Declaring wheel spacers on an insurance renewal

EWG · May 30, 2018

Can I have some advice please.

My Defender TD5 110 Truck Cab has 265/75/16 tyres fitted on Freestyle alloys and on full or approaching full lock the tyres scrape on the chassis. The tyres were nearly new when I bought the vehicle.

I have thought of fitting wheel spacers to stop this. I'll have to declare this to the insurance company and what I'd like to know is what will be the likely penalty in increased premium. I've got (touch wood) 10 years + no claims bonus.

Thank you

Marmaduke · May 31, 2018

Depends on your insurance company, personally it makes no difference with mine

Oldseadog · May 31, 2018

If you are scraping the chassis, you need to adjust the lock stop bolts to prevent knacking up your tyres.
It's an easy enough job with a spanner!

mojo247 · May 31, 2018

Apparently (but I have no way of confirming this, it's just what I've heard) its a MoT failure if your tyres touch the chassis or any metalwork?

Again, only heard this on FB

dag019 · May 31, 2018

Adjust the lock stop until they do not catch, although this will very slightly reduce the turning circle. What tyres are you running to catch the arms?
Spacers should not make a difference to the insurance premium if you are with a company that knows what the vehicle is. Some of the normal insurance companies online forms will virtually refuse to insure anything that has the modified box ticked as "yes" regardless of what the mod is, so definitely best to get hold of a real person even if it is with a standard insurance company.

EWG · May 31, 2018

Thank you for your replies.
The tyres are General Grabber 265/75/16 and they've only "done" three thousand miles.

I'm insured through a local NFU broker so at least I'll be able to talk with a human being and not press buttons on a computer.

dag019 · May 31, 2018

They are the same size as I am running in BFG. What wheels are they fitted to? I run on modulars so may have a more of an offset than you. But I would start by adjusting the lock stop and see if you can live with the turning circle before spending money on spacers and posisble insurance.

Marmaduke · May 31, 2018

EWG said:
Thank you for your replies.
The tyres are General Grabber 265/75/16 and they've only "done" three thousand miles.

I'm insured through a local NFU broker so at least I'll be able to talk with a human being and not press buttons on a computer.

I run 265 at2's on my discovery without spacers. As said just adjust the stops but it will have a detrimental effect on the turning circle

Litch · May 31, 2018

265/75x16's were factory fit on Defenders for many years and they never needed spacers, set up your lock-stops correctly and all will be fine.

With regards notifying your insurance of any modifications............... do it!
Having cheap but invalid insurance is great until the time comes when you have to make a claim. No so much theft as you will probably never see the vehicle again and no-one will know what un-documented modifications it had but no so in the case of an accident where the vehicle is inspected. Insurance companies have always tried to find a way out of paying out on a claim so there is no point in handing them that excuse on a plate.
Most specialist insurers don't mind what modifications you have AS LONG AS YOU TELL THEM! The list for my 90 stretches for several pages but they have never given me a problem.

Renewed yesterday.
FC, £100 excess, mileage set at 6K, agreed value £14K, legal cover etc etc. £167 all in.

mikescuba · Jun 1, 2018

I think you need to check the following. I'm almost certain that Freestyle Alloys are not rated for a 110 Defender. They were OK on a 90 but not on the 110. Fitting them to a 110 might invalidate your insurance in the event of an accident. That's what I was told when I bought some for my 110. There were quiet a few threads on here in the past about it.

Litch · Jun 1, 2018

" think you need to check the following. I'm almost certain that Freestyle Alloys are not rated for a 110 Defender".

Correct.
The Freestyle was only fitted to the 90, it was not until the Boost was introduced that there was an OE alloy rated for both the 90 & 110.

EWG · Jun 1, 2018

Thank you for letting me know about the Freestyle alloys.

Anybody got a set of suitable Boosts for sale please?

Do standard alloy wheel nuts from Freestyles fit the Boosts?

Litch · Jun 3, 2018

Yes, standard alloy wheel nuts fit both types.

Declaring wheel spacers on an insurance renewal

EWG

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Marmaduke

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Oldseadog

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mojo247

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dag019

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EWG

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dag019

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Marmaduke

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Litch

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mikescuba

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Litch

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EWG

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Litch

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