Superskoda, why wait till renewal time, I'm on the case allready 😆

Loz, sorry but you've had a perfect example, premium costs are lower but training and experience have been previously sacrificed.

 

If you think you can or want to spare the lifeforce, I think you could "escalate" your case as the person or people that you dealt with don't fully understand the situation, you'd probably need to go above "the supervisor" or "manager" level to get the understanding you need and that's not the fault of the people you've been dealing with or the "supervisors" or "managers" .

 

You've found how awkward things can be and this is just at application stage so you can imagine possibly snags at report, claim, repair and pay out stages.

 

My wife paid about 25% above the lowest insurance quotes recently at her renewal (still slightly below the renewal premium and more cover than her previous provider) as we want an insurer that is good with dealing with claims and repairs and not just a cheap premium and policy.  I learnt this three decades back, you only want cheap premiums and policy if you never claim on it, otherwise you want a good policy at a reasonable premium.

 

Loz, I just thought (yes my thinking is that slow) if you're gonna end an existing insurance there could be costs to that, check your policy, and there might be an admin fee and you might not get the premium refund of the "unused" policy you expect, again check your policy, as it catches out many that don't know (or those with an over simplistic view on the matter).

 

13 hours ago, Lozer said:

I had a long chat with the insurance company today, hard work to say the least. 

The upshot is, wheel change is a modification even if its a recommended manufacturer size. 

Interestingly, weren't that bothered about tyres until I quizzed them on the acceptable size and they said they don't suggest or recommend tyre size, and finally they conceded and said as long as its in the handbook.   

Upshot is £130 extra for wheel modifications.

 

I'm not surprised it was hard work. You can't a rational conversation with someone who doesn't understand tyre sizes and rim specifications, ie. the wheels.

 

Does your insurance company even know what your standard tyre size is?

 

So what happens if your car comes with 225/45R17 tyres as standard but you want to use 205/55R16 winter tyres in the winter?

 

In this example, let's say that 205/55R16 is the only size that is approved for the use of snow chains.

 

Edited 15 March, 20233 yr by Carlston

11 hours ago, nta16 said:

I just thought (yes my thinking is that slow) if you're gonna end an existing insurance there could be costs to that, check your policy, and there might be an admin fee and you might not get the premium refund of the "unused" policy you expect, again check your policy, as it catches out many that don't know (or those with an over simplistic view on the matter).

 

Nigel, let's say you had a Fabia MK3 with 215/45R16 tyres, and you wanted to put a 185/60R15 spare tyre in the boot that didn't come with the car when it left the factory, as let's say it only came with a puncture repair kit.

 

Would you contact your insurance company to check if you needed to pay extra for carrying the non-standard spare wheel (just to be on the safe side)?

 

Edited 15 March, 20233 yr by Carlston

@Carlston, you're shooting the messenger.

 

If anyone doesn't want to possibly argue the toss about the insurance at the time of a claim then you need to be sure you have complied with the contract you've agreed to, if you're not sure about anything then you need to check, preferably before taking on the contract.

 

I think whoever Loz spoke to about the insurance has it wrong, depending on his contract I think the worse is an admin fee to add the details to the contract.  Different companies assess different risks differently but luckily it's very big market so if one provider doesn't do what you want you can look around for another, how much time and lifeforce you have to do this hunting might dictate what you find.

 

Unfortunately it's always been that those that act responsibly pay for those they do not and this would be with (not meaning Loz here) some who modify their car so they don't go as well as design, or even go better so increase risk.

 

I'd be contacting the company again and speaking to someone else or the issue could be referred internally or externally.

 

Edited 15 March, 20233 yr by nta16
spelling

Many people paid extra insurance premiums because they informed their insurance company that they had fitted winter tyres in the winter, because many insurance companies incorrectly classified fitting winter tyres as a modification.

 

All those who didn't inform their insurance companies that they had fitted winter tyres were still fully insured.

 

I doubt many secondhand car buyers even check whether their tyres and rim specifications are exactly what the car left the factory with.

 

Accidents are caused by drivers, not wheels. So it's a shame insurance companies don't just let you fit what you want. Even in the same size, tyres vary enormously, from UHP (Ultra High Performance) summer tyres to cheap Chinese remoulds. That would make a lot more difference than a small change in tyre size.

 

In the US, they seem to be able to fit what they want regarding wheels, even having the tyres sticking out of the wheelarches by up to an inch. I don't agree with sticking out because that could cause damage to the windscreen of a following motorist.

 

Edited 15 March, 20233 yr by Carlston

Many people did in the UK, then a few years ago it was recognised that it was 'simply clever' to fit the appropriate tyres for the seasons and the rip off ended, 

unless anyone was stupid enough to get ripped off when call handlers were making a decision and not an 'Underwriter', Broker or Insurance company..

 

2011.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/217307-insurers-finally-support-winter-tyres

 

A decade back.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/266226-winter-tyres-question-for-the-insurance-companies

 

 

 

Edited 15 March, 20233 yr by toot

i HAVE 225 40 18 ON MY CAR, IT WAS PURCHASED SECOND HAND TO ME 2 YRS AGO, IT'S AN AWSOMW CAR BUT HAVE 4 NEW TYRES AND A BENT ALLOY ON POTHOLES SINCE i BOUGHT IT! i WAS THINKING ABOUT CHANGING THE WHEEL SIZE FOR A BETTER RIDE ON OUR  =CRAPPY ROADS SO READ THIS WITH INTEREST!

 

To me all modern cars for a couple of decades now have had far too oversized wheels and tyres, it just fashion, and customer demand for fashion too, all this fill the arches.

 

To me 18" is a silly wheel size and  225/40r18 is a silly tyre size but others would want even bigger and wider.

 

225/45r17 may give a better ride but it's not just about numbers, tyres are a very complex and overlooked important component on the car, an important part of the braking, steering and suspension systems.   Different tyres will give different results to all three and the road holding, handling, ride comfort and noise not limited to their size.

 

 

 

Possibly you could go for 2015/55r16, depends on your model (size of brakes perhaps).

 

 

Have a look here for the calculations. - https://tiresize.com/tyre-size-calculator/

 

2 hours ago, Jaynet62 said:

i HAVE 225 40 18 ON MY CAR, IT WAS PURCHASED SECOND HAND TO ME 2 YRS AGO, IT'S AN AWSOMW CAR BUT HAVE 4 NEW TYRES AND A BENT ALLOY ON POTHOLES SINCE i BOUGHT IT! i WAS THINKING ABOUT CHANGING THE WHEEL SIZE FOR A BETTER RIDE ON OUR  =CRAPPY ROADS SO READ THIS WITH INTEREST!

 

Here's an example of a suitable 16" wheel for the Superb MK2. It will fit all models, except for the 3.6litre V6 petrol that needs at least 17" wheels.

 

16" wheels are far more resistant to pothole damage on the Superb MK2 than the very unpractical 18" wheels, and will give a far more comfortable ride.

 

Alcar 9257 7Jx16 ET45 5/112 57.1 steel rim (for Superb MK2) (£45.00 each including shipping to the UK from Germany)

https://www.mytyres.co.uk/rims/details?vehicleId=182363349315490928&rimCode=ALCAR9257

 

The below set of four wheel trims for the above steel rims can be ordered from any VAG parts department by quoting OEM part number 5L0071456 Z31. The UK price might be slightly more than the £63.03 Czech price.

 

Set of four wheel trims for 7Jx16 ET45 5/112 57.1steel rim 5L0071456 Z31 (1869CZK is about £63.03)

https://eshop.skoda-auto.cz/cs_CZ/sada-poklic-satellite-16/p/5L0071456++Z31

 

Alcar 9257 steel rims with fitted Continental AllSeasonContact 2 205/55R16 94V XL tyres (£157.76 each)

https://www.mytyres.co.uk/cw/bundle?vehicle_ids=182363349315490928&wheelId=SKWi-9257--D-127967&wheelIdWithTpms=&season=gan&rimType=steel

 

Edited 6 September, 20241 yr by Carlston

For proper information about wheels and tyres on the Superb, read here:

 

From an insurance point of view, if you fit a type approved combination per the lists in that thread it should not be considered a modification.

The Skoda Superb MK2 owner's manual says that winter tyres can be used with a lower speed rating providing that the maximum speed of the tyre isn't exceeded.

 

A winter tyre is marked with the M+S and 3PMSF symbols, so all-season tyres are regarded as winter tyres when they have these symbols.

 

Therefore, H speed rated tyres could be used on a Superb MK2 even if the car is capable of over 130mph.

 

When fitted with 205/55R16 tyres, the pre-facelift Superb MK2 needs a 94 load index (according to official Skoda documentation).

 

When fitted with 205/55R16 tyres, the facelift Superb MK2 can be fitted with either 91 or 94 load index tyres (according to official Skoda documentation).

 

So although I previously gave 205/55R16 94V XL as an example 205/55R16 tyre specification, a winter or all-season (marked with the M+S and 3PMSF symbols) 205/55R16 91H tyre could be used instead even where the car is capable of over 130mph.

 

Here's an example of a 205/55R16 91H tyre

https://www.camskill.co.uk/m139b0s8003p208585/Michelin_Tyres_All_Season_Car_Michelin_Cross_Climate_2_205_55_R16_91H_TL_Fuel_Eff_%3A_C_Wet_Grip%3A_B_NoiseClass%3A_A_Noise%3A_69dB

 

Edited 7 September, 20241 yr by Carlston

Or you could just stick with what Skoda have approved, they've left quite a lot of options for people to use already.

On 08/09/2024 at 05:38, chimaera said:

Or you could just stick with what Skoda have approved, they've left quite a lot of options for people to use already.

 

205/55R16 91H or 205/55R16 94H XL winter tyres are approved by Skoda for the Superb MK2 facelift, except the 3.6 litre V6 that needs at least 17" rims.

 

If they weren't approved by Skoda, Superb MK2 owners in some of the strict European countries such as Germany wouldn't be able to fit them and Skoda wouldn't have listed them in their Skoda winter wheels catalogue.

 

The Skoda winter wheels catalogue no longer lists the Superb MK2 winter wheels because it's an old car, but looking at the Superb MK3 winter wheels shows that Skoda sells V-speed rated winter tyres for its 220HP and 272HP/280HP models even though those cars have a top speed of over 150mph...so would need W-speed rated or Y-speed rated tyres if they were summer tyres.

 

If a Superb MK3 220HP owner wanted to purchase 16" winter tyres through the Skoda winter wheels catalogue, they would fit H-speed rated winter tyres, ie. at least two speed ratings lower than their summer tyres because their summer tyres would have to be at least W-speed rated due to the over 150mph top speed (or Y-speed rated if that's what it says in their car's CoC Certificate of Conformity).

 

In strict European countries such as Germany the owner can only fit tyres and rims that meet the specifications shown in the CoC, always with the proviso that the speed rating of winter tyres can be lower...although you mustn't exceed the speed rating of the tyre. For example, if your car is fitted with V-speed rated winter tyres you mustn't exceed 150mph.

 

Skoda winter wheels (catalogue dated 20/9/2023)

https://www.skoda-auto.com/_doc/c829936c-f0c1-48a3-bd99-55a507038e8c

 

Edited 10 September, 20241 yr by Carlston

10 hours ago, Carlston said:

 

205/55R16 91H or 205/55R16 94H XL winter tyres are approved by Skoda for the Superb MK2 facelift.

Only for some models. The higher powered variants are only type approved for V or even W  rated tyres. You can't use a H rated tyre in these cases.

3 hours ago, chimaera said:

Only for some models. The higher powered variants are only type approved for V or even W rated tyres. You can't use a H rated tyre in these cases.

 

In the Skoda winter wheels catalogue, the Scala winter wheels aren't offered with winter tyres that have a speed rating more than H yet the 1.5 petrol models have a top of speed of over 130mph and quite naturally have summer tyres with a speed rating higher than H. Yet Skoda do approve H rated winter tyres for the 1.5 petrol model with its over 130mph top speed. This is common knowledge in many European countries because unlike the UK with its mild winters many places on the continental have cold winters and therefore swap their summer tyres to winter tyres every winter. In many countries on the continent, using winter tyres in the winter is compulsory...hence their greater level of expertise in this area.

 

It's common practice on the continent for owners to fit winter tyres that are narrower and with higher sidewalls than their summer tyres. For example, on the continent a Scala owner might run 205/55R16 summer tyres but change to 195/65R15 winter tyres.

 

That why it says in the Skoda owner's manual that you can fit winter tyres with a lower speed rating than the speed rating for the summer tyres. There's no mention about only being only allowed to fit one speed rating lower. So even if your summer tyres need a W or Y speed rating Skoda still approves H speed rated winter tyres. However, I suspect many owners would only go one speed rating lower than their summer tyres, ie. if their summer tyres are V speed rated, they might choose H speed rated winter tyres.

 

I'm using the Scala as an example, because the Superb MK2 is an old car and therefore Skoda no longer sell winter wheels for this car in their winter wheels catalogue...but the principle remains the same.

 

The reason that this lowering of the speed rating for winter tyres is acceptable is because winter tyres tend to be available in lower speed ratings than summer tyres. For example, mytyres are currently listing 234 winter tyres in size 215/60R16 but only 6 of those 234 winter tyres have a speed rating of more than H...and most of those 6 are not good tyres. So if you had a Superb MK3 that needed V speed rated summer tyres you could use H speed rated winter tyres...and in this size Skoda only list H speed rated winter tyres in their winter wheels catalogue for the Superb MK3. So if your Superb MK3 needed V speed rated summer tyres you could use H speed rated winter tyres.

 

Edited 10 September, 20241 yr by Carlston

Just stop. The Scala is a different model, its type approval may be different. This thread is about the Superb 2, and whatever about catalogues and what may or may not be in them, I have linked to the type approved sizes taken directly from Skoda's service literature, and these are what is permitted by the manufacturer on this model, end of story. There is no discussion to be had.

In the November 2014 edition of the Superb MK2 owner's manual it states the following on page 203:

 

"Winter tyres (marked with M+S and a peak/snowflake symbol) of a lower speed category can be used provided that the permissible maximum speed of these tyres is not exceeded even if the possible maximum speed of the vehicle is higher."

 

Skoda owner's manuals can be downloaded from skoda.co.uk including the one referenced here

https://www.skoda.co.uk/apps/manuals/Models

 

Example

If you fit 225/45R17 winter tyres to a Superb MK2 3.6 they won't be W or Y speed rated, because winter tyres aren't available in this size with a speed rating higher than V. So you would fit V speed rated or winter tyres (or lower if you so choose) and Skoda approve because they say so in the owner's manual (as I've quoted above).

 

If you wanted to use a nordic winter tyre in size 225/45R17 you might choose a T speed rating, even on the Superb MK2 3.6.

 

Nordic winter tyres are for very cold temperatures that you experience in many countries such as Finland, Sweden, and Norway. The reason nordic winter tyres aren't made for high speeds is because the tyre manufacturers would have to make the rubber harder to cope with the heat generated by driving at very high speeds. By making the rubber harder, the tyre would have a lot less grip in very cold temperatures, so it wouldn't actually be a nordic winter tyre. Hence, you won't find a nordic winter tyre that's made for very high speeds. Hence, Skoda doesn't limit how low you can go with regards to the speed rating for winter tyres. If they did, it would mean reducing your tyre's grip in very cold weather...which simply wouldn't be clever.

 

Edited 10 September, 20241 yr by Carlston

For info only - VWŠkoda free downloadable pdf versions of the Owner's Manal, including for older cars, are available on the following VWŠkoda link. - https://manual.skoda-auto.com/004/en-com/Models