Matt,

I agree with what your saying but I'm pretty certain that the legal protection that you get with your car insurance won't be bending over backwards in a court of law to find out.

They will always try to find a way out if possible, it's in their best interests.

Phil_Peck,

IMO it's worth giving your insurance company a ring and seeing what they say, if they are not happy go and see the tyre fitters and explain that they will be replacing your tyres free of charge ect.

Edited 4 May, 201016 yr by peter0976

Yeah, guess your right, any way out of paying and they will find it.

I've said this before, however, the Insurance company can not refuse cover beacsue soemthing was different to what they had been told, unless it was material in an accident.

Therefore, if a blowout due to excessive speed casued an accident then maybe, however, if you crashed running into someone they could not refuse the 3rd party, They are however, entitled not to pay for the value of any modifciations you may have added to your car.

The trouble with phoning your insurer is that the phone monkey you'll end up speaking to won't have a clue what you're talking about - however, they'll probably use it as an excuse to squeeze some extra cash out of you - they'll probably charge you an 'admin fee' just to note that you're running 'V' tyres.

I've just been out to check and my rears are 'V' rated (they were on the car when I bought it) - I did a 600+ miles round trip yesterday and I'm still here to tell the tale .

Edited to add: I had the car serviced at the end of February and they tyres were inspected as part of a 'Visual Health Check' - there's a box entitled 'Tyre Size / Comments' and the fact that the rears are 'V' rated is not remarked upon.

Edited 5 May, 201016 yr by Wee Bri

I've said this before, however, the Insurance company can not refuse cover beacsue soemthing was different to what they had been told, unless it was material in an accident.

Therefore, if a blowout due to excessive speed casued an accident then maybe, however, if you crashed running into someone they could not refuse the 3rd party, They are however, entitled not to pay for the value of any modifciations you may have added to your car.

NOT quite true.

You have a legally binding contract with your insurer - the contract is on the basis of trust where you declare that the vehicle is not modified from manufacturers standard except for any separately declared modifications.

Should the car not be as declared when checked after an accident - they will refuse to pay out on the basis of "breach of contract"

I've just had a butcher's at my handbook - all it says is that you must not exceed the speed rating of your tyres, which is impossible to do on 'V' tyres in a Fabia (unless you have a rocket strapped to the back of it ).

Insurance companies can be James Hunts (and I work for one!) but the chances of them knocking back a claim for running on 'V' rated tyres are somewhere between zero and remote.

No...purely a mistake.

The guy at the garage told me they were good to go on. And I believed him!

Difficult to take the tyres back when they've been fitted and driven off!

If you've not had them on there for very long, you're entitled to take them back for a refund under the Supply and Sales of Goods and Services Act ("not fit for purpose").

The manufacturers would not put "W" rated tyres on it from the factory if they wern't obliged to - It costs them money.

It depends on the deal they're getting from the tyre suppliers. One of the batches of my parent's car (a Vauxhall) were supplied with W's because they got a cheap batch, all the others were somewhat lower rated. But generally, yes, it'll be the cheapest tyre that meets the standards, which will generally be lower-rated.

No it's not - they are not "fit for purpose"

They are not fit to do 150 mph for 10 minutes, only 130 mph for 10 minutes

NOT quite true.

You have a legally binding contract with your insurer - the contract is on the basis of trust where you declare that the vehicle is not modified from manufacturers standard except for any separately declared modifications.

Should the car not be as declared when checked after an accident - they will refuse to pay out on the basis of "breach of contract"

Not once in all my car-owning life have I ever been asked what speed rating my tyres were, and never once have I seen a modification form that had tyre ratings on it. So what conclusion do you think a court of law would come to?

"His tyres were only suitable for speeds of up 130 mph your honour."

"But he was only doing 50 mph at the time of the incident. Case dismissed."

Maybe insurers are reading this now and rubbing their hands with glee at the extra £££s they can now squeeze out of hapless motorists.

Paranoid? Moi? :no:

Jigger, excuse us for thinking that just maybe someone's life is worth more than six quid!

Jigger, excuse us for thinking that just maybe someone's life is worth more than six quid!

Eh? I think you've misunderstood me Ken. I'm just annoyed with the belief in this thread that insurers will render your policy void because you've got V rated tyres instead of W rated tyres. It's ridiculous, and a tad paranoid. The tyres are rated to endure speeds well in excess of any speeds you could hope to do in the UK.

As for someone's life being worth more than £6 – I presume this is the amount to be saved by using V rated tyres instead of W rated tyres – then that's a crock as well. Are you suggesting that V rated tyres are inherently weak and dangerous? How many people run on retreads, or remoulds, or dodgy flea-bay budget tyres? Are these illegal? Does this mean anyone buying them is driving around uninsured? Probably not.

That's my point. Ultimately, the OP will be fine on V rated tyres

Eh? I think you've misunderstood me Ken. I'm just annoyed with the belief in this thread that insurers will render your policy void because you've got V rated tyres instead of W rated tyres. It's ridiculous, and a tad paranoid. The tyres are rated to endure speeds well in excess of any speeds you could hope to do in the UK.

As for someone's life being worth more than £6 – I presume this is the amount to be saved by using V rated tyres instead of W rated tyres – then that's a crock as well. Are you suggesting that V rated tyres are inherently weak and dangerous? How many people run on retreads, or remoulds, or dodgy flea-bay budget tyres? Are these illegal? Does this mean anyone buying them is driving around uninsured? Probably not.

That's my point. Ultimately, the OP will be fine on V rated tyres

I couldn't have put if better myself .

Jigger, excuse us for thinking that just maybe someone's life is worth more than six quid!

:wonder: I think you can do up to 148mph on 'V' tyres - I don't know about you but I've never been anywhere remotely near that speed in my Skoda.

As I under stand it, the load rating is important, as is the speed rating.

In theory, if those boxes are ticked you are good to go, surely.

Unless there's a warning or instruction in the owner's manual that the RS must be run on W rated tyres or the car will explode and you WILL die!

J.

Edited 6 June, 201016 yr by Wee Bri

I've been online looking to get a new set of tyre (probably Rainsports) and when I put my reg. no. in on a couple of websites (Kwik Fit and Tyre Shopper) it brings up the following: -

There are also the following alternative tyre configurations that may have

been fitted as an upgrade option by the manufacturer or the dealer:

Front: 195/50R15 V 82Search SizeRear: 195/50R15 V 82Search Size

Can anyone enlighten me??