Wheels and Tires - How far can you go?

[postfach]

On my car, mainly on the rear, the wheels stick out quite far. I've rolled and pumped out the rear guards quite a bit and now all of the tread, and half the sidewall (the tires are stretched a little) is inside the guard, and the rest of the wheel sticks out 10mm max either side.

Now the fun part. I've been pulled over twice in the last week for having wheels that "stick out too far", haven't been ticketed either time, but I've been threatened with green stickers etc.

I was under the impression that as long as the tread was within the guard, all is fine, and explaining this seems to persuade them to let me off so far, but I'd like to know for sure. Had a look on the Land Transport site but I'm having trouble finding my way around.

Can anyone point me to a document either supporting me or telling me otherwise? That way I can either fix my car so that it's within the law, and save myself the hassle of getting pulled up all the time for this, or carry a copy of the supporting document with me so I can avoid unnecessary fines/infringements.

[deaf_rattle]

flares!

[xsspeed]

was also under the impression that so long as the tread is inside its ok

[GDII]

Yea! Flares like this lol

[postfach]

yes, something like that is what i need, i was thinking more like this:



if anyone knows somewhere in auckland that does steel or fibreglass panel work like that, let me know, since stuff *really* doesn't fit with my custom arms i have in the shed.

[pidge]

From http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/certifiers/virm ... 0-v3-2.pdf

Table 10-1-1. Modifications that do not require LVV certification

Aftermarket wheel fitments:
the tyre tread:
– does not protrude beyond the unmodified original body panels (including unmodified factory-fitted mudguard extensions), or
– protrudes beyond the unmodified original body panels, but is covered by aftermarket or modified mudguard extensions or modified body panels, and the track width has increased by no more than 25 mm from OE.

[postfach]

Perfect, thought I was right, thanks.

[Mr Revhead]

whats the bet that loop hole is closed in the next revamp!

[pidge]

Perfect, thought I was right, thanks.

What size are your rims, and what make, model and tyre size do you have mounted on them?

From how you describe the way your tyres are mounted, it sounds like the mounting width of the rims is ~40mm wider than the tread of the tyre.

Note the next row in table 10-1-1:

Tyre size changes

the tyres:
– have an outer circumference that is no more than 5% greater than OE, and
– are an appropriate selection for rim width, and
– have tread that does not extend beyond the original or modified body panels or guard extension (see Figure 10-1-1).

The bolded bit is where they may be getting at when they try to green sticker you.

If you check the tyre manufactures specs for you tyres, they will have a suitable rim width specification. e.g. http://www.toyo.co.uk/productdetail.php ... oduct_id=2
http://www.toyo.com/docs/tires/product_ ... oxes%20T1R
(gives the (permitted in the case of the UK site) rim widths for the Toyo T1-R, from "the horses mouth").

Looking at those tables for the T1-R, the largest suitable/permitted rim width is narrower than the tread width or not much more than 1/4 inch wider in some cases - nearly all of the tyres have a suitable rim width no more than 1/4 inch narrower than the tyre. But that's just for Toyo T1-R.

ETA - more comments on rim width vs tread width

[postfach]

255s on 9.5 inch rims, the stretch is marginal IMO. Considering how hard it is to get a decent set of 275s in this country, I think it's fair that I use that size tire

[pidge]

OK, in that case I'd expect that to be OK, going by the T1-R data - the smallest maximum rim width for 255's is 9.5 inch, most of them being 10.

How about a picture?

[postfach]

can do, when i get home tomorrow

[soopachargen]

"and the track width has increased by no more than 25 mm from OE."

i would say that this would be your problem wouldnt it?? or does track just cover the tyres?

[postfach]

"and the track width has increased by no more than 25 mm from OE."

i would say that this would be your problem wouldnt it?? or does track just cover the tyres?

Track is the distance center to center between the tyres, fairly sure I'm within that limit, theres just a huge difference between 6" rims and 9.5" rims.

[Lloyd]

Different offset with wide rims will change your track width also

[postfach]

Yes I'm aware of that and have taken it into account, what I was getting at was that the rims I have are almost 10cm wider than the factory ones, so obviously they're going to stick out more.

[MRDRFT]

my old silvia had wheels that stuck out around 1.5 cms out side frount guards 8 inch rim with streched 215 and i passed a cert like that.i had 215s streched onto 9s on the back but that faild cert needed 235 on the 9 inch rim.

[THA SHZ]

As far as i was aware you cant have anything protruding the vehicle for safety of pedestrians , and things must be covered so that it cant harm another being , same reason as to why u cant drive around with no bonnet cause as silly as it sounds someone could fall in the engine bay and injure themselves , and as for your track width i would definetly say you would have increased this by more than 25mm in your offset alone would take up majority of that

[ee904age]

same reason as to why u cant drive around with no bonnet cause as silly as it sounds someone could fall in the engine bay and injure themselves ,

'Cos getting hit by a car that has a bonnet wont injure ya......

Damn our laws make no sense.

[RED TOP MR 2]

yea it does when you slide off not get caught in belts, fans and hot stuff.why do you need your bonnet off anyway?to show off your rotang?