My apologies to the OP, but I feel these issues need to be addressed.
Why advise Insurance of winter tyres? They weren't fitted as standard!!!
You've given the question and the answer. It is a change of specification, so should be advised. It is doubtful any insurer would change the premium, but they should be told.
By your reckoning fitting different make of tyres to original would invalidate your insurance,
A different brand of tyre is not a change to spec. A different size is. "By your reckoning" is an assumption on your part, not at all what I said. Try not to argue with your own assumptions, or apply your thinking as if it was someone else's.
Is it the same with oil filters and plugs, brake pads etc? that is utter BS,
OE or equivalent will not affect insurance. You are again trying to change what I said.
A stripe will not invalidate your insurance either!
It can. Adding a stripe gives an insight into the owner's character and attitude. That can be used to change the assessment of risk. Failure to advise can be a reason to quibble on any claim.
As a retired Police officer I have dealt with many insurance companies and they can't just drop you in it despite these urban myth stories. Now I've heard of "Go faster stripes" but this takes the biscuit!
As a police officer, I doubt you've had much input to any insurance claim. You may have dealt with collisions, but once cleared away, the insurance companies are unlikely to discuss with you when deciding on repairs, or not. My experience of dealing with insurance companies, as a broker, and as a repairer, (and a customer) has seen assessors query anything and everything that was different to expected. Stripes, alloys, extra lamps, spoilers, etc., are all questioned, whereas tyre make is not, unless they are not suitable for the vehicle.
