Insurance and Tyres

Tell the insurence co in writing as well as a ph call and keep a copy.1991 80Series Std Diesel
2003 Down Under Camper

Ask for that in writing Chris and then you'll know for sure its Legal
but...I bet you dont get it!Wow! am I cute
If yer ain't fishing, Yer ain't livin
Richard

mmm...guess i should have read on a bit ....like the reply belowWow! am I cute
If yer ain't fishing, Yer ain't livin
Richard

My wife purchased a van secondhand that had passed roadworthy with illegal tyres for the vehicle - upon approaching the tyre company involved they blamed the previous owner for requesting that particular tyre (not true as we know the previous owner and she had no interest in anything to do with tyres - just wanted cheap and legal). But they did give me full credit for the tyres on legal ones.

I also did my block at the company who had performed the roadworthy (it was a rather large well respected statewide company).

So I don't beleive that tyre companies are always aware of what's legal and what's not - I think they are more interested in selling tyres.

JPD

According to the reg's (Vic - and I've got a copy of them, they are worth a read), you are allowed "15mm OD over the largest tyre size specified by the vehicle manufacturer for the vehicle model or series" (not necessarily the size on the placard).
In the GU Patrol wagons case, for example, the largest size offered by the manufacturer is 245/85x16 (owners handbook). The approx OD of this size is 830mm (placard size is 265/70x16 - 780mm OD).
285/75x16's are about 835mm OD, a whopping 50mm larger than the size on the placard, but only 5mm larger than the 245/86x15 and therefore OK.
The reg's say nothing about the size shown on the placard.

Cheers

gday geoff.
when i did my road worthy course it states in the vsi book about having to go of the tyre placard i dont have the vsi or adrs here but will check monday.
when doing roadworthys i would get hastled all the time about big wheels on commodores ect and i said look here in the vic roads book about tyre placards and they would go on about oh a hrt commodore comes out with 8inch wheels ect so i would tell them go get a tyre placard of a hrt commodore ect.
it also says in the vsi that if the vehicle dosnt have a tyre placard fitted to go off the tyre and rim book wich tells me what size wheels and tyres were fitted to what vehicle.
cheers

you reckon your cute
richard(eskimo)
but im a lot cuter

Thanks for the reply JPD,

I have an engineers certificate for the 285/75x16 BFG TA's on my GU Patrol because I don't want any insurance problems if I ever have to make a claim.

When talking with the engineer he agreed that I technically didn't need a certificate, however he did say that the insurance companies may argue for ages if I didn't have one. The certificate actually states "the diameter of the tyres fitted is less than 15mm larger than the diameter of the largest tyre offered for the vehicle series".

My previous follow-up was based on VSI No 8, part 8 - Wheels and Tyres - which states:
"Replacement wheels and tyres may be fitted provided that they comply with the following requirements:..............................
- The overall diameter of any replacement rim and tyre must not be:
more than 15mm greater than the largest tyre specified by the vehicle manufacturer for that model or vehicle series; or more than 15mm less than the smallest tyre specified by the vehicle manufacturer for that model or vehicle series..............

The engineers report cost $155. Cheap, for the peace of mind , I thought.

Cheers

gday geoff.
$155 for an engeneers report is pretty cheap.
what state are you in.
im in the process of geeting an report to be able to fit 33inch to my patrol but ive been quoted in vic about $190.
the guy ive been talking to said all i need is a brake test and make sure the mud flaps arnt to high.
ive also had to get another tyre placard sticken through nissan wich says my vehicle came out with 15x7 inch wheels with 31x10.5x15 tyres so i can legally fit 8inch rims that i need to fit 33x11.5x15 tyres.
was there any thing esle you had to do to get the certificate.
thanks
you reckon your cute
richard(eskimo)
but im a lot cuter

Howdy JPD,

I'm in Victoria (Werribee). The engineer is in Melton.
I didn't do anything other than gather the relevant data (tyre OD's from tyre manufacturers web sites) and present the car to the engineer.
No brake test or new tyre placard because the 285/75x16's are only 5mm larger than the largest size offered by Nissan in the owners handbook. Well within the 15mm allowance.
It took about an hour or so for him to inspect the car and then write the report. I then trundled off to VicRoads to present the certificate to them.
No drama there either. I called the RACV and they weren't interested in the tyre size if I was using standard size rims and it was roadworthy and legal.

What model Patrol do you have?

gday geoff.
i have a 3ltr gq that came out with 750x16 on 16x7 rims.
750x16 are the equivelent of a 32 inch tyre thats why i got to get report
and the tyre placard i have only says 16x6 rims so the new placard 15x7 allows me to go to 8 inch wide.
thanks fore your reply.you reckon your cute
richard(eskimo)
but im a lot cuter

David, you have probably seen my (definitive) post on this issue (at least as far as NSW is concerned). My investigations were born from a desire to remain "roadworthy" per the RTA rather than specifically avoiding insurance problems.

I have not heard directly of an insurance claim being denied on the basis of un-roadworthy tyres. However, I have had personal experience with having re-registration refused on that basis. If I had subsequently replaced the "un-roadworthy" tyres after rego, and had an accident, and the insurance company started asking questions, it could have been ugly. But, none of that happened. I have also had 2 mates suffer rego refusal on the same basis. For one of them, that led to a more thorough inspection and a trip over the RTA pits.

I don't believe all the hype about insurance companies looking for any excuse to avoid payment. I've never experienced that attitude. However, if an assessor believes tyres may have contributed to an accident, and they discover the tyres fitted are "un-roadworthy", I have no doubt they will review the validity of the claim somewhat more closely.Smile, you're on ExplorOz
Rohan (Sydney - on the QLD side of the Harbour Bridge)

Melissa, I think its a combination of the extent of the damage and whether or not the assessor considers the tyres (std or otherwise) a contributing factor.Smile, you're on ExplorOz
Rohan (Sydney - on the QLD side of the Harbour Bridge)