WOF with slightly different sized tyres Front to Rear?

[~SlideWays~]

Looking at fitting 245/40/17 on the front and 255/40/17 on the back, is this a problem with WOF rules? Overall diameter is within 1% of factory size (205/55/16).

Only reason I ask is because years ago VTNZ failed a run about of mine for having one 185 vs three 195's (it was the spare).

[Leon]

Not an issue.

[~SlideWays~]

VTNZ: 0
Leon: 1

[GDII]

I think up to +/-5% is OK. I run my fronts at 2.9% and rears 0.8% out of factory specs and never had an issue. My spare is a factory spec wheel and rim. If I fit the spare to the rear it is 2% out as its a front wheel. (SW20 MR2 staggered setup.)

I had a guy at a tyre shop try to convince me that my speedo would be out if I ran higher profile front tyres from factory spec.

[~SlideWays~]

Well I'm convinced

Tyre shop guy probably thought MR2's were fwd

[Leon]

Only reason I ask is because years ago VTNZ failed a run about of mine for having one 185 vs three 195's (it was the spare).

If you had only four tyres in total, and one was the spare ... was this in a Reliant Robin or some other form of three wheel vehicle?

Perhaps you were failed because you had different size tyres on the same axle, which is a fail reason.

[e30-323ti]

Also long as they are the same size & type per axle is my understanding.

Although the last 2 times I've got a WOF from VTNZ (wifes Altezza) they read out the tyre size / checked the tyre placard on the door jamb...

[Quint]

I've had some pretty crazy tyre sizes between front and back, never had a problem. *shrug*

Maybe you shouldn't wear your cap backwards when you go in, you may find the process goes smoother?

[~SlideWays~]

Only reason I ask is because years ago VTNZ failed a run about of mine for having one 185 vs three 195's (it was the spare).

If you had only four tyres in total, and one was the spare ... was this in a Reliant Robin or some other form of three wheel vehicle?

Perhaps you were failed because you had different size tyres on the same axle, which is a fail reason.

Nothing as awe inspiring as a reliant robin, just a run of the mill 4 wheeled corolla, so yes it must have been because of 195 FR and 185 FL. The spare had been on for a while because the other 195 had a slow leak...hadn't noticed it was a 185 until then. It was years ago but it was something like that, just don't want to fork out on nice tyres and have a silly wof failure.

Had a similar one where my landcruiser had 2 different model tyres front to rear, same size, same tread pattern but one brand said M + S (mud and snow) while the other brand did not even though it had the same tread pattern. The rules had just changed saying that if 'Snow' tyres are fitted, they must be on all four corners. Was rather annoying but you deal with this stuff right?

[~SlideWays~]

I've had some pretty crazy tyre sizes between front and back, never had a problem. *shrug*

Maybe you shouldn't wear your cap backwards when you go in, you may find the process goes smoother?

Plus 'FTP' in 1M tall gansta letters on the rear window right?

Because I'm very keen on file transfers.

[Dell'Orto]

Yup front to rear is no issue, there are plenty of cars that come factory with staggered tyre sizes, its just side to side.

[Stott69]

Also long as they are the same size & type per axle is my understanding.

Although the last 2 times I've got a WOF from VTNZ (wifes Altezza) they read out the tyre size / checked the tyre placard on the door jamb...

should try that with th Aristo, tyres are very different to the door placard

[holden_fan2005]

Again wont be an issue unless you're dealing with some retard at vtnz.

[rollaholic]

just another reason not to go to vtnz really, as if we needed any more.

[Bling]

Had a similar one where my landcruiser had 2 different model tyres front to rear, same size, same tread pattern but one brand said M + S (mud and snow) while the other brand did not even though it had the same tread pattern. The rules had just changed saying that if 'Snow' tyres are fitted, they must be on all four corners. Was rather annoying but you deal with this stuff right?

M+S doesn't always mean purely a mud and snow tyre. Obviously I have no idea what tyres you had. If they were 100% M+S then it's fair deal I guess. My 4wd tyres have M+S on them, and they are all season. All explained here in case anyone gets pulled up running M+S all season tyres: http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/winte ... mphlet.pdf

If your tyre was legit all season, then I think the fail was wrong. Mechanic mate told me my tyres were snow tyres based on seeing M+S. They aren't, but I can see it could be easily confused. If you ignore the total lack of snow tread on the tyres anyway.


Something else to watch on tyres are the load/speed/whatever ratings. They have to be the same or very close to each other. I failed on that as a replacement tyre fitted differed from the rest. I never knew to look, and it passed warrants for years so it was too late to do anything by the time it was found.

[~SlideWays~]

Had a similar one where my landcruiser had 2 different model tyres front to rear, same size, same tread pattern but one brand said M + S (mud and snow) while the other brand did not even though it had the same tread pattern. The rules had just changed saying that if 'Snow' tyres are fitted, they must be on all four corners. Was rather annoying but you deal with this stuff right?

M+S doesn't always mean purely a mud and snow tyre. Obviously I have no idea what tyres you had. If they were 100% M+S then it's fair deal I guess. My 4wd tyres have M+S on them, and they are all season. All explained here in case anyone gets pulled up running M+S all season tyres: http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/winte ... mphlet.pdf

If your tyre was legit all season, then I think the fail was wrong. Mechanic mate told me my tyres were snow tyres based on seeing M+S. They aren't, but I can see it could be easily confused. If you ignore the total lack of snow tread on the tyres anyway.


Something else to watch on tyres are the load/speed/whatever ratings. They have to be the same or very close to each other. I failed on that as a replacement tyre fitted differed from the rest. I never knew to look, and it passed warrants for years so it was too late to do anything by the time it was found.

They don't look like snow tyres to be honest, they just look like normal road tyres. Especially when compared to actual mud tyres I have for it, its pretty obvious the mud tyres are not designed for the road when you can fit two fingers in the tread gap and they sound like tractor tyres screaming away on the motorway

Annoying when something like that comes up unexpectedly with new laws etc. But the wof man has a job to do, not his fault.

I already had two other identical m +S road tyres anyway, just had to get them swapped onto some other wheels a few days later.

Back to the topic... Awesome! Looks like my daily driver will be getting 255's

[Crucible]

Vtnz have a habbit of knocking back items that most mechanics find 'picky'. I have seen major safety items missed by them numerous times, real bad!

But hey,

"You can trust Vtnz because we dont carry out repairs so you know your getting an honest opinion"

[loudstealthGT-Four]

But hey,

"You can trust Vtnz because we dont carry out repairs so you know your getting an honest opinion"

that is all.

[Crucible]

I could rattle off on some very unsafe items that were missed by vtnz but its not very appropriate doing so on some car forum. I guess it comes down to the inspector who carried out the check at the end of the day, not the franchise.

[jr007]

I've had some pretty crazy tyre sizes between front and back, never had a problem. *shrug*

Maybe you shouldn't wear your cap backwards when you go in, you may find the process goes smoother?

Plus 'FTP' in 1M tall gansta letters on the rear window right?

Because I'm very keen on file transfers.

Actual LOL. I bet Kim Dotcom has that all over his cars