Tyre legality question

[Vanbursta]

I have seen a few post where people have changed the profile of their tyres (Up) to gain a smoother ride. What are the insurance implications if you have an accident and non standard tyre sizes are fitted, would they invalidate the insurance?

I ask because I have a car with 235/40/18s and would like to got up to either 45 or 50 profile and am not sure if it is something that you are allowed to do, or if they would affect the handling, I know there would be less road noise and that's what I want.

[stevestrat]

45s are actually the standard size.

[Vanbursta]

For a Rover -yes, but this is a Mondeo.

[LeRich]

It's a grey area that I've seen discussed before. On the cautious side, a change of tyre size takes your car away from standard spec which is frowned upon (but let's face it - how many of our cars have factory-spec tyres anyway).

I would expect insurers to focus more instead on the condition of the tyres and the load and speed index being equal to or higher than OEM more than the tyres' dimensions (unless the tyres are uneven sizes across an axle).

[selwol]

my wife has a mini cooper that we put after market alloys and wider tyres on. she phoned the insurance company (sheilas wheels) who said thank you we`ll update your policy. no charge but its now on her cerfiticate always let the insurance know of any mods or they have a perfect getout clause.

[stevestrat]

Originally Posted by Vanbursta

For a Rover -yes, but this is a Mondeo.

Ah, trick question

[Sonic ZS]

If you think about just the 75 saloon model on it's own for a moment, it was available with steel wheels, factory fit alloy wheels in 15, 16 and 17" variations, a further selection of dealer fit alloys in varying sizes and later I believe the 18" MG styles were also made optional.

Add to this that at one point, the 15" size tyre was reduced from 205 to 195 width (under Project Drive) and I'd say it would be pretty much impossible for any insurance assessor to 100% guarantee the exact size that should be fitted to the car.

Then add in all the Tourer models, MG variants, Fords, Vauxhalls, Renaults, Citroens, Peugeots.... and you can probably see where I'm going with this.

I would guess that there are simply so many accidents every day, that unless a death is involved which can be clearly be seen to be attributable to incorrectly sized tyres, then as previously mentioned, they will only concern themselves with general condition and tread levels.

Of course, if you like to be able to sleep at night, then stick to what's printed in the Rover handbook and you won't go far wrong

[T-Cut]

I guess the Mondeo comes with various wheel options just like the 75 does/did. Any wheel/tyre combination listed in the Handbook is a legal fitment. The tyres with the largest aspect ratio will produce the smoothest/softest ride. Moving to sizes not specified in the Handbook is likely to be where insurance problems will hide.

TC

[chris75]

Originally Posted by Sonic ZS

Add to this that at one point, the 15" size tyre was reduced from 205 to 195 width (under Project Drive)

Don't think this is correct My 2001 PPD conny with 15" crowns came with 195 tyres . According to the handbook the 6.0J alloy wheels only had 195s whilst the 6.5J was available with 195 or 205 .

[murphyv310]

My 1999 1.8 had Crowns and 205's