B2tf is cracking the *****

[b2tf]

Thats right - @ NRMA. They just wont insure the damn wheels.

Get this - cos its a 2002 model, the max width is 6.5" (so my 17's are a half inch too wide), BUT if it was a 2003 model (and there is absolutely no difference between 02 and 03 models AFAIK), they would be fine.

FFS, its half an inch.

And the reason they gave me made me want to jump the damn desk - i quote "the wheels may be unsafe in the wet because they are so wide". What utter ********. If anything theyre bloody safer cos there's more contact with the road!

I have tried to do it online, tried to do it over the phone and they just wont budge. So now i am off to other companies as i am not putting up with their **** or trying to convince them any longer.

[neb]

that reason could be kinda true... apparently thinner tyres can be better in the wet because they slice through the water easier where a wider tyre has more chance of aquaplaning (skimming across the water)

[parawolf]

Originally Posted by neb

that reason could be kinda true... apparently thinner tyres can be better in the wet because they slice through the water easier where a wider tyre has more chance of aquaplaning (skimming across the water)

True story. Unless you have some very aggressive tyre tread, a wider tyre can (and are) worse in the wet.

Wider the tyre the less likely you are of moving water out from under the tread to the sides in a rotation, you need wider (than normal) channels going around the tyre and stuff going out to the edge as well.

[b2tf]

Yeah i can understand that but i can also tell you right now - we have 17x8's on our AU2, and i had 15x7s on the EF. The AU handled a HELL of a lot better in the wet than the EF, and a friend of ours has an AU with 15's on it too - back to back, the 17's are so much better in the wet.

Regardless, the wheels are not coming off my Focus.

[MITCHAY]

yeah NRMA knocked me back for 15x7s on my TX5. i had to get new wheels which r 16x6.5s. i reckon its ******** aswell coz i wanted 17x7s. it was registered wit the 15x7s so wats wrong wit it. at first they accepted it wit the 7s but then sent a letter sayn they would not insure it the next yr. we said why wouldnt they and they just said in our technical history it is not safe or sum shit like that. we asked wat history and they didnt ellaborate anymore.

****n hell my mum wouldnt of bought the car if they had of said we couldnt have the same wheels. the wider the tyres the better the grip in the dry right? well most tyres in this class are performance tyres and have awesome tread patterns so water isnt a problem (why would u get better mags and put shit tyres on them anyway- i dun think any1 would). never had any more aquaplaning wit the 7s than i have with the 6.5s. so ur not the only one.

[zetec]

That's BULLS&%^ seriously, aren't they supposed to allow vehicles with factory wheels as long as they're no more than a inch wider?!!!!

[Timmeh]

The funny part though, is:

NRMA insures my Focus with aftermarket 17x7inch rims, custom bodykit, tint, aftermarket tail lights, lowered, and exhaust... all for 700 bucks a year, for an agreed value, with maximum no claim bonus.

And it is identical to an 02 model.

Go figure. :togo:

Tim

[b2tf]

Yes it is very annoying as NRMA have said i can do pretty much whatever i like in the way of mods (i told them i may change exhaust system etc later on), but they will not accept these wheels for a second.

There are no differences in 02/03 models, these are genuine Ford factory specified rims that were made for the car and they just wont have a bar of it. I refuse to take them off simply because i didnt pay the money to have them sitting in the shed, and because even thought theory would suggest otherwise, i feel a lot safer having 7 inches of rubber touching the road that 6.5 inches.

The struggle continues........

[Danny]

Thats rediculous Austin. Just go somewhere else mate. Thats what I reckon....

[b2tf]

Yeah it's crazy Danny, im looking at other companies but as stupid as it sounds i really want to insure it with NRMA - they been very good to us with my old EF and the Fairmont (which i might add has 17x8's with no fuss out: ).

[Kryton]

ive had similar with my AU when i had it. i had 17s on it and i was ringin around for insurance, wasnt hiding ANYTHING from them either.

them "do you have non standard rims?"
me "yes, theyre 17x7.5"
them "ok thats fine. what brand are they?"
me "ANZ rims"
them "theyre not made by Ford or Tickford then?"
me "no"
them "we cant accept them then. we wont cover you"

beep.....beep....beep......beep.

so i dont know why a rim, that is obviously safe since its on the market, cant be insured because it wasnt made by Ford or Tickford.

[zetec]

Ford stringently tests those rims with that exact suspension setup and vehicle weight in mind, they were designed for the vehicle. Most rims are generic and probably don't have the same levels of compliance to things like kerb strikes. It's easy to make rims, but not so easy to make them comply with all the regs such as kerbs strikes.

[Teki04]

Originally Posted by davway

them "theyre not made by Ford or Tickford then?"
me "no"
them "we cant accept them then. we wont cover you"

so i dont know why a rim, that is obviously safe since its on the market, cant be insured because it wasnt made by Ford or Tickford.

But B2TF's rims are made by Ford....

[Mick K.]

Want to swap your 17"s for some standard Zetec 16"s :

MK

[b2tf]

Lol no cos theyre still 7" wide!

Just going to have to hit the phones tomorrow and not give up until i find some sort of insurance.

Aussie, I rang just car insurance yesterday, and was bracing myself for a huge premium (under 25), but they ggave me a reasonable quote, about $300 odd per year more than NRMA, while being MUCH more leanient with mods. The bloke basically told me anything that is legal is the state or whatever, is alright with them as long as you tell them.

Oh, $1900 excess but!

[b2tf]

Reece,

i did an online quote thru Justcar yesterday arvo - $2100. Absolutely no way am i paying that much for a 99% stock Focus!

Geez, that isnt good, only others I can think of that might be a little leanient are GIO, shannons, but im not sure where they stand with under 25's...

[b2tf]

Shannons are no good with under 25's - dont want to know you, which sucks cos from all ive heard about them they would have been a good choice.

A "friend of a friend" _2: : had way too wide wheels on his car, insured through NRMA. Had a ding, and took the wheels off before taking it to see the NRMA inspector, easy... (just a suggestion, but prob not a real smart one)

[b2tf]

Yeah, i know. Mine was slightly lower than they thought it was (to be honest it actually got a lot lower than i even thought or wanted when I put King lows in it), and they had no worries. Had a prang, couple of digi photos and it was all good.

Just did a quote through GIO but it seems i have to wait for them to call me and tell me what the premium is - not good as i need this car insured by the end of Friday! removing information as i dont want to risk it

Far out i hate insurance companies. Absolute scum of the earth and i say that with no apology to anyone who works for NRMA. If Ford didnt think the f**king car could handle it they wouldnt have made the wheels, why is that so hard for NRMA to understand?!

Either way, once this is all sorted im going to be asking for this thread to be deleted.

Originally Posted by back2thefutura

Either way, once this is all sorted im going to be asking for this thread to be deleted - i dont want any record of what i end up doing if it turns out to be a bit naughty.

Like you said, F***ing insurance companies, I wouldnt put it past them!! :

[b2tf]

Just ran another one thru JustCars.

Focus 5dr auto CL
17's
Floor Mats (why would these be listed?!)
ABS
Cruise
Dual Airbags

Have a guess how much.



$2,031.

Maybe if i take the floormats out...........

[brother]

Take a look at RACQ (if they insure outside Queensland that is, NRMA does outside of NSW so you might be lucky). They have no problems with exhausts, factory kits, factory wheels plus 1 inch max dia and floor mats!

[Kryton]

what happened to that thread with the link for the insurance broker that would find you cheap insurance? did anything ever come of that? maybe worth while finding it and giving them a go.

[b2tf]

Davway i tried that link and i couldnt actually get the info to send - couldnt find a phone number on there either so unfortunately i couldnt use it. Ice contacted a few brokers this morning but they are all arky about the wheels, one basically said 'i cant help you if NRMA cant', which was helpful : .

Brother, As far as i am aware, NRMA, RACQ and RACV actually have an agreement where if they get people from interstate,they refer them to each other. I.e. if someone from QLD rang NRMA for insurance, they would send them to RACQ or whatever the one in QLD is.

I'll have a look however and see how i go.

[Suth]

Shannons are good, just not interested in the daily driver. My old man is into his old english cars-rovers, MGs austins etc and shannons cannot be beaten. I called them cos my insurance was going up by 15 percent with a 2+1/4 exhaust-I called shannons but they mostly deal with cars that are not often on the road-ie track cars, club cars or cars that are part of a collection.

[Pieoter]

Im with just cars and they are fine. Im paying $2200 per year for the fiesta with mods and the excess is $1000 if im driving. I have the stereo covered for $2700 with a $450 excess on it.

Thats is a very good price for a 17year old. 20% NCB too

[Timmeh]

Originally Posted by Suth

Shannons are good, just not interested in the daily driver. My old man is into his old english cars-rovers, MGs austins etc and shannons cannot be beaten. I called them cos my insurance was going up by 15 percent with a 2+1/4 exhaust-I called shannons but they mostly deal with cars that are not often on the road-ie track cars, club cars or cars that are part of a collection.

Shannons insure my classic 1979 Escort Mk II RS2000, and NRMA do my Focus.

Neither have ever given me any grief, but Shannons were alot better to talk to!

Tim

[Mick K.]

I'll vouch for RACQ too. I pay $341 per annum for my '03 Zetec 3dr.

MK