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Thread: Larger tyres - they can't all be legal...?

  1. #1
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    Larger tyres - they can't all be legal...?

    I've read many a post about folks with larger tyres than standard ones fitted to their vehicles, and I know from reading various bits of info that, at least here in Victoria, one can legally only fit tyres that are 50mm larger in diameter than the manufacturer-fitted tyres.

    This means, for example, that anything larger than 245/75/16 (or the equivalent on the 18" rim) is technically illegal. Never mind rims with a different offset, which would be easier to spot.

    So how does everyone get away with the larger tyres? Are they simply not being stopped and checked? Am I unnecessarily concerned? What about insurance?

  2. #2
    It'sNotWorthComplaining! Guest
    Easily answered.
    We are in Vic. No annual Roadworthy checks!

    re insurance: owners simply swap back to stand wheels before assessor comes.

    No one out to enforce it, same a mobile phones whilst driving, and all other road offenses.

    Cameras are only picking up speeding motorists, technology at present does facilitate taking pics of mods.

    We complain about being a nanny state in Vic, but we get away with a lot more than other states

  3. #3
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    You can engineer tyre size changes up to a point in Vic still cant you?

  4. #4
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    The police don't actually care. I've attracted attention for tyres sticking past the guards (now fixed with flares) but no mention of the fact that they were five inches larger than factory.

    It's one of those arbitrary regulations nobody seems to care about. If you're unfortunate enough to get a yellow sticker, its about ten minutes work to put the stock tyres back on and get it cleared.

  5. #5
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    I thought a D2 could legally run a 235x85r16 now with new changes to vic laws.

  6. #6
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    Not sure if the police don't care, maybe just better things to do.

    In Qld we are allowed a whopping 15mm bigger in radius, just enough to allow for differences in standard sizes between manufacturers. There is talk of all the States aligning with an up to 50mm bigger ruling as acceptable.

    There is a large difference in running an inch bigger tyre on a standard vehicle or a 2" lift, and a 6" lifted beast running 37's and no sway bars.
    Jason

    2010 130 TDCi

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by It'sNotWorthComplaining! View Post
    ...
    re insurance: owners simply swap back to stand wheels before assessor comes.
    ...
    That might be tricky from the hospital or morgue... Insurance companies would be rubbing their hands together reading your post!

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  9. #9
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    So apart from the possibility of engineering on the larger sizes (does anyone know if this is done/possible?), we're saying that there are a good number of vehicles out there simply flouting regulations?

    bussy1963, unless I've misread the regulation you linked to (which is the one I read previously), 50mm is the largest increase in diameter for tyres to be considered legal replacements, so something like a 235/85/16 would be illegal, given that it's an increase of about 70mm over the standard 235/70/16.

  10. #10
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    When I did the Isuzu conversion on my County I got the 255/85-16's added to the mods list. Wasn't 100% sure if they fit within the allowable non-engineered mods, but I dont have to worry now that its all on paper and recorded at Vicroads. AFAIK there is no requirement for me to carry the paperwork to prove to the police that its actually legal, which would make it very messy for them to try and ping someone on tyre size. Much easier to concentrate on the obvious faults that cant be challenged - like tyres sticking out past flares/guards, fishing rod holders that project in front of the bullbar etc.

    A couple of years back one of our senior club members driving a Toyota got done on a long weekend at a roadside inspection point that had been set up specifically targetting 4WD's. He got written up for a missing flare, and a antenna mount that projected. No mention of the 35's he was running.

    Absolutely there are people running illegal tyres and other mods.
    All said and done its up to the individual whether they choose to follow the letter of the law - or not (and live with the consequences). In the case of tyres, running larger diameters reduces braking performance, so for example if you've got a D1 with 35's and no engineers cert and you flatten some kid on a pedestrian crossing because you couldn't pull it up like a standard D1 - then don't whine when Bubba grabs you in the shower and tells you to pick up the soap

    Steve

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