runflat insurance story

M

mark my words

Member
Hi all

I went to replace my rear tyres today and the chap told me he only had non run flats and that he wouldn't put them on as I may affect my insurance!??! - thoughts please
 
There are a lot of us that has replaced the Run Flats with Non-Run Flats. I suggest you go somewhere else that want your business. I don't think there has been an insurance issue. My car was totalled and insurance didn't care what kind of tire I had on.
 
Your tyre fitter might have been alluding to the fact that running with different construction tyres front to rear would not be looked on kindly in the event of an accident/MOT/police stop.

In general, insurance won't care what tyres your running as long as their suitable, and all 4 tyres are the same type (i.e. runflat or non-runflat, but not a mix), although there's nothing wrong in ensuring they make a note of your change.
 
If you have RFT on the front and non-RFT on the rear it will cause your DSC to go off constantly.
If this is waht you are trying, you will need four tires.

Steve
 
Agree all 4 wheels should have either non RFT or RFT - but i doubt the insurance or police could stop a claim otherwise, i think the law states that tyres have to be either of the same type bias belted, cross ply or radial internally and of the same size on the same axle so until they update the MOT test to include RFT the insurance company wouldnt have a leg to stand on.

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_410.htm

having one set of tyres on one axle RFT and another set non RFT of decent brand would IMO be less dangerous than putting cheap import Sunny or something similar on all 4 corners. Its only when you start really pushing on you can notice the differences between non RFT and RFT grip levels and that usually means your breaking the law anyway :evil:
 
ShakyDog said:
If you have RFT on the front and non-RFT on the rear it will cause your DSC to go off constantly.
If this is waht you are trying, you will need four tires.

Steve
Click to expand...

Rubbish! I run with non RFT on the back and RFT on the front for over a year and the DSC came on no more than it did with RFT all round or than it does now with non RFT all round.
 
All tyres have a coefficient of friction, ie that point at which the grip that exists between the road surface and the tyre is lost due to a force or forces acting on the tyre - this may be a lateral force (cornering) when a slide is induced, changes in conditions of the two surfaces (water ice etc or a sudden loss of pressure) and either exacerbated by excess speed, heavy breaking, harsh cornering or a combination. Different tyres also wear at different rates which again impacts on the coefficient of friction/grip levels.

Early RFTs certainly had tramlining characteristics after some wear. So imagine having part worn RFTs on the front and 'non' RFTs on the back - front starts tramlining while the rear tries hard to retain its grip and direction and then suddenly steps out in an effort to follow the front axle. Certainly a stange feel from the steering......

So mix different tyres on different axles and you get the same effect, each axle operating a set of tyres with different grip levels and tyres wearing at different rates. May be OK 90% of the time but in extreme conditions then the tyres will exhibit different operating characteristics that could cause at the least vague steering and in extreme conditions contribute to a loss of control.

A bit like wearing a lounge slippers on one foot and a hobnail boot on the other. OK 90% of the time but when it rains...... :o
 
For the price difference it is worth getting all four replaced. I had mixed front and rear for about six months as waiting for the RFT to wear and that was over winter and had no problem. Insurance had no probs when checked but i suspect they didn't understand the question!
 
Of course its personal choice BUT whatever car you have the only contact beween you and the road is your tyres so why compromise you and your passengers safety and that of other road users by not opting for the best that you can afford.
 
AlanJ said:
All tyres have a coefficient of friction, ie that point at which the grip that exists between the road surface and the tyre is lost due to a force or forces acting on the tyre - this may be a lateral force (cornering) when a slide is induced, changes in conditions of the two surfaces (water ice etc or a sudden loss of pressure) and either exacerbated by excess speed, heavy breaking, harsh cornering or a combination. Different tyres also wear at different rates which agains impacts on the coefficient of friction/grip levels.

Early RFTs certainly had tramlining characteristics after some wear. So imagine having part worn RFTs on the front and 'non' RFTs on the back - front starts tramlining while the rear tries hard to retain its grip and direction and then suddenly steps out in an effort to follow the front axle. Certainly a stange feel from the steering......

So mix different tyres on different axles and you get the same effect, each axle operating a set of tyres with different grip levels and tyres wearing at different rates. May be OK 90% of the time but in extreme conditions then the tyres will exhibit different operating characteristics that could cause at the least vague steering an in extreme conditions contribute to a loss of control.

A bit like wearing a lounge slipper on one foot and a hobnail boot on the other. OK 90% of the time but when it rains...... :o
Click to expand...


And in the event of a really serious accident the police would most definitely point it out as a potential contributing factor, however small.
 
lacroupade said:
And in the event of a really serious accident the police would most definitely point it out as a potential contributing factor, however small.
Click to expand...

And if they dont the other guys insurance company surely will..... :cry:
 
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