Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Another tyre poll!

For all you guys out there with daily driver 4WDs fitted with larger tyres (ie. larger than listed on the tyre placard), have you got approval from your local Motor Registry/RTA/whatever to fit them?

A number of state laws only allow a 15mm increase in diameter over the largest listed tyre on the placard- meaning either a lot of 4WDs are illegal or a lot of people have had to get them engineered. I know this law applies in SA, Vic, NSW and WA- not sure about other states and territories.

What about a selection "I refuse to answer this on the grounds I may incriminate myself"

Just visited an engineer last week (3"lift/33's). Have all the paperwork ready for rego inspection but I need to make and fit a cover for the winch roller fairleads first to be more pedestrian friendly...

what cover for fairleads ??
did the engineer tell ya do do this ??
or is this something off your own back ??

mattc wrote:Just visited an engineer last week (3"lift/33's). Have all the paperwork ready for rego inspection but I need to make and fit a cover for the winch roller fairleads first to be more pedestrian friendly...

Why not fit a Hawse?

grimbo wrote:What about a selection "I refuse to answer this on the grounds I may incriminate myself"

Yep, I think that's going to be the case for a few people!

I can't even go from a 225/70R15 to a 235/75R15- because that's an outrageous increase of 37.5mm!

Even if I got it engineered I don't think my current insurance company would approve it anyway. The pricks just knocked me back on extractors- can't have that huge firebreathing 1.6 litre engine making more power.

lol.....
"I dont know officer.....I bought it like this !!!"

or

""how can I get it engineered whan its not finished yet ?"


Works for me!!!
p/s one of these days when the police go to pull me up .... I swear I'm gunna drive right across the table drain and park next to the fence line !!!(around here thats about 50 metres !)

Got the engineers certificate ready to go should Mr Plod decide he doesn't like my 35s

However, I'm thinking the tyres might be the least of my worries if I get pulled over

murcod wrote:

grimbo wrote:What about a selection "I refuse to answer this on the grounds I may incriminate myself"

Yep, I think that's going to be the case for a few people!

I can't even go from a 225/70R15 to a 235/75R15- because that's an outrageous increase of 37.5mm!

Even if I got it engineered I don't think my current insurance company would approve it anyway. The pricks just knocked me back on extractors- can't have that huge firebreathing 1.6 litre engine making more power.

I am a little miffed with the insurance companies I rang mine told em everthing I had fitted with prices including tyre sizes 285's as opposed to 265's and they just said yeah no probs ya premium is up $60 a year for all that extra shyt so I don't really know what to think.

ya damn straight

Singo17 wrote:

murcod wrote:

grimbo wrote:What about a selection "I refuse to answer this on the grounds I may incriminate myself"

Yep, I think that's going to be the case for a few people!

I can't even go from a 225/70R15 to a 235/75R15- because that's an outrageous increase of 37.5mm!

Even if I got it engineered I don't think my current insurance company would approve it anyway. The pricks just knocked me back on extractors- can't have that huge firebreathing 1.6 litre engine making more power.

I am a little miffed with the insurance companies I rang mine told em everthing I had fitted with prices including tyre sizes 285's as opposed to 265's and they just said yeah no probs ya premium is up $60 a year for all that extra shyt so I don't really know what to think.

I'm really p****d off about it. I've had my insurance with the same company (Western QBE) for at least 14 years, am rating 1 and have never had an at fault claim. I've owned high power 4wd turbo cars insured through them and currently have three vehicles with them- yet they won't let me put extractors on a Feroza!?! Am I suddenly going to write it off because of the huge power increase?

I feel like writing a nasty letter....... ...... and taking all three vehicles elsewhere.

murcod wrote:I feel like writing a nasty letter....... ...... and taking all three vehicles elsewhere.

Don't talk about it, do it. It definatetly won't change if you dont ask/tell them. It's the only way they know what the customer wants. At the end of the day money talks...................and 3 cars walk

The insurance companies are a bunch of I haven't bothered to mod my Feroza as I'm sellin it to get something more capable (no offence naturally Murcod), but I used to pilot low rider v8's and it was an insurance nightmare.

I was a young lad at the time (17-19) but what pissed me off was buying a lowered car. Ringing for quotes I'd say it was lowered, they'd ask how much, I'd say 3" or 2" and 6 different companies turned me away saying they accepted only up to 1" less than whatever I told the FUGGERS
Eventually I told the bloody RACQ my car was lowered only 1" and didn't even tell them about the bonnet scoop, twin pipes or engine work.

Anyone got their rig insured with the specialist 4wd mob? Can't remember their name but they'll cover plenty of mods and cover u in the bush won't they? You have to join a registered club though hey?
I'm guessin most people just don't tell their insurance co about mods like I used to

Hell I remember years ago dad insured mum's car - a Honda Prelude. When he mentioned the option "spoiler" kit on it (pretty standard at the time) they said he'd have to pay extra - apparently it increased the risk...dad pointed out that it won't make the car go any faster, nor realistically change the handling, however they told him "It'll make you drive faster" - apparently just having that useless bit of plastic at the backend completely changes your personality and you constantly want to get it sideways!

Answered no..... but officer they're only 31"s - standard 4wd tyres.

I'll get mine engineered shortly but I need to upgrade the brakes first (dunno if the engineer will want that but I BL00DY do!) and change over from polyurethane bodylift to Alloy bodylift cos they wont approve the poly ones here in QLD I've been told. Other than that I should have no probs. Give me a week or two and it should be all certified - I'm just waiting for some new brakes to turn up on my garage floor

As I have no insurance whatsoever (just 3rd party injury) I don't have to worry about insurance companies - just need to worry about accidents

Good thing I havent had a car accident in 7 - 8 years. Cant even remember when that was.

I will try and get insurance after the engineers cert is done, but at the moment without the cert I've got buckleys of getting insurance anyway.

too many things illegal to get engineered

big red wrote:too many things illegal to get engineered

Why is that? Engineer will engineer what you require not the whole car. It's only for roadworthy that the whole vehicle is ascessed. There is some scope to work with re the heavy vehicle code but in Qld, you still can't get around the tyre size and suspension lift regs. Another problem is that for a body lift to be certified, it must be inspected by Qld Transport. They may not like the look of some of your other mods.

Other than that - talk to your engineer, let him in on the R&D before you do your mods and you have half a chance.

what cover for fairleads ??
did the engineer tell ya do do this ??
or is this something off your own back ??

Yup, specificied by the engineer. This is for Canberra inspection if that make any difference - it shouldn't.

how can you talk to an engineer(in QLD)if you can even find one(that doesnt only do race seats)to begin with.

beebee, the main thing i need engineered is the suspension lift and tyres, without them why bother with anything else as it will still be illegal.

mud4b, try ringing ontrack 4wd in springwood for engineering.

I sent an Email to the local SA Motor Transport Registry regarding fitting the 235/75r15 tyres to my Feroza (originals are 225/70r15). Here's their reply:

Under the Road Traffic Act you can only increase the size of you
wheels/tyres provided that the overall diameter does not increase by more
than 15mm. This is taken as 15mm larger than the largest one on the tyre
placard, if more than one tyre is listed. The tyre you listed have a
variation of 36mm so the conversion would not comply.
This has to do with speedo accuracy and other things, however if you go
through a Chartered Professional Engineer and get the vehicle certified by
him and a new tyre placard fitted and the vehicle inspected then that could
be possible.
The load carry capacity of the tyres cannot be downgraded and if different
rims fitted are fitted the wheel track cannot be increased by more than 26mm over the manufacturers widest option.

In Tassie there is no Goverment limit on tyre or wheel size ..... mind you its the same sh*t with insurance companys down here the don't like big rubber,


but...............any modifcations which raise the STANDARD height of the head lights more than 50mm ...ie body lift, suspension, tyres must be checked out by an engineer

murcod wrote:I sent an Email to the local SA Motor Transport Registry regarding fitting the 235/75r15 tyres to my Feroza (originals are 225/70r15). Here's their reply:

Under the Road Traffic Act you can only increase the size of you
wheels/tyres provided that the overall diameter does not increase by more
than 15mm. This is taken as 15mm larger than the largest one on the tyre
placard, if more than one tyre is listed. The tyre you listed have a
variation of 36mm so the conversion would not comply.
This has to do with speedo accuracy and other things, however if you go
through a Chartered Professional Engineer and get the vehicle certified by
him and a new tyre placard fitted and the vehicle inspected then that could
be possible.
The load carry capacity of the tyres cannot be downgraded and if different
rims fitted are fitted the wheel track cannot be increased by more than 26mm over the manufacturers widest option.

then im screwed..lol oh well

crispy wrote:

murcod wrote:I sent an Email to the local SA Motor Transport Registry regarding fitting the 235/75r15 tyres to my Feroza (originals are 225/70r15). Here's their reply:

Under the Road Traffic Act you can only increase the size of you
wheels/tyres provided that the overall diameter does not increase by more
than 15mm. This is taken as 15mm larger than the largest one on the tyre
placard, if more than one tyre is listed. The tyre you listed have a
variation of 36mm so the conversion would not comply.
This has to do with speedo accuracy and other things, however if you go
through a Chartered Professional Engineer and get the vehicle certified by
him and a new tyre placard fitted and the vehicle inspected then that could
be possible.
The load carry capacity of the tyres cannot be downgraded and if different
rims fitted are fitted the wheel track cannot be increased by more than 26mm over the manufacturers widest option.

then im screwed..lol oh well

I reckon about 60% of 4WDs over here would be illegal! Chances of getting caught would be virtually nil seeing as we don't have any roadworthy inspections here ever......

I just wanted to keep things legal and the closest size MTRs come in is 235/75r15- hence why I was investigating the issue.

big red wrote:beebee, the main thing i need engineered is the suspension lift and tyres, without them why bother with anything else as it will still be illegal.

Suspension lift and tyres are both easy to revert back to standard. I like the idea of more permanent modifications being engineered. Each to thier own though. My 31" ATs seem to keep me out of trouble

yeah im only goin to 235/75 tyres on my suzuki, just need some flares to cover them and all will be good

My lux has a full engineers report on it, even has my swampers listed

all the people on here worrying about insurance saying tell em what they want to here and they'll cover you ! all fair and well until you actually have an accident and the assessor looks at it and finds it not to be what you said and they pull the pin on you , so all the payments are thrown into the wind. as for companies that are blah za about what they allow , unless its on the paper work than there word dosn't mean crap, they'll sting you as soon as your at fault.
I was gunna go thru australian 4wd insurance they say they cover any mod? sounds good , but if i was to right of a new mecedes and my zook im sure they'd be asking for enginneers certificates for the tyres and spring over body lift etc etc . sure they'll cover any mod , as lond as its legal which means engineers report. just beware.

stressed wrote:all the people on here worrying about insurance saying tell em what they want to here and they'll cover you ! all fair and well until you actually have an accident and the assessor looks at it and finds it not to be what you said and they pull the pin on you , so all the payments are thrown into the wind. as for companies that are blah za about what they allow , unless its on the paper work than there word dosn't mean crap, they'll sting you as soon as your at fault.
I was gunna go thru australian 4wd insurance they say they cover any mod? sounds good , but if i was to right of a new mecedes and my zook im sure they'd be asking for enginneers certificates for the tyres and spring over body lift etc etc . sure they'll cover any mod , as lond as its legal which means engineers report. just beware.

Yes, I agree. There's usually some fine print in car insurance policies that says something along the lines of "....vehicle only covered if it is mantained in a roadworthy condition...."

I don't think the wheels will be my biggest drama he he he