And a further footnote to this topic:

I was wondering about getting some Goodyear Vector 4Seasons for the 17" wheels on my CR170, but these do seem only to be made in V speed rating not W. So I checked back with Skoda Insurance (Allianz) who reply:

'Following your request to change tyres to all season tyres, having reviewed the details of your e-mail, I can confirm that due to the proposed change from W - V type tyres this would not be an acceptable change due to the reduction in maximum speed. If you are able to continue with the original change to winter tyres of the same type currently on the vehicle then we would be able to confirm the change as acceptable.'

So I guess that's the end of that idea. (Yes, I know I could/should get 16" wheels, but not planning to go down that road.)

That seems bizarre. V is rated at 149mph and W is 168mph. Even H at 130mph is over the rated top speed of the 170. The manual states a lower speed rating winter can be used, as long as you don't exceed that rated speed (I have H rated winters for my 170), so why all-season tyres are not treated the same way I don't know.

And a further footnote to this topic:

I was wondering about getting some Goodyear Vector 4Seasons for the 17" wheels on my CR170, but these do seem only to be made in V speed rating not W. So I checked back with Skoda Insurance (Allianz) who reply:

'Following your request to change tyres to all season tyres, having reviewed the details of your e-mail, I can confirm that due to the proposed change from W - V type tyres this would not be an acceptable change due to the reduction in maximum speed. If you are able to continue with the original change to winter tyres of the same type currently on the vehicle then we would be able to confirm the change as acceptable.'

So I guess that's the end of that idea. (Yes, I know I could/should get 16" wheels, but not planning to go down that road.)

 

Just call back again and try another agent. They're clueless. You won't ever get any mountain and snowflake marked tyres in W because they don't exist. That should be pointed out and you may need to get the ABI involved.

There is even a warning tone which you can set yourself via the maxidot display to provide warning of overspeed on winter tyres...

There is even a warning tone which you can set yourself via the maxidot display to provide warning of overspeed on winter tyres...

Hmm.. not tried setting it at 149mph :think:

yes

I had W winters on my Audi

I had W winters on my Audi

 

Do you remember what brand etc they were?

I've just put a full set of Goodyear Vector 4Seasons 225/50 R17 V (94) on my Yeti, only had them on for a couple of weeks but I absolutely love them so far.

 

My insurance company (Chaucer Direct) were also happy for me to go with the lower speed rated tyre.

Do you remember what brand etc they were?

Vredestein Extremes

 

I am a big fan of Vredestein Winter tyres and have been using various types of their winter tyres for the last 5 Winters (the one coming will be my 6th year on Vredesteins)

 

My Audi Vredesteins were the same rating in loading and speed as the originals (I had a 3.0tdi A4), it meant the insurance company couldn't complain. Mind you they are not cheap, but quality rarely is :(

Edited 19 September, 201312 yr by Lady Elanore

I'm intrigued to know which insurance company this was.

I'm intrigued to know which insurance company this was.

I meant the tyres were expensive. Mind you I went through Audi insurance and they weren't that cheap either (although surprisingly competitive at the time )

Sorry Lady E, the question was to Prodata.

Sorry Lady E, the question was to Prodata.

Ah ha. That explains it

Sorry Lady E, the question was to Prodata.

Try re-reading my post?

'So I checked back with Skoda Insurance (Allianz)'

Missed that. Oops!

 

I would suggest writing back to them asking them for the Underwriters reasons for this and take that to the ABI, because they are going against ABI advice over winter/all season tyres.

I've just put a full set of Goodyear Vector 4Seasons 225/50 R17 V (94) on my Yeti, only had them on for a couple of weeks but I absolutely love them so far.

 

My insurance company (Chaucer Direct) were also happy for me to go with the lower speed rated tyre.

BobbyG79 could you please give some more info on how the Vectors compare to your previous (I'd imagine summer?) tyres? I am thinking of having them fitted for winter use but am wondering how much the softer compound affects steering feel overall and grip in "normal" temperatures. Any feedback would be much appreciated!

 

As a side note, I also think that insurance not accepting fitment of tyres that are rated for speeds well above the car's top speed is plain ridiculous. I am sure a case can be made with the company to allow this - sounds more like a case of the agent not being bothered to deal with it.

...

As a side note, I also think that insurance not accepting fitment of tyres that are rated for speeds well above the car's top speed is plain ridiculous. I am sure a case can be made with the company to allow this - sounds more like a case of the agent not being bothered to deal with it.

Is a tyre's "speed rating" *just* a speed-dependent rating, or more a load rating (ie weight / temp / side force / speed)? I would assume the latter. Perhaps the Yeti is viewed as "harsh" on tyres so needs a generous speed rating on its tyres?

Can't comment on any differences in grip levels, but walking down my sisters street in Frankfurt recently (in an area where there are more Audis, Mercs and BMW's than Golfs and no Opels, I noticed more then half still had their winters on.  Actually, they may be all seasons, but I didn't check. 

As skiing is big here and snowflake tyres are effectively compulsory in winter, they are more likely to be winters.  Winter temps are usually much colder than most of UK.  When I lived there, there was a spate of -20C snaps each winter.  Your sinuses freeze and it hurts to breathe.

Summer temps there are on average higher then ours, so I can only presume that someone who drives an S series Merc feels its fine and safe, as I doubt its a cost based decision.  Most were also on steels, so likely to have the alloys kicking about in the cellar.

There are separate markings for speed -  the H, V and W etc.  Load ratings are the 92, 94 and so on. 

BobbyG79 could you please give some more info on how the Vectors compare to your previous (I'd imagine summer?) tyres? I am thinking of having them fitted for winter use but am wondering how much the softer compound affects steering feel overall and grip in "normal" temperatures. Any feedback would be much appreciated!

 

The Vector 4Season tyre suits the Yeti extremely well, I can definitely feel that the tyre is softer than my old Pirelli PZero Rosso's, which is very much a good thing.  Almost all of my little rattles have disappeared and the car feels much more assured & planted on the road in general (both straight & through cornering).  All in all it makes the Yeti feel even more "awesome" than before!

 

I've also noticed a fairly large improvement in fuel economy (4-5 MPG ave), and the rolling resistance is noticably less than the Pirelli's, meaning I'm able to "coast" much more freely, although I recognise that I'm comparing my new tyres to that of a set that had come to the end of their useable life.

 

Another added bonus is that the tyre/tread itself is very attractive, and matches the Yeti's rugged yet sporty profile perfectly.

 

If you haadn't already gathered, it's a big thumbs up from me  (except for the fact that they were £600+, but there doesn't seem to be much way of avoiding that if you want a decent set of tyres)

OK, an update:

I've been back to the insurers with the following email (quoted here not because it's any great work of literature, but so that anyone can see exactly what I wrote):

===========================

'Many thanks for your reply, but I’m not convinced that it is accurate. Could I ask you please to refer this matter to a more senior or experienced colleague for a more definitive opinion. The specific issue in question is whether it’s acceptable to fit V speed rated tyres to my Skoda Yeti, rather than W-rated tyres. Can I ask you to consider the following three points:

1. The original fitment tyres for my Yeti are sized at 225/50 R17 94W. I can find all-season tyres in exactly this specification EXCEPT for the speed rating, which seems universally to be V rated across all tyre makes. After extensive searching, I cannot find all-season tyres of any make of this exact size in W speed rating – it seems that the tyre industry accepts that the V rating is fully acceptable for all-season tyre use.

2. May I remind you that W-rated tyres are recommended for a maximum speed of 168mph, while V-rated tyres are officially good for up to 149mph. Yet the official manufacturer’s figure for the maximum speed of my Yeti is 126mph (201kph), i.e. actually within the speed rating of the lesser H-rated tyres, let alone V-rated. (And even assuming that I was crazy enough anywhere to try to reach this theoretical maximum speed.)

3. My Yeti owner’s manual explicitly says: ‘You can fit winter tyres of a lower speed category to your vehicle provided that you also do not drive faster than the permissible maximum speed for such tyres,even if the possible maximum speed of your vehicle is higher.’ So the manufacturers are clearly content that it is perfectly safe to fit V-rated tyres (and as per point [2], the caveat about maximum speed is irrelevant in this example – the Yeti will absolutely not be able to reach the V-rated maximum speed limit of 149mph).'

(Plus a short final concluding paragraph, not germane to the facts above.)

===========================

This elicited a further response this morning:

'I have had the opportunity to refer your points to a senior member of staff, and they have agreed in the case of the Yeti that you would be unable to purchase "all season tyres" from the manufacturer or purchase a comparible rated tyre, therefore in this case we will be able to accept the V rated tyres as your points regarding top end speed for the Yeti are valid.

I have therefore noted your policy accordingly and if you need any further information please do not hesitate to get in touch.'

Just got to find some Goodyears at a decent price now. Thanks for the advice here and just goes to show that persistence can pay.

Success Good to hear

Well done.

I still have a set of 4 steel wheels and winter tyres for sale......

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