Hi folks, sorry to bore with legalities and tyre tech again but ........


We have a TF with 205/65/15s. I have just picked up some VRX/Verada 16 inch factory alloys due to our original Mitsu Hubcaps looking very average.

When I placed the two wheels side by side, the 215/60/16's are considerably taller. Seeing these wheels are genuine Mitsu with original spec tyre sizes do I have any issues legally in QLD?

I'm guessing my speedo is going to be out of whack by a good margin? I haven't fitted them yet, waiting on different tyres.

Thanks

According to this calculator (http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html), your VR-X tyres are 16.9mm larger than your standard tyres, which is illegal in Queensland (you can only go 15mm larger). Also, you'll be travelling 2.6% quicker than what is indicated on your speedo.

Indeed, I went from stock 15's to the 215/60/16's and needed to calibrate the speedo. You could go 215/55/16's and the difference will be about 5 mil but the tyres will be dearer. Oddly enough my mech didn't mention it was illegal (nsw) eheheh

Is there any chance I'd get off due to the fact some Magnas did come out with 16 inch rims?

I haven't sussed the tyre placard yet but I'm guessing that's what they go off. This topic has been in the pipeline (an legal allowable limit of 50mm) since Noah held a chisel. I'll be dead when it finally goes through.

I think you'd have no problem getting slipped. It would be a mean bastard to do that. Worse case scenario keep ur 15's for rego time. And 15" mitsu rims look dreadful so the style police def wouldn't pick on u :p

And just a theory I think the 3rd gens were designed with 16" in mind but clapped the 15's on the early models due to the economic climate.

the tyre placard is what they go of if deciding to defect your tyre/rim combo. Having a rolling circumference larger then the speedo is calibrated for is both defectable and fineable. Especially since if the rolling circum. is bigger you will be travelling faster then your speedo indicates, thus likely you will be done for speeding when you think your not; Also the defence that "my tyres are to big and put my speedo out" only means another fine.

RED VALDEZ you will find the current law regarding tyre/rim combinations is that you can go up to 16mm more in rolling circumference, not diameter. Meaning the ideal tyre size for the 16" is 205/60/R16 or a 215/55r16 these will put your speedo out by less then .5km/h as both have a rolling circumference of 11-12mm above ore below.

You could always use what ever tyres you want on the rim, get a speedo calibration done and an engineers certificate to verify the work done to make it legal

New rim combo, going from 215/60 16"s to 225/50 17"s is still close enough isnt it? And it reads under?

Jeez what a pain this is. I am looking at lower profile to keep everything in spec and the lower profile tyres carry lower load ratings. The odd tyre that does suit carries prices of over $200 a corner! If I take it to Willowbank and light em up for a few minutes then swap front to back and repeat does that make them legal seeing the infringing 2mm is now goneski?

Who writes these laws? Some koala hugging Prius driver who sips soy lattes?

There are not many tyres in 16" that will suit the original OD. 225/55R16 is the closest (wee bit bigger in OD) but tyres in this rare size are expensive. 215/55/60 tyres are wee bit smaller and as you said, they dont come in 95 load rating unless you get the XL rated ones, which again are expensive. It is mitsubishi's fault for specifying 95 load rating for the standard/non sports versions. Get this, the 380 has min 95 but the heavier GT/VRX has, I believe, min of 93.

There are not many tyres in 16" that will suit the original OD. 225/55R16 is the closest (wee bit bigger in OD) but tyres in this rare size are expensive. 215/55/60 tyres are wee bit smaller and as you said, they dont come in 95 load rating unless you get the XL rated ones, which again are expensive. It is mitsubishi's fault for specifying 95 load rating for the standard/non sports versions. Get this, the 380 has min 95 but the heavier GT/VRX has, I believe, min of 93.

This is why I don't get load ratings.

RED VALDEZ you will find the current law regarding tyre/rim combinations is that you can go up to 16mm more in rolling circumference, not diameter.
It's definitely diameter, not circumference (source - page 11 (http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/~/media/safety/vehicle-standards-and-modifications/vehicle-modifications/light-vehicle-modifications/pdf_modification_motor_vehicles2.pdf)).

2nd Red Valdez comments on diameter.

It's a pretty ambiguous ruling in that each manufacturers OD vary for each make of tyre. I would imagine that for the sake of 1mm it would have to be a proven to be the cause. It's ridiculous! Yes sir, the tyres over all diameter exceeded the maunfacturers specifications by 1mm thus causing the vehicle to take 5mm extra to stop from 80kph. Off to the big house with you, irresponsible lout!

It is definitely diameter as 15mm in circumference is really not much at all. A brand new 225/45R18 tyre will lose almost 19mm in circumference when it is 3mm down in radius but way above the wear mark. 15mm loss in circumference equates to 2.4mm loss in tread.

Hey everyone I just got some 20's for my KL Verada and used this site! It's awesome! Lists all the different size wheels and tyres you can run under the specs you want. Here - http://www.alloywheels.com/tyrecalc.asp

Hi guys i run a tyre centre one of the big brand ones and i will sort out a few things for you

* To be legal for tyres on your vehicle you must abide by the tyreplacard on you vehicle. and it will have written on it some thing like, this vehicle must be fitted with tyres with a load index no lower then 92 and a speed rating no lower then S, or to that effect
* Another point is that any tyres fitted must not have an overall diameter exceding 15mm or lower than 26mm form the tyre size indicated on the tyreplacard , and the load rating can not be lower than the tyre placard

So if your vehicle was fitted with 205/65R15 OD647mm,
you can fitt the following

225/50R16 OD 631mm
225/55R16 OD 653mm
235/45R17 OD 643mm
225/50R17 OD 656mm
235/40R18 OD 645mm
245/35R19 OD 654mm

REMEMBER TO MAKE SURE YOU LOAD RATING IS EQUAL OR HIGHER THEN REQUESTED ON THE TYRE PLACARD

Hi guys i run a tyre centre one of the big brand ones and i will sort out a few things for you

* To be legal for tyres on your vehicle you must abide by the tyreplacard on you vehicle. and it will have written on it some thing like, this vehicle must be fitted with tyres with a load index no lower then 92 and a speed rating no lower then S, or to that effect
* Another point is that any tyres fitted must not have an overall diameter exceding 15mm or lower than 26mm form the tyre size indicated on the tyreplacard , and the load rating can not be lower than the tyre placard

So if your vehicle was fitted with 205/65R15 OD647mm,
you can fitt the following

225/50R16 OD 631mm
225/55R16 OD 653mm
235/45R17 OD 643mm
225/50R17 OD 656mm
235/40R18 OD 645mm
245/35R19 OD 654mm

REMEMBER TO MAKE SURE YOU LOAD RATING IS EQUAL OR HIGHER THEN REQUESTED ON THE TYRE PLACARD

problem is mate, tyre makers dont make the laws. I can tell you now things are very different in australia when compared to other countries, in fact its different between australian states!!

Dave, although we sometimes call Victoria "Mexico" I don't think it's OK to call that another country :D

But you are right about different states - if what Degers said is the Vic rules, then I can tell you that (at least from memory) the NSW rules are that diameter has to be within plus or minus 15mm of the tyre size(s) shown on the tyre placard.
I have seen some cars where the tyre placard listed 2 or 3 different size tyres, all with different diameters, which the +/-15mm rule gave about 45mm variation instead of the 30mm when just one tyre size is listed. That car in Vic might get 60mm allowed variation which seems HUGE and 10% is big.
That could mean two cars with different legal sized tyres, but otherwise identical, could be doing 100 and 110kph on their speedos but travelling at the same speed. And the speed wouldn't be 100 or 110. :)

lol lol u funny bugger