How your tyres could void your car insurance

Car insurance is something all motorists invest in, but hope they’ll never need to use. This often leads many people not to give their insurance another thought until it’s time to renew again. Unfortunately, other factors can void a car insurance policy, leaving motorists uninsured when they need it most – one of these being tyres. 

It is important to always check your tyres to ensure they won’t trip you up in the long run when it comes to an insurance claim, should you find yourself in the situation. So how exactly can your tyres void your insurance policy?

Insurers state that a car needs to be ‘road worthy’ at the time of the incident, and will invalidate the policy if the vehicle wasn’t in good shape. Tyres play a big part in this, as it is a motorists responsibility to ensure the car is equipped with tyres that fit properly and are suitable for the car’s size and weight. To check if your tyres are the right ones for your car (and ultimately won’t lead to an invalid insurance policy), double-check the following: 

• Tyre size: Make sure the tyres are the same size that is recommended by the manufacturer for your make and model. If you do have modifications on your car with larger or smaller tyres, make sure you inform your insurer. 
• Speed rating: Make sure your tyres have the recommended speed rating. Tyres with a lower speed rating than recommended will not support the speed of the car. Insurers may see this as a modification and deem the car non-road-worthy, therefore voiding the policy.
• Load rating: Make sure your tyres are made for the weight and size of your vehicle, otherwise known as the load rating. If you have tyres with a reduced load rating to your car’s needs, they will end up underinflated and overloaded, leading to quicker tyre wear. Tyre wear can increase the chances of tyre-related incidents on the road and you would not be covered by your insurance should you find yourself in this situation. 

Even the smallest of checks to ensure you have the right tyres fitted to your car is the difference between being insured in the case of an incident. Another reason insurers would void a policy because of your tyres is if they are illegal. Tyres are deemed illegal if they: 

• Have visible damage including lumps, bumps and tears. 
• Are under the legal tread depth limit of 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre. 

Damaged tyres are dangerous tyres, and cause risk to you and other motorists. That includes tyres that are under the legal tread depth, as that is what the car relies on for safe grip on the road and safe braking distance. Driving with illegal tyres will not only void your insurance policy, but you are also at risk of fines, penalty points or prosecution. Remember, penalty points or driving-related prosecutions will increase future insurance premiums too, leaving you worse off in the long run.

To keep your insurance valid and most importantly, keep yourself and others safe on the roads, check your tyres to ensure they are correct for your vehicle. Checking your tyre pressure regularly is also the best way to ensure you’re always driving safely on every journey. To find the perfect tyres for your vehicle, etyres stocks a wide range of high-quality tyres from leading brands to suit any budget.