I've just taken out insurance via Skoda's 7 days free insurance and said that it was being collected shod with winter tyres and they said, as above, no problem no extra cost.

They also seem very competitive, not that I have a quote from anybody else yet, and when I get the car remapped, the extra will not be much so I may well end up going with them.

Mike I did the same and they were sooooo competitive that I took the whole year's insurance with them too! I could not believe the price they quoted me. We were going to do an Admiral Multicar with the MX-5 and the Yeti but did not need to in the end since the Skoda insurance was a lot cheaper than even Admiral (whom I've found are normally very competitive).

As to my 26mpg... wait until I've had a few fill ups! Then my 42mpg to Nottingham will have become the norm I hope!

I've just taken out insurance via Skoda's 7 days free insurance and said that it was being collected shod with winter tyres and they said, as above, no problem no extra cost.

They also seem very competitive, not that I have a quote from anybody else yet, and when I get the car remapped, the extra will not be much so I may well end up going with them.

Mike

Mike,

I enquired of Skoda Insurance about remapping my anticipated 2011 170 Elegance - I had to wait whilst enquiries were made of 'The Underwriters' - the eventual response was that there would be a substantial premium hike and they would only entertain a remap if it were fitted by an approved Skoda dealership!

Be interested to hear how you get on!

BTW, I'm 65 with 11+ years NCB and no convictions of any kind!

Mike,

I enquired of Skoda Insurance about remapping my anticipated 2011 170 Elegance - I had to wait whilst enquiries were made of 'The Underwriters' - the eventual response was that there would be a substantial premium hike and they would only entertain a remap if it were fitted by an approved Skoda dealership!

Be interested to hear how you get on!

BTW, I'm 65 with 11+ years NCB and no convictions of any kind!

I was asked why I wanted it and I said I want it for economy. The lady then went back to the underwriter, and then came back saying it would be 10%.

I don't tend to drive fast, I investigate too many accidents for that these days, I'm more interested in economy, but acceleration....

I'm happy with that.

I am also having my 2nd assessed drive with the IAM on sunday. looking to do my test in next few months.

now a remap on a 170. that at a guess will go to around 230bhp if you get the same gains as I will on the 140 of about 35%.

Note anybody who remaps one of these will have to take the ECU out as it can't be done through the OBD11 port. (see shark performance website.

Mike

now a remap on a 170. that at a guess will go to around 230bhp if you get the same gains as I will on the 140 of about 35%.

Remaps on the PD/CR170 are limited by the DPF capacity so you are only looking at an improvement to c. 200 - 205bhp (unless you take the DPF off and then 230bhp is achievable.

Just noticed this : SMMT statement regarding winter tyres not being a "modification" for insurance purposes.  Sanity breaking out in the insurance world?

Just noticed this : SMMT statement regarding winter tyres not being a "modification" for insurance purposes.  Sanity breaking out in the insurance world?

... so who's going to tell the insurer's then?

Direct Line initially wanted to charge this as a modification, which I made a fuss about, they called back a couple of hours later to say their underwriters did not consider it a modification, so no extra charge. I did not expect the call centre staff to be up to speed on this issue.

It's funny also how most of the public and media seem to be unaware of the benefits of winter tyres also, bemoaning the state of the roads, and the country sliding to a halt, when people could do more to help themselves and be safer at the same time.

Edited 8 December, 201015 yr by jeep

... so who's going to tell the insurer's then?

Silly me... I thought the ABI was the trade association of the insurers.

Presumably the insurance brand marketing arms aren't the actual insurers and therefore not necessarilly members of the ABI.

Still waiting to see what Cooperative Insurance's attitude is.

The general public don't seem to know what winter tyres are for, having talked a a few people today about them.

Mike

The general public don't seem to know what winter tyres are for, having talked a a few people today about them.

Mike

The 'general' public are so ruddy thick they innundated MetroLinks call centre yesterday inquiring if the trams would still be running after the crash on CORONATION STREET!!!!!

And these people have a vote :(

Any insurance company that loads a premium on account of the fitment of winter tyres should be prosecuted in my view. Legalised banditry, first against the wall when the revolution comes, boiling is too good for them, etc, etc.

Rant over

UPDATE: I emailed Skoda UK to get an official ruling on the approved wheel/tyre size for a Yeti 1.2 DSG and I got the following reply:

"Skoda UK's position with regard to this matter is as follows. As long as the change in tyre keeps certain variables constant to

those standard to the vehicle, then we would not consider it a performance modification. These are as follows:

1. Aspect Ratio

2. Diameter

3. Load index

4. Speed Rating

I hope this information is of use to you. Should you require any further assistance, please do not hesitate to call me on the

number below.

Thank you for contacting Skoda Customer Services."

In other words it took them 2 weeks to state the blindingly obvious and provide no meaningful information. I've gone back and asked what the 'standard variables' are for my car but am not holding my breath. Although not the cheapest option I'm leaning towards a spare set of Dolomite alloys + Nokians.

Further update

I went back to SUK to see if their position had changed in light of the information contained in Jessica's helpful post on another thread which was as follows:

"Prior to the above decision I had emailed William Fisher at SUK, asking him to confirm their approval of me fitting 205/60/16 Winter tyres on 6J steel wheels. His reply(summarised verbatim below) may be of interest:

I have passed your request to Skoda Technical who have confirmed that it is not in fact possible to fit 205/60/16 tyres as you have suggested. I am sorry for any disappointment caused.

For your information, I have listed the approved combinations below:

Tyre size Wheel size

205/55/16 6J x 16

205/55/16 7J x 16

215/60/16 7J x 16

205/50/17 6J x 17"

Ian from SUK has now called me to say that he had gone to the SUK Technical Dept with my chassis no. and they have responded with a list of wheel and tyre sizes that they would 'approve' for my car. I'll post the exact sizes once I've received Ian's email but they sound similar to the list in Jessica's note above.

I'll now be able to get 16" wheels and cheaper, more effective (and more available) tyres rather than the 17" alloys I was going to buy.

I sent a e mail to Hastings Direct yesterday and this is the reply.

As long as they are the same sort of size as the tyres currently on your car and road legal then no we don’t need to know but if the spec of the tyres is totally different to the ones on the car at the moment then we would need to check it with the Underwriters of the policy.

Many Thanks

Laura Ingram

Policy Services

Hastings Direct

08448 003 844

Directline took 30 seconds to confirm that fitting winter tyres and alternative alloys was a mod that should be noted on the policy.

They were quite happy to do this FOC and confirmed that they had done this, in wrting, within 24 hours.

It pays to deal with a firm employing call centre staff based in the UK. They can appreciate the reason for me fitting these tyres themselves when they see the snow falling outside.

Hi

From the Cooperative Insurance by phone to me today:

If you buy the winter wheels when you buy the car, that's not a modification but you have to tell them and they note it.

The wheels must be Skoda wheels (not 3rd party).

If you buy the winter wheels later, after you have bought the car, then that's a modification.

Oh well...

I bought the winter wheels and tyres before I bought the car (on order of course) and they decided thats the same thing as buying at the same time!

When I was trying to decide whether to fit winter tyres to my 1.8 TSI Yeti (Suzy) I contacted Directline, the girl I spoke to said as I was changing the wheels I would need to pay an administration fee. However when I had purchased the new wheel and tyre combination and phoned up to inform them the girl I spoke to was unclear what to do, she went and spoke to a supervisor and came back to say that providing the tyre and wheel size was approved for the car they did not need to know.

The snow over the last week or so has convinced me that winter tyres are a good buy.

I've fitted steel wheels and winter tyres to both of our cars. My car is insured with Skoda Insurance, no fee. Partners car is insured with Budget Insurance, no fee.

I described the change as winter tyres fitted to steel wheels which are the manufacture recommended size. Neither had an issue, just made a note.

Further update

I went back to SUK to see if their position had changed in light of the information contained in Jessica's helpful post on another thread which was as follows:

"Prior to the above decision I had emailed William Fisher at SUK, asking him to confirm their approval of me fitting 205/60/16 Winter tyres on 6J steel wheels. His reply(summarised verbatim below) may be of interest:

I have passed your request to Skoda Technical who have confirmed that it is not in fact possible to fit 205/60/16 tyres as you have suggested. I am sorry for any disappointment caused.

For your information, I have listed the approved combinations below:

Tyre size Wheel size

205/55/16 6J x 16

205/55/16 7J x 16

215/60/16 7J x 16

205/50/17 6J x 17"

Ian from SUK has now called me to say that he had gone to the SUK Technical Dept with my chassis no. and they have responded with a list of wheel and tyre sizes that they would 'approve' for my car. I'll post the exact sizes once I've received Ian's email but they sound similar to the list in Jessica's note above.

I'll now be able to get 16" wheels and cheaper, more effective (and more available) tyres rather than the 17" alloys I was going to buy.

SUK has now confirmed the following:

"The permissible wheel and tyre combinations for this chassis are as follows:

Tyre size Wheel size

205/55/16 6J X 16

205/55/16 7J X 17

215/60/16 6J X 16

205/50/17 6J X 17"

Good result - will probably go for the 205/55/16 tyres as they seem to be more readily available

SUK has now confirmed the following:

"The permissible wheel and tyre combinations for this chassis are as follows:

Tyre size Wheel size

205/55/16 6J X 16

205/55/16 7J X 17

215/60/16 6J X 16

205/50/17 6J X 17"

Good result - will probably go for the 205/55/16 tyres as they seem to be more readily available

Not nitpicking, but are the two middle sizes correct? Bearing in mind that my model is exactly the same as yours, my email from SUK gave 215/60/16 on 7J wheels, so I had to reorder. Tony

Edited 10 December, 201015 yr by jessica

Hi

From the Cooperative Insurance by phone to me today:

If you buy the winter wheels when you buy the car, that's not a modification but you have to tell them and they note it.

The wheels must be Skoda wheels (not 3rd party).

If you buy the winter wheels later, after you have bought the car, then that's a modification.

Oh well...

I bought the winter wheels and tyres before I bought the car (on order of course) and they decided thats the same thing as buying at the same time!

Fred,

I posted a link to a statement made by the SMMT and the ABI about this "problem" and how the had instructed their members to deal with it. Perhaps the Co-op need pointing towards it!!

Hi

From the Cooperative Insurance by phone to me today:

If you buy the winter wheels when you buy the car, that's not a modification but you have to tell them and they note it.

The wheels must be Skoda wheels (not 3rd party).

If you buy the winter wheels later, after you have bought the car, then that's a modification.

Oh well...

I bought the winter wheels and tyres before I bought the car (on order of course) and they decided thats the same thing as buying at the same time!

Fred, I have further information in relation to your post today.

I also just rang Co-op Insurance. Mainly because I happen to respect them in general and have used them and would have used them again - but NOT in the light of your post.

I inadvertantly went through to their cancellations department and spoke to an advisor keen to assist. In short she confirmed, after making enquiies with the quotqtions dept. that ...

(i) Yes, it must be Skoda wheels only.

(ii) The TYRE Circumference must remain the same (NOTE. not Wheel size - Tyre circumference).

(iii) It wouldn't apply just to new cars.

(iiii) It wouldn't be classed as a modification or change to policy therefore would NOT attract a policy fee (£15) when you changed over.

All this is OK over the phone but she has promised to email this information on Monday. If anyone wishes, I'll copy it out here when it arrives.

Fred, I have further information in relation to your post today.

I also just rang Co-op Insurance. Mainly because I happen to respect them in general and have used them and would have used them again - but NOT in the light of your post.

I inadvertantly went through to their cancellations department and spoke to an advisor keen to assist. In short she confirmed, after making enquiies with the quotqtions dept. that ...

(i) Yes, it must be Skoda wheels only.

(ii) The TYRE Circumference must remain the same (NOTE. not Wheel size - Tyre circumference).

(iii) It wouldn't apply just to new cars.

(iiii) It wouldn't be classed as a modification or change to policy therefore would NOT attract a policy fee (£15) when you changed over.

All this is OK over the phone but she has promised to email this information on Monday. If anyone wishes, I'll copy it out here when it arrives.

Hi

I'm also going to receive written cofirmation within 4 working days - it will be interesting to see if the amswers are cosistent, i.e. isit policy or the supervisors best guess. Must admit there was some surprise that the summer and winter tyres were on a diferent size and material of wheel - 17" alloy summer and 16" steel winter, but as long they were both Skoda supplied and Skoda approved that seemed to be O.K.

I also quoted the SMMT and ABI statement that the fitting of winter tyres should not be considered a modification.

We will see!

Life never used to seem so complicated.

"The confusion may be through call centres, where that information is not getting through," says Malcolm Tarling, of the ABI [Association of British Insurers].

"The fitting of winter tyres should not affect the risk," he insists.

If anyone is told they do in fact have to pay more when they fit those tyres, they are advised to contact their insurance company's head office directly.

BBC News

Edited 11 December, 201015 yr by Cap'n Buxton

Not nitpicking, but are the two middle sizes correct? Bearing in mind that my model is exactly the same as yours, my email from SUK gave 215/60/16 on 7J wheels, so I had to reorder. Tony

205/55/16 6J X 16

205/55/16 7J X 17

215/60/16 6J X 16

205/50/17 6J X 17

Thanks for pointing this out Tony - I didn't pick up on these discrepancies as I was focussing on the first option as that was the one I thought I'd go for. The second option is clearly wrong given you'd have to fit 16" tyres to 17" wheels. I suspect the third is also wrong as the 215 tyres would be a better fit on the 7J rims. I'll ask SUK to check their information tomorrow and I'll repost the correct information.

Edited 12 December, 201015 yr by Del B

205/55/16 6J X 16

205/55/16 7J X 17

215/60/16 6J X 16

205/50/17 6J X 17

Thanks for pointing this out Tony - I didn't pick up on these discrepancies as I was focussing on the first option as that was the one I thought I'd go for. The second option is clearly wrong given you'd have to fit 16" tyres to 17" wheels. I suspect the third is also wrong as the 215 tyres would be a better fit on the 7J rims. I'll ask SUK to check their information tomorrow and I'll repost the correct information.

The TUV approval link that was recently posted (that I cant now find) said:-

205/55 R16 94H M&S on 6J x 16 ET 50 approved for chains

205/55 R16 94V M&S on 7J x 16 ET 45 approved for chains

205/50 R17 93H M&S on 6J x 17 ET45 approved for chains

215/60 R16 95H std on 7J x 16 ET45 not approved for chains

225/50 R17 94W std on 7J x 17 ET45 not approved for chains

The 205/60 R16 M&S fitment does not appear to have been subject to TUV testing, though this doesn't necessarily mean that it's not suitable.

What is interesting is that the load index and speed ratings tested cover a quite wide range of specifications. It is often said that you should never fit a tyre of a lower speed rating than the manufacturers original, or your insurance could be invalid. Now, clearly snow tyres are not available in all speed ratings, so I wonder if part of the reason behind the insurance companies dithering is due to this side of things? Also, the load ratings of 93 and above are really extra load tyres with re-inforced sidewalls. How many of you have fitted lower load rated tyres as it's much easier to get 91 rated tyres? I dont know how relevant this is, do Skoda specify an extra load tyre because of the additional abuse that the car could get off road?

Edited 12 December, 201015 yr by speedsport

Hi,

the 2wd Yeti can get away with the 91 load rated tyre, however the 4x4 cannot as she weighs in at over 2000kg (2 metric ton) total weight.

The standard tyres can be fitted with chains, however only on the rear wheels; not much use for 2wd owners :(

Regards,

TP