Thread: Modifying wheels - Legal?

I have a set of wheels on an old Series 2A that have been modified. They are stamped with the usual 272309 ROK etc., but appear wider than 5.5" and have a much reduced offset. They are currently fitted with 265 width tyres and look sensible, where a 265 on a 5.5" rim looks "wrong". Closer inspection shows that the 272309 centres have been cut out and welded in to wider rims, and given much less ofset.

I bought this vehicle as a parts donor, and paid no attention to the wheels at the time, but it had been registered and used on the road as a daily driver with this wheel/tyre combination, and had engineering approval for it's Holden engine.

Obviously all the usual "insurance" comments apply, as they do to any non-standard parts, but are there any legal issues relating to modifying wheels? If they comply with the size regulations, is it legal to cut and weld wheels?

Edit:
Just found a couple of companies offering wheel modification services, so presumably it's legal!

Hi, It is actualy a very common prectice on older veichles. Im have advanced structural welding certifications and following NFO5 welding proceedures there is no real drama with it. As long as the wheel in concentric to 0.10mm i would say and has the same tolerance for "throw" (rim bead square to axis of the axle) so the wheel behaved at speeds on the road, the right welding process is followed there is no real problem. Ive done it myself before a few years ago, its a timely process but when you cant buy one of the shelf its all you got.

For the insureance side of things, no idea. they sometimes dont even like roof racks. But insures like shannons are pretty good, as long as the person who welds them for you has provided documents and also they can stamp their certificate number next to their weld to prove they have been done by a professional.

In your case, if they arnt stamped or no docs then it doesent look good. But if the welds look nice and uniform, no little holes, no miss penetrated bits id say they will be fine to use. Id throw a dial on them and check how true they are on both X and Y axis. If they are true, then i think you dont have a problem.

Andy