres. On informing my insurance company (Esure), they are asking me to pay an additional £63+25 ( admin fee) as I am fitting non-standard wheels and this makes my car more attractive to thieves. I have explained that the new wheels are smaller and cheaper than the existing wheels.
I have been told that if I only change my tyres ( on the existing wheels ) to winters, it will be free. But changing the alloys ( despite going smaller) will increase my premiums. Is there anything I can do to challenge this?
I have been told that if I only change my tyres ( on the existing wheels ) to winters, it will be free. But changing the alloys ( despite going smaller) will increase my premiums. Is there anything I can do to challenge this?
Asked on 6 November 2012 by samsom
Answered by
Honest John
Go up the food chain and complain very loudly. It is ridiculous to penalise you for making your car safer by fitting smaller wheels and deeper profile tyres that are a standard fitment for the model. Keep going up through the levels of management until you find someone with a brain who is allowed to use it.
We give you the low down on how to save on insurance, little-known tricks and tips, what insurance groups mean and how to use insurance aggregators to beat insurers.
Insurance group finder and how to save on insurance
Our honest used car pricing is a little bit different to all the others. You can get to our values through make or model - you don’t have to follow a prescribed route. Plus, it’s live, which means we can react to changes in the market quicker than any printed price guide.
Honest Used Car PricesSimilar questions
I plan to drive through Europe to Montenegro in mid April next year. I have winter tyres for my car and intended to remove them before my trip. I am not making the return trip until June. Croatia, which...
I'm unclear if I should tell insurers that I have fitted winter tyres to my Skoda. The tyres are exactly the same size as the summer tyres and were supplied and fitted to new wheels by our local Skoda...
I need an extra set of wheels and tyres for winter use on my Rover Sterling. I have a spare set of Vitesse wheels, so it makes sense to use those rather than try and buy new. However, the Sterling tyres...
Related models
.JPG?width=115&height=75&rmode=crop)
High quality and refined cabin. Good engines including frugal TDI diesels. Maximum five-star crash test rating. Classy image.
Elsewhere on 
.jpg)
