my insurance company (BMW Original Insurance Sweden) had a simple enough answer over the phone.
If the tire/wheel combination passes the "Besiktning" or MOT equivelant in the UK - it is allowed to be a valid upgrade with the insurers at no extra costs.
And does it pass the MOT equivalent in the UK? That's the question now! Maybe m-black can give them a call - he's in Ireland
Last edited by sydl; 30th September 2005 at 15:52.
Thing is, it is ISO that decides load rating for the tyre, not Continental. That is what that organasation purpose is as far as tyre ratings if I understood it correctly.
Well haven't we answered the question then? ISO has said that the tyres are not rated 96, they're rated 92 and Continental has said that they're reinforced so they market it as 92 XL which ISO has not given them a 96 rating for?
Well haven't we answered the question then? ISO has said that the tyres are not rated 96, they're rated 92 and Continental has said that they're reinforced so they market it as 92 XL which ISO has not given them a 96 rating for?
It has passed German Tüv which is one of the most stringent test in the EU considering also it's unlimited Autobahn.
What has? The wheels? I'm not talking about the wheels.
The issue is whether a non-OEM tyre, on a car is covered by the car owner's insurance. Passing a TUV test is not what our laws and local authorities and insurance company looks at. All they care about is whether the tyres (not wheels) are as per the manufacturer's specifications. It's really got nothing to do with the wheel manufacturer Hartge - it's the driver/owner - the person who sold/put the tyres on the car.
One other Insurance matter that was raised was durabiity, as In Ireland and some parts of the UK pot holes are a real problem and seeing as the 21" Tires are
255 / 30
295 / 25
Maybe with our less then stellar rural roads, these might be risky.
any opinions on the durabilty of Contis in the /30 /25 range
I have no doubt that Hartge's engineering is up to scratch but there are countries that do not accept TUV or other standards except their own.
A long long time ago I used to be product manager for a very well known electronics company. Part of my job was to make sure the launch of a product was internationaly coordinated and a part of that was making sure that certifications and such were in order. Funny thing is that most countries just look at the TUV papers and accept that. Only in very rare instances or with products which have a radio transmitter additional tests would be required.
I don't know if this is also true for the automotive industry but I'm guessing it is because TUV has the strictest rules and guidelines.
But you do make a valid point there. If the product has a TUV certification and not the certification for your country your insurer would make a fuss about it even if the TUV certification is stricter. Why? Because insurance companies are "not very nice".
And does it pass the MOT equivalent in the UK? That's the question now! Maybe m-black can give them a call - he's in Ireland
Just to give an idea all the MOT in the UK are bothered about is the fact that the wheel and tyre combination does not sit outside the widest part of the fender at the top of the wheel arch.
ISO rates tyres and with that "Extra load", normal and also the same way for less load. 
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