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don

We have a BMW Z4 on almost new Continental SSR runflats.
We were hit from behind by another car which destroyed one rim and tyre.
The insurance company say they can't get the Continental tyres so they are going to put just one Michelin tyre on the back. They say that it is fine to have a Continental and a Michelin on the same axle on a sports car which I find hard to believe.
Despite the fact that the other car was fully insured and at fault the insurance company say if we want matching tyres on the back we will have to pay for the "extra" tyre.
Is this ok, is it safe or should they be doing both rear tyres.

markstockdale

The relevant legislation requires that tyres on the same axle must be of the same tread pattern type. Unless the replacement Michelin tyre is the same tread pattern type as the Continental, then what the insurance company is proposing is illegal, and you will fail a WoF and risk fines if the police discover this during a roadside check. So we would conclude that under the law, and under the policy, the insurance company is obliged to supply 2 new tyres of identical tread type. I suggest you raise this fact with your insurer.

Note however this rule does not apply to the spare tyre; they do not have to be matching tread type provided it is only used in an emergency and is replaced with the correct tyre promptly.