Wide tyre panic

[Jonesthemilk]

Just thought I'd drop a line and first thank all the contributors that have taken the time to supply fact sheets and contacts. I have been a member for quite some time but have been remiss with my contributions.

Having just got a very lucrative 10 month IT contract in Glasgow (Just right for the Games) I thought I'd treat my 2.5TD "dog carrying Multi Function Vehicle K9 MFV, to a set of all-terrain tyres, in readiness for the snow and bad weather ahead.
With my Rotty "Amber" having passed away a couple of years ago, the vehicle has become a tow car and Fishing van. (245,000 Km) so will be able to leave it up there for transport after flying to and fro.

Anyway, was able to fit General Grabber All Terrain 225x70x15 S100 on all four corners and got a really good deal from 'etyres' (£382 inc) who came to the house at a time I specified. Really good & pleasant service.
Tyres fit a treat, full lock possible and plenty of room all round.
I had to sign a disclaimer though as they were considered non-standard.

This got me thinking....... so I decided to contact my insurers LLoyds Bank Car Ins. who duly told me that I was no longer covered and that they would not even consider insuring a modified vehicle. No give at all!

Dont Panic Mr Mannering" I thought .....so back to the Bongo site to locate a list of insurers who I found varied from £852 to £226. quite a few would not even quote.

Finally settled on the £226 with 2Gether to include wide tyres and removal of middle set of seats, so mobile again.

Can only reinforce the fact that you really need to check with your insurers FIRST, before changing tyre sizes..........

Keep up the good work........ your all are a lifeline with my Bongo reaching its declining years.....

Diolch yn fawr
Jonesthemilk.


[i]"whose coat is that jacket?"[/i]

[winchman]

That's a very good often missed point.
I used to have a radically modified road legal (just) off roader, the mods list was two pages but with the right insurance broker it wasn't an issue.
Remember even fitting a coolant alarm is classed as a mod so best to be on the ball, I am sure 90% of insurers wouldn't object to such a small mod but if its not declared then it can be used against you in the event of a claim

[helen&tony]

Hi
HELL'S TEETH!!!!! ....for the love of Ada, don't tell'em you're a smoker, and the ashtray's full!!!!!....If a company are that crazy, it's a damn' good bet they won't cough up in an accident!
Cheers
Helen

[mikexgough]

Many Bongo's come with alloys from the importers... I wonder how many are running around undeclared with insurers?... mind you It wouldn't surprise me if they accepted alloys as a given but be more paranoid on tyre load rating....although that must be at least 96 whatever size wheels you opt for... I have included all my mods inc the solar panel, stainless exhaust,cycle rack,tow bar and alloys.... can't be too careful as these sharks will do anything so as not to pay out on a claim...

[Ruben122]

It is crazy to assume that just having those small modifications could make such a drastic difference. Really glad that you decided to shop around before – can you imagine how you would have felt if you had actually ended up with the £852? My thought is that you would not be a happy camper.

[MountainGoat]

Many Bongo's come with alloys from the importers

I feel is going to be hard to prove that having alloys fitted is a modification. These days most vehicle manufacturers offer alloys as an optional extra when bought new. Therefore it can be claimed that they are the original specification rather than a modification.

My bongo came over from Japan shod in alloy 215's all round and in the 7 years that I had it I was never asked in any questionnaire if alloys had been fitted. As it had the alloys on when I bought it so I assumed that it was the original specification.

In the end I guess that it is all going to boil down to if the alloys fitted are suitable for use on a bongo or not.

Tony

[BongoBongo123]

This might have thrown a spanner in the works. On the phone with them right now about this.
So I might have to buy 195's for the front, more expense.

Not taking the risk, insurers are slippery enough as it is.

Finding out what the situation is from insurer. (if the person on the other end can actually comprehend what I am saying that is, English not being their native language it appears.)

[BongoBongo123]

Informed them of the 215's on the front and they have noted that on the policy and it is still insured thankfully. Defo worth finding out before you have a crash (god forbid) and they say sorry sir you did not disclose wrong non original spec tyre change.

[mikeWalsall]

The worst are the 'Go Compare' on line quote sites..

Even if you can find all the right boxes for your vehicle .. then tick the 'yes' box for 'any modifications' (in my case the perfectly normaly accepted LPG conversion)... nine times out of ten companies will not automaticaly accept you / give an online quoote .. far better to phone and talk to a real person ..

[ELZE]

Look! Fact is that any insurer will look for any excuse either to screw you for more hard earned cash or back off when there is any potential for the slightest risk without even attempting to calculate the risk x severity. Example, just tried to put my Son on my policy last week as we were travelling to the Highlands and did not want to do all the driving. because he is temporarily unemployed they refused to cover him as (get this) being unemployed is a greater risk? How, when and why I ask!

went to another insurer who had no problem and charged me £25 extra to put him on? The mind boggles.


Truth is they say that all insurers work with each other but none have a clue what the other is doing and as a result there is not consistency in the industry. All of them have different quirks.

[helen&tony]

Truth is they say that all insurers work with each other but none have a clue what the other is doing and as a result there is not consistency in the industry. All of them have different quirks.[/quote]

Hi
You're not wrong there!...In most fields of human endeavour and employment, the work-force are selected from Mother Nature's own stock of Village Idiots, who are hand-picked too graft away for peanuts,thus increasing a company's profitability....
Ask the average employee a question, and you'll get a nifty answer that they've just thought up, because it's 15 minutes since they were last asked the self-same question, and had a tea-break, and weren't re-trained afterwards, by some slip of supervisor control, and you know what happens when an idiot is asked a question??????.....they attempt to think for themselves....BIG mistake letting them do that!...so, you see, the word spread by idiots, to idiots, in a company full of idiots amounts to nothing but heresay backed up by information supplied by vacuous remarks from an unqualified halfwit whose sole purpose in life is to sit answering telephones , spouting inane rubbish all day, and retiring to its' lair of a evening parked in front of the Idiot's Lantern watching soap operas tailored to titillate their lonely brain cell!.......
Cheers
Helen

[dobby]

Admiral refused cover on an LCA and Mason alarm, got sorted in the end. Their concern is anything that is a non standard option from Mazda.

Seems sensible (flashback to tuned minis etc)