Tyre Width

[Finnius]

Hey folks,
Hoping someone on here knows or can point me in the right direction for info on legal tyre widths in WA.
Apparently a tyre cant stick out past the body panel of the vehicle.
If fitting wheel flares does this make the tyre legal (if it doesn't stick past the flare)?
Also, would this apply only to the plastic/fibreglass flares or even the rubber skirting/flaring that so many blokes put on there wheel arches?
Thanks for any info.

[Tombie]

There's a whole heap of stuff to be legal.

Not protruding beyond guards
Not exceeding maximum factory width by a certain amount
Not exceeding diameter by specific amount
Not increasing wheel track by more than 50mm overall...

[V8Ian]

It's not that simple. You can only increase the track by 25mm, so if you need flairs to cover the tyres, you're probably not legal anyway.

[Finnius]

What do you mean by track? Width between outermost part of each tyre where it touches the ground? No one on the street is going to know the millimetre distance of the factory wheel track on each vehicle make and model are they?

[Fifth Columnist]

No one on the street is going to know the millimetre distance of the factory wheel track on each vehicle make and model are they?Their lawyers will.

[Finnius]

Anyone ever been in trouble for excessive wheel track width and not for how much their tyres stick out from the bodywork?
So I presume flares increase the distance your tyres can stick out legally?

[Homestar]

Their lawyers will.

Yes, If there is an accident where the tyres were seen to be the cause or part cause of the accident.

To the OP - depends on what you're after and if and by how much you're willing to break the law. There's plenty of people running around on illegal tyre combinations and not a second glance is given.

Chances of you getting into serious trouble - very, very low - but theoretically it is possible.

[Stuck]

Anyone ever been in trouble for excessive wheel track width and not for how much their tyres stick out from the bodywork?
So I presume flares increase the distance your tyres can stick out legally?
Yes. Charlestown RTA, LJ Torana ,circa 1989, 14mm over track, 39mm overall given the 25mm we were allowed initially. They don't relax old rules, they just introduce new ones.

[Finnius]

I just read VSB 14:
https://infrastructure.gov.au/roads/vehicle_regulation/bulletin/pdf/NCOP11_Section_LS_Tyres_Suspension_Steering_Nov_20 15_v4.pdf

And it says the tyres cant protrude past the bodywork (including flares).
But it doesn't say what the flares have to be made of - so i guess the rubber ones legally allow you to run tyres that stick out past the factory bodywork...

[Tombie]

Wheel track is measured centre to centre.
It's very easy to spot a modified track..

In the same VSB here's some screen shots of relevant info...

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/09/1007.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/09/1008.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/09/1009.jpg

[DiscoMick]

This is a complex issue, so you need to study the rules carefully in your state and get expert advice.
Remember that if you run an illegal mod and there is a crash your insurer can use the illegality to get out of paying out. Insurers are always keen to save money. The insurers like assessors who find ways to reject claims against them.
This happens a lot more than many people realize.
For example, this morning I followed an 80 series with tyres sticking out well beyond his flares, so he is instantly illegal and can be fined on the spot, his vehicle can be declared unroadworthy and have to be towed and his insurance could be voided.
Many of the vehicles you see in magazines are actually illegal. It's the owner who cops the penalties.
Saying there are a lot of people breaking the rules doesn't reduce the fact that the rules are still the rules.

[Tombie]

Doesn't cost much to make all modifications legally and certified either...

Hysterically. Many (not all) of these big lift, big tyre, big flex mods actually make the vehicle less capable, less drivable, less reliable.

[V8Ian]

Doesn't cost much to make all modifications legally and certified either...

Hysterically. Many (not all) of these big lift, big tyre, big flex mods actually make the vehicle less capable, less drivable, less reliable.
And legal or not, they draw the crabs.

[DiscoMick]

Doesn't cost much to make all modifications legally and certified either...

Hysterically. Many (not all) of these big lift, big tyre, big flex mods actually make the vehicle less capable, less drivable, less reliable.
Yeah, it's the monster truck disease we've imported from the USA. Bigger is not necessarily better.

[Finnius]

Thanks for all the replies guys. As always a wealth of knowledge is to be had on this forum.
As you can see from my profile pic, my disco runs pretty standard sized tyres. Just sussing out what is legal etc.

Definitely agree that big mods often make a vehicle less reliable. That's the reason for the difference you see with weekend toys versus rigs built for touring.

Funny story here actually. A few years ago we were way out bush in an unmodified 2WD station wagon and came across a long slippery muddy stretch of track. At the same time a big lifted 4WD with big tyres rocked up to drive the section also. We slowly puttered across the stretch of mud in our station wagon, picking good lines, putting wheels on harder bits for traction etc - made it across easily. It was quite a look on the other blokes face!:eek: Then the big 4WD had a shot with big fat tyres. He floored it, wheels spinning, slid sideways, this way then that, almost slid of the track through lack of control, the mud slowing him right down to the point he only just made it through.

Just another lesson that a heavily modified vehicle doesn't guarantee that you will get places, its the driver too.

[loanrangie]

Driver mentality has a lot to do with it also, if he took the right line and drove carefully he would do it easy.
Its the heavy boot that gets them undone most of the time.

[DiscoMick]

This whole idea that wider tyres mean the vehicle can 'float over' the terrain just seems to have rocks in it as far as I can see.
Firstly, the vehicle doesn't float over mud or sand because the weight still causes it to sink down.
Secondly, the wider tyre is pushing more sand or mud in front of it, so it's actually harder to proceed.
The better way is for a taller narrow tyre because that gives a longer footprint while minimizing the wall to be pushed, I reckon.
Of course, this is a much-debated topic.

[Finnius]

It is a much debated topic. But i always remember seeing Bush Tucker Man drive a massive section of muddy road on one of his episodes with skinny tyres on. Went through no worries! A lot of people these days would think twice before attempting that even with big 35s muddies on...

[Jesters Td5]

It is a much debated topic. But i always remember seeing Bush Tucker Man drive a massive section of muddy road on one of his episodes with skinny tyres on. Went through no worries! A lot of people these days would think twice before attempting that even with big 35s muddies on...

I am a fan of pizza cutters.

Sent from my A51f using AULRO mobile app

[donh54]

Driver mentality has a lot to do with it also, if he took the right line and drove carefully he would do it easy.
Its the heavy boot that gets them undone most of the time.

It's not what you've got, it's how you use it :p

Saw a video recently with a lifted and locked big time fourby owner talking about how well his rig performed on this gnarly track up in the Gulf, and in the bushes behind him, was the remains of an XW Falcon. Wonder how it got there? Talking to a friend about it later and he's pretty sure it used to be the station cooks car. Did the track dozens of times until some spinifex caught fire under it.

[Stuck]

It's not what you've got, it's how you use it :p

Saw a video recently with a lifted and locked big time fourby owner talking about how well his rig performed on this gnarly track up in the Gulf, and in the bushes behind him, was the remains of an XW Falcon. Wonder how it got there? Talking to a friend about it later and he's pretty sure it used to be the station cooks car. Did the track dozens of times until some spinifex caught fire under it.
I'll go with that. Look at Len Beadell and the gear he had to travel tracks before they were tracks and compare that to the gear that you "need" to travel those tracks today.

[Tombie]

I'll go with that. Look at Len Beadell and the gear he had to travel tracks before they were tracks and compare that to the gear that you "need" to travel those tracks today.



Spot on...

Lots of "toss" on modern rigs...

[ozscott]

Driver mentality has a lot to do with it also, if he took the right line and drove carefully he would do it easy.
Its the heavy boot that gets them undone most of the time.
Agreed. And not to mention tram tracking on road with overly wide tyres.

Cheers

This whole idea that wider tyres mean the vehicle can 'float over' the terrain just seems to have rocks in it as far as I can see.
Firstly, the vehicle doesn't float over mud or sand because the weight still causes it to sink down.
Secondly, the wider tyre is pushing more sand or mud in front of it, so it's actually harder to proceed.
The better way is for a taller narrow tyre because that gives a longer footprint while minimizing the wall to be pushed, I reckon.
Of course, this is a much-debated topic.