How winter tires could affect your car insurance, and what you need to tell your provider
These are developed specifically to affect the lower temperatures and reduced grip situations that winter brings and appear sort of a fairly obvious safety choice.
However, there are still some mixed messages about whether switching your tires affects your insurance or maybe invalidates it, and whether you would like to inform your insurer if you've got fitted winter tires.
Do I even have to inform my insurer if I fit winter tires?
To help clear matters up the Association of British Insurers (ABI) asked its members to line out exactly what their policy is when it involves fitting winter tires.
In most cases, it found that drivers are liberal to fit winter tires/wheels without informing their insurer and it won’t affect the extent of canopy they're offered.
According to the ABI’s winter tire commitment, only eCar, Southern Rock and Swiftcover require customers to tell them if they modify wheels.
Some insurers stipulate that the tires and wheels must be fitted consistent with the manufacturer’s instructions and are during a roadworthy condition – both of which are fairly obvious moves anyway. Some companies also stipulate that the duvet only remains an equivalent as long because the wheels/tires match sizes fitted by the manufacturer, either as standard or optional equipment.
What’s different about winter tires?
There are two main differences between winter and summer tires – the tread pattern and therefore the material they're made from.
The rubber on winter tires features more treads to channel away from the additional water and slush encounter in winter months. There also are “sipes” – tiny jagged grooves within the tread wall that compact snow, which actually improves braking as nothing sticks to snow like snow.
Winter tires also are made up of a high-silica rubber compound that stays softer, and thus grippier, below seven degrees Celcius.