I asked my insurance people about running a car tire on my Valk.

[Jabba]

My question

2.   If I mount a car tire on my motorcycle, there won’t be any adverse effects by Farmers will there?  Many many people with Valkyries use car tires on the rear of their bikes.  Some people are claiming there are instances of insurance companies failing to cover accidents when car tires are mounted.  I would like a proactive answer to that question please.

Their response

John I just spoke to the claims adjustor and he said that they do not recommend this but this would not tamper with the coverage that you have on your bike in anyway. Please let me know if you need anything else.

Thanks again.

My response to that...
Thanks.  People do things that are not recommended on all kinds of things all the time.  It’s how innovation happens.  If the whole world was afraid to do anything “not recommended” we’d still be in the stone age.

Thanks for the reply.


FWIW...

Jabba

[BigAlOfMD]

 

[Serk]

Good idea... I just contacted my insurance provider (Progressive) asking the same question... It'll be good to get their reply in writing (And see if I need to change insurance providers at the same time!)

[Skinhead]

Good idea... I just contacted my insurance provider (Progressive) asking the same question... It'll be good to get their reply in writing (And see if I need to change insurance providers at the same time!)

Please post their response, I have Progressive as well and run on the Darkside.

[Six Guns]

I have always had Progressive Insurance with my Valk. When I had my accident a few years ago I had a C/T and they paid to have my Valk repaired, no problems. The adjuster never brought up the C/T as being an issue.         

[DaveC]

My neighbor put 4 DUNLOP E3's on his MINI COOPER.
He says it's kinda squirley in the rain.
Y'all think he should try STONES?
the hobo

[Jabba]

My neighbor put 4 DUNLOP E3's on his MINI COOPER.
He says it's kinda squirley in the rain.
Y'all think he should try STONES?
the hobo

naw that's funny raht thar.

Jabba

[fudgie]

Thx jabba! 

This got me wondering today about CT coverage. What do you do when you pull a trailer with your Valk and have a accident? Are you denied? Is my thinking correct in saying motorcycles are not designed to pull a trailer? Aint straight pipes for off road use only? Hmmm........ 

I guess I should see about state farm. If they will not cover me then why should I pay for it? 

[sugerbear]

on my first accident the guy who hit me also had american family, no problem.

second accident the guy who hit me had e-surance, no problem.

my agent knows i run a c/t, no problem.

i'm happy

[MP]

All the talk about not paying is BS.  On the Goldwing board, it comes up once in a while.  There are a LOT more CT's there.  Yet, strangely, no one can show a specific case where it was denied.  It is always, "somebody said"

MP

[clintsdivco]

Thx jabba! 

This got me wondering today about CT coverage. What do you do when you pull a trailer with your Valk and have a accident? Are you denied? Is my thinking correct in saying motorcycles are not designed to pull a trailer? Aint straight pipes for off road use only? Hmmm........ 

I guess I should see about state farm. If they will not cover me then why should I pay for it? 

I just wrecked my Valkyrie in Southern California on 4-24-10 and was running a car tire and pulling my t
Timeout Camping Trailer.  I have State Farm Insurance, and nothing was said about the car tire or the trailer.  They have offered me a settlement on both the bike and the trailer with no problem.  I don't like their initial settlement offer but that has nothing to do with the car tire or trailer.


Clint

[R J]

Thx jabba! 

This got me wondering today about CT coverage. What do you do when you pull a trailer with your Valk and have a accident? Are you denied? Is my thinking correct in saying motorcycles are not designed to pull a trailer? Aint straight pipes for off road use only? Hmmm........ 

I guess I should see about state farm. If they will not cover me then why should I pay for it? 

I just wrecked my Valkyrie in Southern California on 4-24-10 and was running a car tire and pulling my t
Timeout Camping Trailer.  I have State Farm Insurance, and nothing was said about the car tire or the trailer.  They have offered me a settlement on both the bike and the trailer with no problem.  I don't like their initial settlement offer but that has nothing to do with the car tire or trailer.


Clint

Hey Clint:

Ya might want to start looking for new insurance now, as State Farm will screw ya on the settlement the best they can, and then after they settle with ya, watch your mailbox for a registered letter saying your insurance has been cancelled as of a certain date.

Don't ask how I know this, OK.

[Oss]

+1 what RJ said only with GEICO

Clint you are lucky my friend to walk away from that one. 

I have never heard of a claim denied because of CT here in NY

[Jabba]

My insurance company had been spot on over the years.  My wife totaled a car.  No problems.  I told the adjuster not to screw me before he ever came to look at it.  I told him I wasn't gonna get screwed and to skip to the right number.  He did.  That was in about 97.  We had a hail damage claim that I told them I didn't want or need, and they gave me a $9000 check anyway.  I had a garage collapse about 3 years ago too.  No problem.  They paid it to the limits of the policy, and I have never noticed a drastic increase in my premiums.  It's creeped up over the years... but so has everything else.

Cheaper is not always better.  How they treat me, earns my not shopping them all the time.

Illinois Farmers by the way.

I also figured it would be better to ASK in this case, than to be surprised later.

Jabba   

[BonS]

+1 what RJ said only with GEICO

Some years ago, GEICO was admonished by the federal government because they're reserves were too low. They became the "good driver" company and booted their drivers/riders with previous accident records to avoid more draconian actions by the feds over their financials. So their rates are low but they can't afford to  get or keep drivers with spotted records.

[Hoser]

I'm not so sure asking your agent about the darkside is a good Idea, now they know something they don't need to know. Hoser  ???

[Jabba]

I'm not so sure asking your agent about the darkside is a good Idea, now they know something they don't need to know. Hoser  ???

That goes to the theory that it's easier to get forgiveness than permission.  Insurance companies are not very good at forgiveness IMO.

And my insurance co said... sure... go ahead.  We'll cover it.

 

Jabba

[Gunslinger]

Progressive adjuster told me that his father runs a CT on his 'Wing when he was evaluating my bike after their insured caused my accident last year. They also paid enough to rebuild my '97 and buy the '01 IS.

At the same time my American Family agent told me that it was not a problem and would not affect my rates or coverage.

[paul]

I dont think it could possibley be an issue if there was a "misshap" ....But if your really concerned about it , one of my old teachers favorite saying was,"words are on the wind, and pens leave tracks".

[MP]

Well, lots of " yes, you are insured", and NOT ONE, "no, you are not".

I am still waiting for the proof from those who "heard from somebody" that it would be denied.

MP

[fudgie]

I'm not so sure asking your agent about the darkside is a good Idea, now they know something they don't need to know. Hoser  ???

I'm kinda leary about calling State Farm. Might send up a red flag. My luck I crash and burn on a run tomorrow and they will say, opps, to bad! 

[2qmedic]

Well, here's the thing the way I see it.
I've never seen where it is illegal to run a car tire....
I've never seen any crash due to running a CT....
I've read several motorcycle accident and cause studies and there have been no mention of CT's being a factor.
Sounds like a valid argument to me.

[Serk]

Just had a nice chat with the guy responsible for Motorcycles, Boats and RV's for Progressive in my area...

Of course, he's unable to 100% guarantee anything (Otherwise he wouldn't be in the insurance business!) but he's been doing nothing but bikes, RV's, boats, etc for 12+ years, and has never denied a claim based on a car tire on a motorcycle.

He's never seen anything come down from corporate telling 'em to deny a claim based on the wrong kind of tire on a vehicle.

He's never seen or heard of a claim being denied based on a car tire on a motorcycle.

"Besides, that'd just be silly, that'd mean we couldn't insure Boss Hoss' or trike's!"

"There's no exclusion for type of tire in your policy, we couldn't deny a claim based on the type of tire."

I know the haters are still gonna hate, nothing can be done about that, but I'm satisfied now...

[BonS]

Before you call your agent I think I'd check out the link below. I think it fairly describes the CLUE database that is used by insurance companies. The quote below the link (and similar) can be found there:

http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs26-CLUE.htm

"Claims you file - sometimes even inquiries about your coverage that do not result in a claim - can appear in a little-known database called CLUE or its smaller competitor A-PLUS." (The underlining is mine.)

For this reason I am reluctant to call and ask questions that might be placed in the CLUE database without my knowledge. I guess this is exactly how the insurance industry likes it: We should be afraid to not have insurance and afraid to inquire or make a claim when we have a problem. I have heard of some agents being required to record every phone call from clients in CLUE. It's not a conspiracy it's just good business if you're an insurance company trying to maximize the bottom line.

[big turkey]

Riding Motorcycles is Inherantly Dangerous.


Fighting Fires is Inherantly Dangerous.

War is inherantly Dangerous.

Bomb Squad work is inherantly dangerous.


Where I work there is enough raiser wire to reach to the top of the Empire State Building

72 Times.

Enough ammo and machine guns to hold off the old Iraqi Republican Guard.

All things carry risk.

Having a Car Tire and Having a Motorcycle Tire is not going to make or break you.

So many other factors invloved.

Reaction Time, age, road conditions, all these are constantly changing it is you right to run a slick on the back of that Road Hog if you want.

I notice the Choopper Trend thse days is to go back to a slimmer back tire.

So the world goes on changing and nothing stays the same.

Car Tire , MC TIRE, who cares have fun , only thing is the unknown factors scare me away and I don't show signs of fear to any body or anything, and I won't run car tire and that should tell you somthing.

Figure the odds and choose your poison is what I always say.

And you car tires sure like to brag about the choice you have made.

Reminds me of the old adage ,,Go along to get along , peer pressure is involved and the cool factor I am sure.

Now that was not too bad for me was it.

Big Al
y

[Valker]

Big Al, I don't brag about running a car tire (search my posts) but you sure do denigrate my choice in a bunch of posts. Why don't you just ignore the car tire threads? There should be an "ignore" feature for threads we don't approve of and for people who's posts we'd like to skip. Several of the other boards I read have this feature.

And to answer your question: No, that wasn't too bad for you. I still see no reason for you to jump in on all these threads, but you didn't personally attack anyone.

[Tundra]

My thoughts are, if you never tell them, would they even know? I mean even if an adjuster comes out to look at your bike, would he know? The guys I've dealt with only knew the basics of motorcycles (handlebar, gastank, fender) They were certainly not morcycle people, or motorcycle savy.  Would it be wrong of you not to disclose that information, (if not asked)   You are not the insurance expert, they are. Does it state in writing anywhere on your policy that motorcycles running car tires would not be insured? Really, just curious. I know several with insurance claims paid out and it was a non issue. The subject never came up. LEAVE IT ALONE

[scoot]

I'd just tell them that it must of happened during the accident

[Jess from VA]

The occasional inquiry may be fine, but if everyone with a CT goes raising flags with their respective insurance co's about CTs, it can only have a negative result.  Ins co's, just like govt, believe all the worlds problems can be solved with new laws, rules and regulations.  Every insured has a "notes section" with their policy(s) which may or may not be annotated with a CT inquiry.  If the accident was not caused by a car tire, they must pay (arguably, they must pay even if it was caused by a car tire, unless they can point to specific prohibited actions in the individual policy).   No one (well almost no one) want's CTs added to the list of prohibited actions.

Do us all a favor and do not inquire.

[X Ring]

The occasional inquiry may be fine, but if everyone with a CT goes raising flags with their respective insurance co's about CTs, it can only have a negative result.  Ins co's, just like govt, believe all the worlds problems can be solved with new laws, rules and regulations.  Every insured has a "notes section" with their policy(s) which may or may not be annotated with a CT inquiry.  If the accident was not caused by a car tire, they must pay (arguably, they must pay even if it was caused by a car tire, unless they can point to specific prohibited actions in the individual policy).   No one (well almost no one) want's CTs added to the list of prohibited actions.

Do us all a favor and do not inquire.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the attorney has spoken. 

Marty

[therapist]

The occasional inquiry may be fine, but if everyone with a CT goes raising flags with their respective insurance co's about CTs, it can only have a negative result.  Ins co's, just like govt, believe all the worlds problems can be solved with new laws, rules and regulations.  Every insured has a "notes section" with their policy(s) which may or may not be annotated with a CT inquiry.  If the accident was not caused by a car tire, they must pay (arguably, they must pay even if it was caused by a car tire, unless they can point to specific prohibited actions in the individual policy).   No one (well almost no one) want's CTs added to the list of prohibited actions.

Do us all a favor and do not inquire.

I have to say I agree with Jess.  In my many years on this planet, I have discovered it is better not to bring something to someones attention, when they never would have noticed it.  Now they swing the magnifying glass toward that new knowledge wondering if that previously unknown thing might just be a problem that needs attention/further study.  Let's leave it be.  JMO

[Moonshot_1]

And sure as Hell don't make ANY inquires to the Government about this.
They will try to "fix" it.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Maybe we should just buy some TV time and maybe some billboards    to let everyone in on the fact we are runnin' car tires.

[Willow]

In view of how terminology impacts perception, stop calling them car tires.  Perhaps NMS (Non-Motorcycle Specific) would be a more acceptance friendly descriptive.    

And this "Darkside" thing?  How do you expect people to react?  If you really believe in it you should refer to it as "joining the enlightened".

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

In view of how terminology impacts perception, stop calling them car tires.  Perhaps NMS (Non-Motorcycle Specific) would be a more acceptance friendly descriptive.    

And this "Darkside" thing?  How do you expect people to react?  If you really believe in it you should refer to it as "joining the enlightened".

Just curious Carl ...Have you ever had a NMS on your Valk's ? 

[big turkey]

Does any one remember Mud Grip or Snow Tires.

I have the perfect name.

A motorcycle tire, because once it is on there,,,,,,, is it not a Motorcycle Tire?

No fan fare no bombs going off just a different style of Motorcycle tire.

The obvious sometimes ecapes us all.

So that is the way we can squeak this by a outsider.

Big AL

[Jabba]

Works for me.  It's a differntly profiled MCT.

DPMCT.

XYZPDQ.

WTF?



Jabba

[Willow]

Just curious Carl ...Have you ever had a NMS on your Valk's ? 

No. Joe, I've never mounted an NMS tire on one of my Valks.  I understand the plusses and minuses and have given it some serious consideration.  I would specifically like to have more confidence in the rain.

I have ridden a few miles on other folks' Valks with NMS tires mounted.

I've ridden down off the plateau side by side with Bandit.  Bandit, of course, was on an NMS tire.  Now that was a ride to remember.  I don't think we were ever within sight of the PRV and stayed pretty well close enough to always hear the surging of the Valkyrie exhausts.

It may be in my future.  Maybe unfortunately, I get over 20K miles from a rear Avon, so I don't have the same motivation as do some.

I did have a tire on the rear of my 305 Super Hawk in 1969 that had deep treads and a very deep groove down the middle.  I always thought that tire looked like it belonged instead on my Metropolitan.  I broke the left side rear axel adjuster running that tire.    

[big turkey]

These Texting abbreviations sure mess up this old guys mind.

I sometimes can decipher the phrasing but not always.

DPMCT is one I figured out though'

Yes and remember if it smells like a MC Tire, and is on a MC. Then guess what it is.

Don't have to taste it like the old joke goes.

Sure glad we did not step in that.

Al