Car accident insurance replacing one tyre?

A question about : Car accident insurance replacing one tyre?

Just a quick question.I had a non fault accident where a car hit the side of me on a motorway.

Anyway, their insurance company has agreed to replace one tyre and refurb the same alloy wheel due to the impact.

My question is should they replace both rear tyres on a fast real wheel drive sports car rather than just one?

The reason I ask is that one brand new rear tyre replaced with the other on 4mm(plenty of life left) presumably does not have the same grip?(all my tyres were on exactly 4mm)

Also my 'insurance approved' garage is charging Ј290 for a tyre that is normally Ј145.

I presume the answer is no they only need to replace the damaged tyre?

Just hacked off with 'insurance garages' that are just a rip off racket.

Any advice appreciated.

Chris

Best answers:

• Would you be happier if the Insurers replaced the damaged tyre with a second hand tyre with 4mm of life left on it?
• I don't understand why you think they're a "rip off racket". One tyre was damaged. One tyre was replaced. If they replaced both, it would be deemed betterment. If you want the other tyre replaced, pay for it to be replaced yourself.
• You have to see it from the point of view of the third party insurance and their assessor. If their assessor has said one tyre was damaged, they can't justify the other tyre being replaced as well. It's like having one damaged wing replaced with a new one. The undamaged one on the other side of the car won't be touched even if it's more worn and less shiny than the new one.
• If it worries you that much replace the other one.
• Maybe what you don't want to hear, but I don't think you have a chance. They basically have to put you in the position you were in prior to the accident, they are putting you in a better position by providing a new tyre.
  Make sure it is the same make
  With some insurers they go down the betterment route, one of our fleet insurers used that route eg
  Ј145 tyre, 8mm when new, 1.6mm worn out, 4mm remaining on damaged tyre
  8mm - 1.6mm = 6.4mm usable tread
  Ј145 / 6.4mm = Ј22.65 per usable mm
  4mm remaining - 1.6mm unusable = 2.4mm usable remaining
  2.4mm x Ј22.65 = Ј54.37
  I doubt if the "insurance approved garage" will replace the tyre, but outsource it to one of the national chains, who will discount the price, the garage will then charge the insurers the book price
  Why not approach the insurers and tell them you would accept the Ј290 in lieu of a new tyre as you want to try a different brand
• What tyre size and car is it? Try Oponeo, Tyre Leader or Event for an online price.
  If you felt that strongly about the replacement of one tyre and are sure you will win, issue small claims court proceedings off your own back for the other tyre.
• most insurance companies will allow you to take your car to the garage of your choice but if you choose to take it to a non approved repairer then they may charge you an increased excess
  when my car was in need of accident repair i took it to the main dealers and they contacted the insurance company for authorization to repair it which was granted but cost me an extra Ј200 for the privilege
  as for the tyre on a performance rear wheel drive car i would be looking to change tyres at 3mm as recommended by most german manufacturers so i personally would consider a tyre with 4mm as near the end of its life and would be looking to change it soon
• I used to have a rear wheel drive sports car. When I got it, it had mismatched tyres on the back - not just different ages, but completely different brands. The front ones were a different make again.
  It went round corners just fine, even when hurtling around a disused airfield. It only ended up with matching tyres after I'd had it for a few years and changed all the tyres.
  Actually, I changed the front two tyres first. Despite having plenty of tread on them, they were lethal in the cold weather. The rear ones I just kept until they wore out.
• Typically you'd have no case. But if you can demonstrate that the difference is materially affecting stability then that could be different.
  BUT you are subject to the same limits the rest of us in Focus' and Mondeos are so I doubt you'd be able to present a valid and justifiable case to need identical tires for racing round bends on public highways.
• just buy an identical tyre online and fit it to the wheel they are not changing the tyre on.
  Sell the 4mm one as part worn.
  On a "high powered rwd sportscar" 4mm is not far off the end of it's life anyway.
• Strange that you are complaining about not getting an upgrade on both rear tyres, but accepting that your valuable, damaged alloy is getting a quick refurb.. That's what I'd be insisting was renewed.