Avensis wheel swap

[Jim Hawes]

Just bought lovely 2005 2l Avensis, incredible condition, but I am a middle-aged family man and I'd prefer 16" inch wheels (any old) to the stylish 17" Toyota alloys! Anyone fancy a swap? I'll come from Bath to you if its not the other end of the country.

[Duggerz]

Just bought lovely 2005 2l Avensis, incredible condition, but I am a middle-aged family man and I'd prefer 16" inch wheels (any old) to the stylish 17" Toyota alloys! Anyone fancy a swap? I'll come from Bath to you if its not the other end of the country.

Hi Jim, I'd be interested in discussing this with you, all in north Wiltshire near chippenham so quite close. Mine are steel but have good quality Michelin tyres fitted. Ian

[Jim Hawes]

Hi Ian, sounds good to me. I tried several other Avensis's before I chose this one, I bought it five days ago because it's got the most amazing FSH you ever saw, but I could straightaway tell the difference for town driving (which is virtually all I do) - if feels much firmer and you can feel all the unevenness on the road at slow speeds much more, so that's why I'd prefer the 16 inch wheels. There is a slight bubbling on two of them, is all. I haven't actually checked the tread depth or make yet, too dark to photograph now so if you like we could swap photos tomorrow and take it from there?

best

Jim

[Heidfirst]

Bear in mind that both of you will need to inform your insurance companies of the change to standard spec. for your car (even if it is to standard spec. for another Avensis) or risk voiding your insurance. Hopefully, you have a good insurance company & they won't increase your premium.

[Jim Hawes]

Thanks, never thought of that. I assumed that the alloys were a factory fitted option - were they standard on T-Spirit spec, then. My own insurance company is really good so I'm sure they won't care, but as you say, it'd be worth us both checking! Ta.

[Heidfirst]

I don't have details on what was standard on what trim grades for an Avensis of that age (I am sure that someone will have, though) but would be fairly certain that a T Spirit will have had alloys as standard in the UK.

Also, you don't mention which engine either of you has but fyi the wheels for the 2.2 diesel have a different PCD (5x114) than the other engines (5x100) so make sure that they would fit if you swap.

[ttc]

Sorry to be off-topic, but what does insurance have to do with wheel size? I'm not from UK, and I'm just curious.

Here (Romania) if I change the wheel size I have to notify some authority similar to the MOT, the wheel size has noting to do with the insurance. 

Here the insurance companies are interested in age (driver's and car's ), engine size, address, accidents history, etc, but wheel size?

 

Again, sorry for the off-topic!

 

[Konrad C]

16 hours ago, ttc said:

Sorry to be off-topic, but what does insurance have to do with wheel size? I'm not from UK, and I'm just curious.

Here (Romania) if I change the wheel size I have to notify some authority similar to the MOT, the wheel size has noting to do with the insurance. 

Here the insurance companies are interested in age (driver's and car's ), engine size, address, accidents history, etc, but wheel size?

 

Again, sorry for the off-topic!

 

It's all about liability and not having to pay out. Basically money. Some insurance companies are fine if different wheels ares fitted to the model, whatever the spec. Some cars of the same spec, come with optional extra features, but the insurance is the same. Some owners have summer and winter wheels, but some UK insurance companies see this as a modification. I think using a space saver wheel is far more dangerous than a standard wheel, but insurance may not see that. 
Here how silly it gets with some insurance companies. This is about a dash cam that was 'Hard wired' into a car -   https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/askhj/answer/92728/why-did-a-hardwired-dash-camera-void-my-insurance-policy- The issue here is that most dashcams are removeable and most insurance companies like dashcams, because it is a form of witness. 

My understanding of the term modification is, if the engine has been tune for more performance. Brakes and suspension are also modifications (intent to make the car drive faster). If a car has had body wings and skirts, and then has a crash and the modification are not disclosed, the insurance will not pay out for the mods or worse not pay out at all!  

So in the UK, disclose any modification that is not standard to the car, that will be obvious on inspection - alloy wheels

Another problem is some owners don't know if the car has the correct or standard wheels for the car. 

Somebody may have other opinions on UK insurance.   

[Heidfirst]

A different wheel/tyre combo may have an effect on handling, likelihood of claims for wheel/tyre damage, change value of car, make the car be seen as more desirable to steal etc. etc. & of course the car may well no longer be as homologated.

As far as the insurance company is concerned any of these may increase the risk & value of a claim hence the premium too. If you haven't declared modification(s) then your insurance may not only  not payout for a claim but potentially you could be charged without driving with valid insurance which is an offence in the UK. Some companies are very strict (the Toyota -branded insurance in the UK are), some are sensible & others are pretty much everything in between.