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Van insurance holders should check with manufacturer when replacing tyres

02 Mar 2010

Posted by Dan Winters

Van insurance policyholders are warned that they could compromise their safety if they replace run-flat tyres fitted to their vehicle with standard versions.

TyreSafe said that many van insurance policyholders have been looking to reduce their vehicle maintenance costs and some have been tempted to economise on tyres.

But the organisation warned that by moving from run-flat to standard tyres, motorists could be significantly changing the handling characteristics of their vehicle, increasing the chances of them being involved in an accident.

"Run-flats have much stiffer sidewalls than those in traditional tyres and this is taken into account by vehicle manufacturers when they design their suspension and steering systems," explained Stuart Jackson, chairman of TyreSafe.

He said that van insurance policyholders should consult their manufacturer if they are thinking of replacing run-flats with standard tyres.

Recent research by GEM Motoring Assist found that half of UK drivers had suffered damage to their vehicles due to potholes.