The only real problem I have found with low profile tyres is if you go on wet rally fields as they don't grip wet grass as well as what standard tyres do. Once they spin your well and truly stuck and need towing off but for general tarmac road surfaces and concrete such as campsite roads there's no need for concern.
Low profiles are great for side ways stability as very little tyre flex. Ours are XL loading tyres on our BMW and seems very stable
Also the grip has nothing to do with profile but tyre tread pattern. Most low profiles you will have on your regular car are out and out summer tyres and not built for wet grass grip at all
The slightly higher profile tyres I have on my winter wheels have more M&S tyre pattern and are far better on wet grass
Did your vehicle come with low profiles from main dealer ship or did you our some one else fit them after purchasing the vehicle.
Then they could be illegal. I have seen several car and van owners pulled over and booked by the police for having low profiles on even my own Granson, Who fitted alloy,s and skin treads to his motor.
He was charged with having wheels and tyres fitted not to original spec plus his insurance was void because of same. 3 points per tyre 3 points no insurance hence 12 months bann + fine + court costs + no motor needed for work. He was lucky he managed to find a job local where he could walk or cycle.
Quote: Originally posted by naturlist123 on 22/9/2014
Did your vehicle come with low profiles from main dealer ship or did you our some one else fit them after purchasing the vehicle.
Then they could be illegal. I have seen several car and van owners pulled over and booked by the police for having low profiles on even my own Granson, Who fitted alloy,s and skin treads to his motor.
He was charged with having wheels and tyres fitted not to original spec plus his insurance was void because of same. 3 points per tyre 3 points no insurance hence 12 months bann + fine + court costs + no motor needed for work. He was lucky he managed to find a job local where he could walk or cycle.
there must be more to this than stated, i have a vw caddy van on non spec alloy wheels and non standard tyres and insurance know about. as for plod would be told where to go
If aftermarket wheels & tyres are fitted they must be of sufficient speed & weight rating for car & must equal or exceed that of standard fitment. If not, as pointed out you can get nicked & insurance will be void. You can also get nicked if tyres are clouting arches on full lock & so on so boy racer grandsons buying random sets of secondhand wheels/tyres take note but probably not applicable to op.
Quote: Originally posted by naturlist123 on 22/9/2014
Did your vehicle come with low profiles from main dealer ship or did you our some one else fit them after purchasing the vehicle.
Then they could be illegal. I have seen several car and van owners pulled over and booked by the police for having low profiles on even my own Granson, Who fitted alloy,s and skin treads to his motor.
He was charged with having wheels and tyres fitted not to original spec plus his insurance was void because of same. 3 points per tyre 3 points no insurance hence 12 months bann + fine + court costs + no motor needed for work. He was lucky he managed to find a job local where he could walk or cycle.
I have not bought the tow car yet, but the more powerfull model has low profile tyres.
Quote: Originally posted by naturlist123 on 22/9/2014
Did your vehicle come with low profiles from main dealer ship or did you our some one else fit them after purchasing the vehicle.
Then they could be illegal. I have seen several car and van owners pulled over and booked by the police for having low profiles on even my own Granson, Who fitted alloy,s and skin treads to his motor.
He was charged with having wheels and tyres fitted not to original spec plus his insurance was void because of same. 3 points per tyre 3 points no insurance hence 12 months bann + fine + court costs + no motor needed for work. He was lucky he managed to find a job local where he could walk or cycle.
Absolute rubbish. My insurance are also fully aware of all the aftermarket alloys and tyres I've had over the years and just recently too. I've been pulled on random spot checks at least 5 times by plod and had them all over the cars I've owned. No issue whatsoever.
The reason they'd give you points ect is if you was running dangerous tyres and/or wheels, in which case you deserve it really.
Quote: Originally posted by Gareth29 on 24/9/2014
Absolute rubbish. My insurance are also fully aware of all the aftermarket alloys and tyres I've had over the years and just recently too. I've been pulled on random spot checks at least 5 times by plod and had them all over the cars I've owned. No issue whatsoever.
The reason they'd give you points ect is if you was running dangerous tyres and/or wheels, in which case you deserve it really.
You are contradicting yourself, first you dismiss the quoted post as 'absolute rubbish' & then concede you would get points for running dangerous wheels/tyres. Which indeed they would be if they were of insufficient weight/speed rating as I pointed out in my previous post.
Tbf I don't think the poster you quoted quite understood what he was actually posting about but I clarified it in my previous post so there was no excuse for your misunderstanding it.
I did not contradict myself at all. I was mearly stating aftermarket alloys/tyres wouldn't be illegal. However if they were defective they would, as would 'standard' wheels tyres. But that goes for anything regarding a safety aspect, aftermarket or not.
It is up to the user to determine suitability and road worthiness of wheels tyres, but to state non standard tyres/wheels as illegal is 'absolute rubbish'.