Thread: Legality of aftermarket 17" rims for D3

Originally Posted by Gaviatrix

or would you say these are all too aggressive for my needs and I'd be better of with something like Bridgestone D694 or GG AT2?

I wanted a medium pattern but robust tyre for most uses and got Yokohama Geolander A/T-S in LT245/70-17. I'm pleased with the openness of the tread pattern, the full-depth voids, the 3-ply sidewalls and the silica compound tread but alas can't provide any comments on their performance yet as LR still hasn't suppplied the 2.7 brake parts ordered 3 months ago that are needed to allow fitment of the 17" rims.

The Cooper STs are prone to chipping. Avoid. The ST-Cs are fine, but I would run STTs which as no noisier and much better offroad.

The BFG KM2s in 245/70/17 are legal in Vic (and it is 15mm). I run a set now. At 100km/h I can make out who my wife is talking to on her mobile. The tyres do not stop you keeping up with traffic around the bends and I think are quite liveable day to day, but I have a high tolerance for such things and that is subjective.

What is not subjective is the toughness of a tyre such as this and those are what you want for the Outback or extended offroading over any P-construction tyre.

I have run all the tyres mentioned above so speak from direct experience.

The rim widths for any given tyre spec can be found on the mfr website. It will be a range.

Pardon my ignorance, is this often spoken about extra 15 mm diameter restriction a federal restriction or do some States (NSW's in particular) allow larger diameter tyres?

If not there are lots of illegally tyred 4x4's on the road round here.

cheers,
Terry

As far as I can determine NSW allow 50mm which is the national standard.

Originally Posted by Geedublya

As far as I can determine NSW allow 50mm which is the national standard.

Regrettably, Geedublya, there is no national standard, and NSW doesn't allow 50mm, although WA does. Here is a useful summary (though beware, it's a few years old, and I make no representations as to its currency): http://www.toyo.com.au/TechInfoPDFs/...egulations.pdf

I think you're right TerryO, and many people have the potential to find their insurance invalidated if they have a bingle - which is partly why I'm being so cautious. Also, I saw your post in the other thread (should we have a sticky on tyres in this forum - yes!) and thought this review might be of interest to you: http://www.4wdaction.com.au/articles...ars?fid=110797

I bought 4WD Action last weekend and in it was an advertorial booklet from Bridgestone which also had a summary of the regs, although I don't think it was quite accurate ....

Discojules, Graeme, rmp, thanks very much for your comments. All food for thought, and for a long session on the phone getting price comparisons. I'm going to have to get off the pot soon as the first 4 of my 17" rims are due to be delivered tomorrow

Cheers, Gavin

Originally Posted by Graeme

I wanted a medium pattern but robust tyre for most uses and got Yokohama Geolander A/T-S in LT245/70-17. I'm pleased with the openness of the tread pattern, the full-depth voids, the 3-ply sidewalls and the silica compound tread but alas can't provide any comments on their performance yet...

After a few thousand kms on these tyres, so far very good! Their cornering grip on gravel inspires confidence unknown to me with the previous Pirelli ATRs, both on the D4 and the previous D2. They walk through slushy mud with ease but do clog quickly in clay. The carcase hasn't been put to the test in severe conditions yet so its still early days. Oh, they're fine for my driving on wet and dry bitumen too. I recall they were a little noisier on some surfaces compared with the ATRs but I no longer notice it.

Originally Posted by Geedublya

As far as I can determine NSW allow 50mm which is the national standard.

I'm pretty sure I read a document recently, that although over 15% was illegal, a 51mm maximum was allowed on offroad vehicles.

I'm fairly sure this was the case when they were trying to introduce the VSI50 legisation AND this was an area they were trying stop, along with body and suspension lifts, as far as I'm aware, in NSW a maximum of 150mm lift is alowed but you are only allowed if it is a maximum of 50mm for each lift (ie) 50mm suspension, 50mm body and 50mm tyres, but it must be engineered if more than 2 of this combination are done, in other words you can't do 100mm on any one item.

I could be wrong though, there were so many documents flying around, it was hard to keep up

Baz.

Baz.

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registrati...vsi09_rev4.pdf

look under minor changes to wheels.
didnt see anything pertaining to 4x4's

cheers phil