Agreed, but don't just look at the brand, as some "named brand" tyres still have suprisingly pants wet grip performance.
Look at reviews and look at the EU ratings before you make a choice on tyres...
I would take many of the EU ratings with a pinch of salt if you read up on how the EU tests labeling actually work.
Firstly the noise thing is completely pointless as most mid to premium range tyres will all be about the same.
Secondly, the wet braking is done in a straight line where as the formal tests like those featured on tyre review are done in corners where the understeer/oversteer and braking come into play much more.
Thirdly, grip levels I know some very grippy tyres like Pilot Sport 3's score terribly for this, but the grip level and general braking ability is excellently. I would prefer to have grip in place of a few MPG.
Furthermore, the labels do not cover so many other vital areas of tyre requirements they seem to overly focused in the EU's drive for efficiency if I am being brutal (which I am). In this regard to add to this the eco tyres that were tested in one video not so long back actually took longer in a wet braking test than some part worns...
The final issue is that manufacturers actually carry these tests out.
Your intended 205/45R17 may not have helped – maybe just bigger skateboards. We’ve had a fair amount of rain lately & lots of patches of floating dirt & oil about – take a look at the different surface colour of inside & outside lanes.
If you’d have hit anybody – then you’d be making a claim. If you’d have hit anybody in a 1.2/8v with 205/45R17 heavies on-the-quiet - then the insurance assessor may have had some bad news for you.
Don’t dwell on it - nature or weather tends to make a prat of us all.
221208Z
I totally agree with that point on the tyre size.
Aye, I'm glad no other car was involved, theres a lot of reasons they could chose to not pay out when you look at my car, not something I'm proud of, I just don't see the need to declare the fiat go faster kit to pay an extra 100-200 on my premium for example. I pay them bloody enough as it is!
Unfortunately (I am also surprised by no one else picking this up), that the "attitude" being exhibited could land you in the real doggy do do either declare them (following checking) or getting a better insurer. You don't know clearly what they will class as a modification or not so are making assumptions.
Car insurance is not something to be taken lightly. Fact is in doing the modifications (if you have declared it as a "standard factory finish" car) making the modifications is changing the terms on which the insurance is made in a contract.
In not declaring them you risk breaching that contract and them potentially cancelling your insurance paying for any damage to a third party (they have to legally) and coming to you for the money. Added to this is the potential for you not having VALID insurance cover and the issue with the police and the other issue and knock on is many insurers will ask you to declare if you have ever had car insurance cancelled which if the above happened and they did cancel it would mean you could find it very difficult (at extortionate rate worse than now) or virtually impossible to find car insurance to cover yourself to drive a car.
I know some might pipe up and say about the Insurance Ombudsmen but lets not go down that road as it is a risk in itself. I know they must prove that it effected the performance blah blah...but clearly tyres would potentially in the above for example.
