Mixing MT tyres (insurance claim problem)

[Ridgeback]

I had someone pull out in front of me yesterday on my way home. I hit the front wing of his corsa in my defender and it slashed my tyre.

He has told his insurance company he was at fault and they are fixing my defender.

The problem I have is that i have 4 Bridgestone Dueler MT tyres on, all done less then 1000 miles from new. the slashed one can not be repaired.
Having conacted Bridgestone they told me they don't have any more in Europe and don't know when they will be getting more.
The insurance company want to change just the damaged one but It will not be the same make!

I have told them that pre accident my landrover had 4 almost new matching MT tyres on. This is how I expect it back. I don't want mixed brands or tread patterns.

Does anyone know if its considered an issue to mix tread patterns on a Defender because I am sure its not recommended, even more so when using Mud Tyres.

Matt

[Grumpy]

I was under the impression that insurance companies frowned upon mismatched tyres

[Range Rover Blues]

Is it your insurance company that is doing it? if so they have to insure the vehicle as it comes back, surely.

I'd be persuing it, not your fault after all and you are entitled to have it returned to it's pre-accident condition.

[Saffy]

You might end up with different rolling circumference between the tyres on the axle and unmatched thread depth, they should replace as axle pair at least. I think the Defender is okay with difference sizes in axles pairs/front back but probably not too easy on the centre diff, I know with a freelander it leads to big trouble.

[Bob696]

Not your fault so you have every right to expect it back in the same condition or better. You had 4 matching new tires so insist on having it back with 4 matching new tires suitable for the same purpose as the old set.

[V8MoneyPit]

Indeed. Insurance companies are just that.... companies. They are there to make money like any other company. So they will always try to minimise a payout. They invariably expect to haggle. It's a bonus to them when they don't have to. Go back and insist on getting the vehicle back as it was before.

[Ridgeback]

Its not just me then, that thinks they should put it back to the condition before I had the crash. I will keep on and insist on all 4 being the same.

I just had another heated discussion with the insurance company. I asked what would they do if they had a customer car with 1 smashed brake disc following a crash, just change the 1 or do both sides.
She said just the one.  After this I asked to talk to someone with an IQ above 20 because I don't know of any accident approved garage that would allow that.

Will just have to keep on at them.

Matt

[Saffy]

hehe record them next time, chuck on youtube - worth a laugh with a name and shame to boot.

[john656]

Ive heared recently that direct line fit second hand parts to cars after crashes too...... is this true or not??

[dxmedia]

Direct line wont fit any parts, they will used local garages who have registered with the insurance companies.

If the garages are cutting corners and fitting 2nd hand parts then it's probably fraud.

[wheels244]

They will play the waiting game with you ( I was told this by a mate who worked directly for an insurance company ).

To you, your car one of the most important things you have - and you want it right.
To them you are one of many claims and the least they can pay you, the better for their company.

They will fob you of and continue to do so until you get tired or p*ssed off with the claim - this is what they want.

My advice is to shortcut all of the toing and froing and get their response in writing and refer it immediately to the insurance ombudsman - at least that way you'll get a definitive answer without all of the heartache - even if it's not the answer you wanted.

[andycwb]

Do you have legal cover under your own insurance?  If so, use it to get the full costs recovered. 

If not, point out to the other drivers insurance company that if they don't repair the car fully you will take legal action to recover your costs and since their client has already admitted liability it will be very difficult for them to defend the suit.   If they don't bite the first time, get a solicitor to write a letter for you.

Oh, and keep track of every minute spent on this (at your normal salary), every phone call, and every stamp.  It all goes on the final claim if it does go to court, plus inconvenience, loss of use, ...

Andy

[andyhubbard]

If they have said that about the brake discs it might be worth a little tip off to the local vehicle inspectorate office and letting them know who they are and also who their respective repairers are as that's a deffinate NO NO.

[barmiebrumie]

Direct line wont fit any parts, they will used local garages who have registered with the insurance companies.

If the garages are cutting corners and fitting 2nd hand parts then it's probably fraud.

Direct line & most others will agree to fit s/h parts (green parts) if new are no longer available & the vehicle owner agrees to it to save the vehicle from being a total loss, we have had to do this in the past on rover/mg.

[barmiebrumie]

Its not just me then, that thinks they should put it back to the condition before I had the crash. I will keep on and insist on all 4 being the same.

I just had another heated discussion with the insurance company. I asked what would they do if they had a customer car with 1 smashed brake disc following a crash, just change the 1 or do both sides.
She said just the one.  After this I asked to talk to someone with an IQ above 20 because I don't know of any accident approved garage that would allow that.

Will just have to keep on at them.

Matt

Don't know of any insurance company that would ask for one disc to be changed. but there is no law against running different tyre tread patterns & if one tyre is no longer available they are only obliged to change that to the closest or just give you cash in lue for the price of the the damaged tyre, but you never know  :roll:, you can only keep on trying, is it your insurance that are repairing it or the other parties ?

[Ridgeback]

Don't know of any insurance company that would ask for one disc to be changed. but there is no law against running different tyre tread patterns & if one tyre is no longer available they are only obliged to change that to the closest or just give you cash in lue for the price of the the damaged tyre, but you never know  :roll:, you can only keep on trying, is it your insurance that are repairing it or the other parties ?

It was my understanding that the insurance company had to reinstate things back to the same point before the accident. On a normal car it might not be a big issue to have odd tyres per axle, however if I was selling my landrover, its got to be worth less if its running odd MT tyres ? Also different brands of MT tyres all perform very differently on the road under wet and dry conditions, it might not be against the law but is this safe?

They have started to be a bit more helpful now, I asked for a replacement landrover while mine was getting fixed, they sent me a new disco so I am not in to much of a rush if they want to drag things out. I also have other cars so I can wait if needed.

[Range Rover Blues]

If they are paying for your hire car that works in your favour, they won'twant to leave you dangling in the hope you'll go away if they are paying for alternative wheels.

that said, I had a hire car whilst mine was in the workshop, I got a 'phone message left on my mobile to tell me my car had been fixed and that the insurance company was therefore no longer insuring the car I was driving!  I was out instructing in it at the time

I rang them back and told them the car had been left on the Manor estate in Sheffield and if they wanted it back, they'd beter be quick ;)

As for your Land Rover, just don't sign for it back with miss-matched tyres.