My tyres are illegal in Qld what are the options?

Submitted: Wednesday, Jul 23, 2003 at 16:27
ThreadID: 6129 Views:10275 Replies:7 FollowUps:6
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After getting a response from my post on rim and tyre sizes 2 days ago I went to Qld Transport and in the modifications booklet found that the max diameter allowable on Qld road is 15mm taller than 275/70 x 16(785mm) in and 80 series landcruiser. This translates to 800mm. I have 305/70's on my landcruiser and these are 827mm ( after doing the maths). The tyre guy said nothing about the illegality of putting these on.

Will I have to get an engineers cert. or just get Qld Transport to OK them. Does anyone know what engineers cost to look at tyre width and possibly suspension?

Here are some other tyre sizes that are too tall on an 80 series and probably the majority of other fourbies in Qld.

275/75 x 16 = 812.5mm

285/75 x 16 = 827.5mm

also 33 inch tyres are 825mm
and any above that height.

I originally thought that the max. width was 15mm over the manufacturers recomended but the booklet states that " The maximum tyre width must not be more than 1.3 times wider than the vehicle manufacturer's widest optional tyre. However, in the case of off-road passenger vehicles fitted with front and rear beam axles, the maximum tyre width must not be more than 1.5 times larger than the manufacturer's widest optional tyre." (providing that they remain within the body/flares).

I found this interesting as it means you could put 401mm tyres on, thats 16 inch wide tyres on the 80 series if you can get flares wide enough. Pity no one makes these in under 33 inch tall tyres, and even if they did they would look pretty funny.

we live and learn

Charlie
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Reply By: Truckster (Vic) - Wednesday, Jul 23, 2003 at 16:37

Wednesday, Jul 23, 2003 at 16:37
Will I have to get an engineers cert. or just get Qld Transport to OK them. Does anyone know what engineers cost to look at tyre width and possibly suspension?

CAll Qld tpt dept.

Engineers $300-1000 depending on what you are having done.
AnswerID: 25705

Reply By: jonny knowalittlebit - Wednesday, Jul 23, 2003 at 16:38

Wednesday, Jul 23, 2003 at 16:38
this kind of happened to me about a month ago. a tyre yard put unroadworthy tyres on. not having a dig at diamond and the others who are in the tyre game at all but i think there should be a right of responsabilty lying with the people who you entrust to do a job (roadworthy/legal tyres or rewiring a house). you might be able to ring the tyre yard up and tell them what theyve done (of course depending on the circumstance) thats what i did and i got 4 new tyres put on no questions asked. Not to sure how youd go for an engineers ticket because i didnt go that far but as far as QLD transport (if there the same as RTA in NSW) they wont do anything as i rang the RTA about my tires they said, if there not roadworthy well too bad make them roadworthy, or get an engineers ticket for the tyres.
if the tyres are heaps worn you may just have to bite the bullet and get new ones.
Try ringing an engineer and tell them whats happened they may tell you over the phone a staright no or a maybe might save a bit of ginning around.
i hope its all helped.
AnswerID: 25706

Follow Up By: Allyn (Pilbara) - Wednesday, Jul 23, 2003 at 18:03

Wednesday, Jul 23, 2003 at 18:03
I think we should all accept a bit of responsibility for our own actions here instead of trying to put the onus onto tyre dealers.
so many places, so little time !!!
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FollowupID: 17444

Follow Up By: Member - Shawn - Wednesday, Jul 23, 2003 at 19:35

Wednesday, Jul 23, 2003 at 19:35
Agree with you Allyn
for those in NSW RTA page on wheel and tyre size is at:

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/downloads/vsi09.pdf

sorry I don't know how to make this a hyperlink
CheersKeep your powder dry
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FollowupID: 17453

Follow Up By: diamond (bendigo) - Wednesday, Jul 23, 2003 at 19:45

Wednesday, Jul 23, 2003 at 19:45
gday johnny.
i agree totally.
we see cars day in and day out fitted with wrong tyres.
new sales man at work had the same problem he would look at tyres on the car and go to fit the same size untill we pulled him up and said there the wrong tyres should have eg.165-75-13 not 175-75-13 ect.
doing roadworthys i always get into blues with customers over the size of the tyres they have that are not roadworthy.
lots of sales men just want to do the sale thats gets them more money.
and then you get the customers that want that size tyre no matter what you tell them.eg guy comes in with a rodeo 4wd a cpl of weeks back for some tyres.he wants 31x10.5x15 coopers.we explain that he should be using 30x9.5x15 to keep it legal and we explain all about speedo being out not roaqdworthy and insurance troubles.calls us a pack of wan????
tells us where to shove our tyres and storms out.
then theres the other beauties.can you fix my puncture please.sorry we cant its unroadworthy look you nearly have wire sticking out.dosnt matter its only the spare.oh ok so when you do get a puncture in one of the wheels on your car what are you going to put on the spare with wire nearly coming through.well ill go elsewhere.
how do you win
new job coming so no fraser this time:-((
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FollowupID: 17458

Follow Up By: charlie - Wednesday, Jul 23, 2003 at 21:42

Wednesday, Jul 23, 2003 at 21:42
I agree with taking some of the blame for the oversize tyres but I wasn't even querried about whether it was even an issue. I should have done more research before buying but I am most definately not a tyre expert and the proffessionals that I seek out to do work on my car I most certainly expect to know what they are doing. It should be a simple fact of just looking at the tyre placard and knowing your states rules.

I completely agree with diamond about idiots who come and complain when you wont do work or fail a car when it is unroadworthy. He obviously knows his stuff and that is what customers are looking for.
Thats all I ask for in a service. I am a Tennis Coach and know just about all of the legallities asscociated with my proffesion and I think I provide a proffesional service.

I think service is the key word here.
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FollowupID: 17474

Follow Up By: Glenno - Friday, Jul 25, 2003 at 22:23

Friday, Jul 25, 2003 at 22:23
I think some people cause the problem themselves by asking for XYZ brand tyre in ABC size and the price. I always make the point of saying im after a set of tyres, and what do you sell that goes on my truck. In the back of my mind I know I want 31 inch Cooper ST's,but I let those guys do their job by reading the placard and letting me know my options. Then ask if a Cooper ST will be suitable.

I believe there is a difference between asking for a set of cooper ST's and asking for a set of tyres to suit my Hilux and can they be Coopers.

Cheers,
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FollowupID: 17622

Reply By: relaxed QLD - Wednesday, Jul 23, 2003 at 23:08

Wednesday, Jul 23, 2003 at 23:08
Charlie, you're probably not going to like the info that I'm going to tell, but seeing how you asked, I can tell you. A close friend of mine is a transport Inspector and only recently asked him about higher profile tyres for my GU Patrol (from 265/70/16 to 265/75/16). Apart from what you have read in the mod booklet, he said that you simply can not legally have anything higher unless you have a tyre placard from the manufacturer for the size you want to fit and/or within that 15mm variance. He also said that tyres outside the 15mm variance of the tyre placard are not allowed even under the modifacation inspection guidelines.
In my situation, I wrote to Nissan asking if it was acceptable to fit the higher profile tyres and only recently they replied saying I could (signed, dated and on Nissan letter head paper), making my car legal and roadworthy.
Maybe, you should give Toyota a try, you've got nothing to loose.
Relaxed
AnswerID: 25744

Reply By: cj - Thursday, Jul 24, 2003 at 11:08

Thursday, Jul 24, 2003 at 11:08
I'm in the process of changing to larger wheels and tyres in Vic and having spoken to engineers about getting a certificate, I have been quoted between $110 to $400 depending on the engineer. I would ring around a few engineers and see what they say.
AnswerID: 25768

Reply By: tristjo - Friday, Jul 25, 2003 at 01:33

Friday, Jul 25, 2003 at 01:33
Charlie,

The transport Dept. have only JUST changed the rule on overall diameter. I was recently shopping for a new set of tyres for my brothers 4b, and when I consulted the Transport Dept. handbook, it stated that the maximum alowable increase in tyre dieameter was 50mm above the largest factory fitted tyre.

When I checked online tonight, it appears that they have changed this to 15mm. This has only occured in the past 4 weeks.

Does this mean that al cars that used the old rule are now illegal?? If so, then why has there been no notice of the change?? I am sick to death of the Police and the Transport Dept, as they can never make up there minds, and keep on changing the rules to raise a bit more money.

Rules, rules, and more rules........... You can't do anything anymore without breaking the law.

Tristjo.
AnswerID: 25870

Reply By: Graham - Friday, Jul 25, 2003 at 19:25

Friday, Jul 25, 2003 at 19:25
I think it is a load of bollocks that a tyre reseller is not resposible for selling a customer unroadworthy tyres. they are the experts in the field and should have the most upto date rules and regs. If a customer still rants and raves and storms out after being told a particular tyre is illegal on there vehicle, so be it. The same customer would probably be pretty quick in shifting the blame if they were pulled over for oversize rubber. I'm an electrician, do I let a customer tell me what size cable or circuit breaker to install in their house..... I don't think so.
AnswerID: 25925

Follow Up By: diamond (bendigo) - Saturday, Jul 26, 2003 at 15:24

Saturday, Jul 26, 2003 at 15:24
gday graham.
as you pprobly guessed im a tyre fitter.
totally agree with what you said and it is the tyre fitters fault if wrong tyres fitted.theres so many legalaties theese days where will they stop.
what we do if someone wants illegal tyres after we have explained to them all the legalities is when we do an invoice we put a note on the bottom explaining about unroadworthy tyres fitted and customer signs our coppy.new job coming so no fraser this time:-((
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FollowupID: 17657

Reply By: Suzuki Viagra - Thursday, Jul 31, 2003 at 22:54

Thursday, Jul 31, 2003 at 22:54
You see guys with 38"s on the road up here without certs (or even flexyflares) - Im in Brissy and theres on way to legally certiy that sort of rubber on anything.

I intend to get my Vitara certified with all it's mods, but cops tend not to pull you over until you've done something stupid and then they really hammer you.

I doubt the variation you're talking about in tyre size is gonna be noticed - my new tyres are 6" bigger than stock and look DAMN HUGE and I'll get hassled I'm sure but my old ones were 4" taller than standard and never got touched for them.
AnswerID: 26475

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