I have seen a couple of issues posted about winter tyres and insurers. Our Fabia Elegance 1.6TDi Estate (2010) came with 205/55 R16s on alloys. For winter use Skoda recommend switching to 195 (or even 185) 55 R15s on steel rims. I bought Contis on-line and the genuine wheels from a Skoda dealer. When I informed the insurance company they refused to let the change go ahead. They say that any move away from the originally supplied kit is a modification, even though the SE version of this car comes with 195/55 R15s on steel wheels as standard and approved by Skoda not by the level of trim but by the suitability to the vehicle itself.

Up-shot, had to cancel with Quote me Happy and re-insure elsewhere. After some wrangling have got a full refund of unused cover and waiver of cancellation fee.

No other insurance company seems to be taking this stance.

Welcome

at least the outcome was amicable... they have shot themselves in the foot! my insurance company (allianz) says any skoda recommended fitment is fine, and I dont need to tell them about it!

Hi and welcome aboard.

I had the exact same issue and unfortunately can not afford to change insurance company at the moment so am stuck for this year but will certainly never insure a car with them ever again.

It's because they are being silly.

It's because they are being silly.

+1

i went from 15" to 16" wheels so I could use my winter tyres from my old car and my insurance (Highway via Chris Knott) had no problem with it even though I now have Audi wheels.

I've seen a few threads about this subject. It's about time the insurance industry was taken to task over this and made to be clear and transparent what is legal and what is covered, with regards to winter tyres. They are, loosely perhaps, a modification but in a positive way. That much has been proven by many studies undertaken into winter tyre technology. Many EU countries make the use of winters mandatory. IMHO, the motoringist who chooses to keep and invest in a separate set of tyres for winter conditions should be classed as lower risk.

Ooops, Off Topic rant for a mo there, apologies :(

Was it the change of wheels which was the issue? If it was just the tyres being swapped, it shouldn't have been an issue.