There is a big difference between snow tyres and winter tyres which have got,

I believe you will find that Direct Dial are in the minority now in refusing cover on winter tyres. The ABI have issued guidelines on this and suggested that customers receiving this sort of reply ask to be referred to call centre supervisors and above and the matter is usually sorted out. I have looked closely in to the matter of winter tyres and the only minor irritation is that some insurers ask to be notified when you swap them over... and swap them back - AND ....Some charge an admin. fee to do so. There are, now, stacks of companies who understand the issues of WT's and All Season tyres and see their advantages and don't make a fuss....although to be asked to notify them of fitting and removal is more common, but still not a problem. Just ask around and when getting quotes ask their policy on it and check for admin fees. Just a couple off the top of my head who don't object are...Adrian Flux, NFU Mutual, AA Insurance, LV, Co-op, Sky Insurance............etc. There is usually a stipulation that you don't deviate from the original SIZE of tyre circumference / width but that's not usually a problem. MyTyres, Camskill are major suppliers as well as Kwik Fit and many local suppliers. A quick Google of Winter Tyres will reveal all of above plus a load more. The Briskoda site has covered the topic in great depth.

Edited by KB. on 23/02/2011 at 19:19

I think you need to check your teminology to ensure you are asking the right question.

Winter tyres - tyres designed to work in colder weather conditons and give a superior level of grip in snow, ice etc than 'normal' summer tyres

Snow tyres - tyres - tyres with little studs sticking out designed to work on frozen snow / ice. If used on 'dry' road likely to damage road surface

Note. Are you keeping the same wheels or changing to a different size - if you replace the tyres on your original wheels AFAIK there is no need to tell the insurer that you have changed to a different tyre.