Had something similar happen when I swapped tires on my Audi. Thought I was being responsible getting winter tires, but insurance saw it differently—said it changed the car's handling characteristics. Felt odd at first, but after driving on them, I kinda got their point. The car did feel noticeably different, especially cornering at speed. Still annoying though... you'd think they'd encourage safer choices.
"Still annoying though... you'd think they'd encourage safer choices."
I get your frustration, but I think the insurance companies aren't necessarily against safer choices—it's more about predictability. Years ago, I upgraded to performance tires on my BMW thinking it'd improve safety and handling. It did, but insurance saw it as a modification that altered the car's original specs. They prefer consistency in how vehicles handle because that's what their risk assessments are based on. Annoying, sure, but I guess I understand their logic... even if it feels counterintuitive at times.
Yeah, totally get where you're coming from. Insurance companies aren't really against safety, they're just cautious about anything outside their usual box. Even adding a backup camera myself raised my premiums slightly... safer, yeah, but still considered a "modification." Seems backwards sometimes.
That's interesting about the backup camera... makes me wonder, would they also raise premiums if you swapped out tires for better winter traction? I mean, it's technically safer, but still a "modification," right? I've always been hesitant to make changes to my car because of this exact confusion. Seems like insurance logic is a bit counterintuitive sometimes. Curious if anyone's had experience with tire upgrades or similar minor safety improvements affecting their rates.
I've swapped out tires for winter ones plenty of times and never noticed any premium hikes. From what I've seen, insurance companies usually don't care about minor safety upgrades like tires or wiper blades—they're more focused on performance mods or things that significantly change your car's value. But honestly, insurance logic can be weirdly inconsistent, so it might vary by company. Has anyone ever asked their agent directly about this? Might clear things up a bit...
