Is it legal for me to run 8inch wide rims on my 97 te altera?

I ask because I have read alot of posts saying you can run 8inch wide tyres legally as they are 1inch wider than the largest factory option (7 inch) .

The problem I am having is that my tyre placard says 6inch, not 7inch.

This is a picture of my tyre placard

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg635/yourBLOODisonme/20120710_042413.jpg

Can somebody please verify?

Here's the link to the information provided by the RTA. http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/downloads/vsi/vsi09_rev4.pdf

Specifically you can go up 26mm wider with a track increase of 25mm (12.5mm per side). Also an increase in 15mm of the outside diameter.

You would need to be able to demonstrate that something in the TE range came out with 7" wide wheels as standard (or as a factory option) to go to 8" wide rims and remain legal in NSW.

My interpretation of 'factory option' would be the widest rim in that series of vehicle (TE-TW). In which case, some models had 7" wide rims, thus making 8" acceptable. I would have thought that if you were meant to go off the placard, the law would say something like "Cannot go more than 1" wider than the largest rim indicated on the vehicle's placard". This is just my interpretation though, and is not a definitive interpretation of the rule.

Having said that, I have not heard of anyone getting defected for having rims that are too wide. The only exception is if rims stick out of the guards. Provided they stay within the guards, you're incredibly unlikely to encounter any issues with them.

My interpretation of 'factory option' would be the widest rim in that series of vehicle (TE-TW).

They document does say "As a general rule, it is recommended you only fit wheels and tyres that are listed on the tyre placard or in the owner’s handbook."
By specifying the owners manual you are being restricted to just that one model, technically speaking.


Having said that, I have not heard of anyone getting defected for having rims that are too wide. The only exception is if rims stick out of the guards. Provided they stay within the guards, you're incredibly unlikely to encounter any issues with them.
The information the RTA provide is amazingly vague in a lot of areas. One of the reasons I think the police just don't bother with some defect issues.

thanks for the response guys. I think ill go with 8inch rims then. just curious do yous know which models of magnas have the 7 inch rim option factory?

I know my GTV has 7" wide, but that's a Verada, not a Magna. However being that the GTV is to the Verada what the VR-X is to the Magna I would think the VR-X had 7" wide as well. I'm sure the Ralliart would have as well.

Widest stock rim is 7"

The law in NSW goes against the tyre placard, not the widest rim available for that make and model. You used to be able to order tyre placards from mitsubishi. Not sure you can still get them.

thanks for the response guys. I think ill go with 8inch rims then. just curious do yous know which models of magnas have the 7 inch rim option factory?
Later VR-Xs has 17x7" standard.

I know my GTV has 7" wide, but that's a Verada, not a Magna. However being that the GTV is to the Verada what the VR-X is to the Magna I would think the VR-X had 7" wide as well. I'm sure the Ralliart would have as well.
Don't be fooled, your Verada is still a Magna as far as any of these regulations are concerned, it's simply a trim level. The AWD models all had 7" wide rims, along with the Sports, VR-X and Ralliart models

It will never be an issue anyway.

when in doubt steal a placecard from a car that allowed larger rims and fit it to yours

Don't be fooled, your Verada is still a Magna as far as any of these regulations are concerned, it's simply a trim level. The AWD models all had 7" wide rims, along with the Sports, VR-X and Ralliart models

I disagree. The Verada is classed as a different car by the manufacturer, government and insurance companies so technically speaking it's not a trim level, it's a seperate model. Obviously the cars are very similar but there is a clear distinction between them. It doesn't really make a difference in this case as the Magnas had 7" wide anyway, but if you say you were going off the biggest stock for the model and the Magna only ever went up to 6" and the Verada went up to 7", you wouldn't be able to say the Magna ever had a 7" wide rim stock just because a Verada did. They are distinctly different in the eyes of whoever is making the decision up on high :P

Rubbish! They are so similar its not even funny

Rubbish! They are so similar its not even funny

But they are seperate models by any definition mate so while they are certainly similar, it is fact they are not the same model. The Verada is not just a Magna trim level, however similar they may be. It's exactly the same as the Diamante, or if you jump manufacturers, Commodore & Statesman. A seperate model, however similar, is not the same as a trim level. Factually speaking, while we all know undernearh the car is pretty well the same, it's not up to anyone here. Legally they are seperately defined cars by the manufacturer, government, insurer, whoever you wanna ask. You cannot swap information between them. I'll repeat, in this situation it doesn't make a difference in the end because they both ran the same width of rims, but no matter how condescending you try to be, it doesn't change the facts. Put it this way, look at some rego papers or any other legal source.

EDIT: Put it this way. A VR-X is a trim level, because it's a Mitsubishi Magna VR-X. Magna is the model, VR-X is the trim level. A Verads is not a trim level, because it's a Mitsubishi Verada Ei/Xi/GTV. Verada is the model, Ei/Xi/GTV is the trim level. Find me a Mitsubishi Magna Verada. Unless you're trolling? That would be more sensible than your argument that they're similar so they're the same.

Rubbish! They are so similar its not even funny

Im gonna agree with dave here too mate. Look at a magna and then a verads both of the same model. Take a tj2 and kj2. Both bodies are identical, chasis is the same, even interior they all have SIMILAR parts. Where they do differ is the addon/bolt on parts like bumpers, cluster, wheels, and even the seats change slightly but are basically the same. All parts are a direct swapover.

Im gonna agree with dave here too mate. Look at a magna and then a verads both of the same model. Take a tj2 and kj2. Both bodies are identical, chasis is the same, even interior they all have SIMILAR parts. Where they do differ is the addon/bolt on parts like bumpers, cluster, wheels, and even the seats change slightly but are basically the same. All parts are a direct swapover.

But the manufacturer clearly defines it as an independent model. So no, I'm gonna have to agree with Mitsubishi over Dave.

The important bits are all the same. The subframe, the chassis, the drivetrain. All the same. Just because they gave it a different name, it is still part of the wider magna family since the first TR and KR rolled off the production line.

While i do get where you are coming from, its a bit like commodore vs calais? Are you gonna try and tell me a calais is a different car just because holden gave it a different badge/name?

No they are the same car just with added 'luxury' extras.

The important bits are all the same. The subframe, the chassis, the drivetrain. All the same. Just because they gave it a different name, it is still part of the wider magna family since the first TR and KR rolled off the production line.

That's how the govt would see it for sure! Hell they even said that the 380 is "apart of the same line of models" when one of the way boys went to get his 3.8L engine inspected :)

i dont think it should be a problem the 18's im going to put on my wagon the tyre size is within a couple of mm from the stock 15's if your really worried call your insurance company and the rta and find out more information about it

i dont think it should be a problem the 18's im going to put on my wagon the tyre size is within a couple of mm from the stock 15's if your really worried call your insurance company and the rta and find out more information about it

Exactly. I dont think cops or RTA care about 18's these days. Not when charades are rolling around on 19s and 20s haha

While i do get where you are coming from, its a bit like commodore vs calais? Are you gonna try and tell me a calais is a different car just because holden gave it a different badge/name?

No they are the same car just with added 'luxury' extras.

I see the argument you're making, but while the Calais is definitely a lot closer to the Commodore line than the Statesman (Which by what you guys are saying would be the equiv. "trim point" to a Verada, not the Calais) I do think because the manufacturer defines them as another model, that is what they are. It's not up to us to determine what a car is over what the OEM says, as much as we all commonly do it (Toyota Lexcen rofl.)

I recognise that all these cars we're talking about share very substantial DNA, but at the end of the day what you're saying is you judge cars by how similar they are so you think that the Verada, despite its substantial mods, is still close enough to a Magna to be called a Magna and I judge cars by how the manufacturer defines them so I say they're seperate by their very named and legal definition. We're just using different definitions of what makes a car. So while I definitely don't agree with what you guys are saying that the Verada is just a trim level for the Magna, I do acknowledge the two different cars are definitely very similar, it's really just coming down to personal definitions and I cannot agree that they are in any way the same.


That's how the govt would see it for sure! Hell they even said that the 380 is "apart of the same line of models" when one of the way boys went to get his 3.8L engine inspected :)

Yeah this is more my line of thinking. The Verada doesn't come under the "Magna line of models", they more come under the "Mitsubishi FWD sedan" line of models. Just based on the way the Manufacturer determines them. But I reckon this has probably gone far enough off the topic of rim legality so I'll probably drop it now I've had my final say haha and agree to disagree!

Don't be fooled, your Verada is still a Magna as far as any of these regulations are concerned, it's simply a trim level. The AWD models all had 7" wide rims, along with the Sports, VR-X and Ralliart models

Actually, no AWD had 7" wide rims. They were all 6" wide, even the sports variants from the J series through till the W series.


I disagree. The Verada is classed as a different car by the manufacturer, government and insurance companies so technically speaking it's not a trim level, it's a seperate model. Obviously the cars are very similar but there is a clear distinction between them. It doesn't really make a difference in this case as the Magnas had 7" wide anyway, but if you say you were going off the biggest stock for the model and the Magna only ever went up to 6" and the Verada went up to 7", you wouldn't be able to say the Magna ever had a 7" wide rim stock just because a Verada did. They are distinctly different in the eyes of whoever is making the decision up on high :P

Same service book & owners manual = same car. :)

The only people who call Veradas Veradas are Verada owners; myself included.

Actually, no AWD had 7" wide rims. They were all 6" wide, even the sports variants from the J series through till the W series.

Actually, the standard TW AWD 10 spoke alloys are 16 x 7's.


Same service book & owners manual = same car. :)

The only people who call Veradas Veradas are Verada owners; myself included.

Agree with that though, Same service book, same owners manual, same compliance plate = same car.