Tyres, placards and defects - things to know... (long)

[Jamezilla]

As you may know from other threads, I was defected for having 93 weight-index tyres (650kg load) on my R33 GTR - as my tyre placard stated the car required 94 weight-index (670kg or above).

* note: skip to the next post if you already know the story *

My first point of call was Bob Jane, who recommended and sold me the Sumitomo HTR Z II tyres - to get some replacements fitted. It was, at this stage a SAFETY issue.

Turns out 265/35/18 tyres are nearly all a 93 index - which is BTW, a high number. The pursuit XR6-Turbo that booked me had 630kg rated tyres - lower than me. They weigh 1800kg, WITHOUT the lights and other police stuff.

Knowing my rims were a pretty standard size (18 x 9.5") and that other GTR owners would no-doubt have similar size tyres, I began questioning whether this was in-fact a SAFETY issue at all - and started looking to see what other cars were wearing...

It seems my tyre placard is the exception to the rule. All other GTRs are using the 93 index tyres - but have a minimum requirement of 90-index or 600kg load. Some (including an R34 GTR) had an even lower minimum of 545kg, 580kg etc

So why the difference?

Surely my GTR would need the same capability tyre as the one next-to it?

Well... this is where my defect stops being a SAFETY issue, and becomes a BULLSH*T compliance issue.

The fact that my GTR left the shores of Japan as a 'Nissan' with a minimum load rating of 540kg is irrelevant. It has been complied now as a [insert compliance company here] Skyline GTR. In my case - AVO in Melb. Now... when AVO complied their R33 GTRs, they did so with 4-different tyre/rim combinations. None of which were 18 x 9.5" with 265/35/18 93Y tyres. They happened to have 670kg tyres on the car... which was above Nissan's limit of 540kg, and thus legal - and I have a sticker to prove it. Says I should have 10" rims too...

According to the sticker, and the Police, these 4-options are the only options I have available, anything else is illegal and unsafe.

However, another GTR, complied by another company, may have had the same rim/tyre combination as my car, thus if I had had THAT sticker, my car would have been legal. And safe.

All because of a sticker.

How did I find this out?

The Police? Nope. They have no-idea. The sticker said x, my tyres said less than x, officer said UNSAFE - because the sticker says so. Now THAT's police work.

VicRoads? Hahaha - next...

Compliance workshops? Nope. No-one is sure what the 'rule' is as every workshop has to comply the cars on an individual basis.

I had to ring DOTARS in Canberra, supply my VIN, to which they used to cross-reference their database to show who complied my car and to what rims etc they had complied to. Something the Police would never have the ability to do BTW.

So... now what?

Is my car SAFE? Can I put a new placard sticker on to match my tyres? Would that sticker have prevented an accident?

I don't know.

It would pass a roadworthy - but according to the Police, they aren't worth the paper they are printed on. Overall - the Police/VicRoads - the people who I need to clear this defect - are not sure what to do.

My car is clearly SAFE. Safer in fact than it has to be, safer also than the Police car that booked me... all this running around has proved nothing except that there are 4 'bodies' involved, none of whom know the answer, none of whom seem to communicate. Leaving me in the lurch with a big yellow sticker and the inability to drive my car past 5.00pm today...

[Jamezilla]

So.

How can you avoid this?

Simple - make sure your placard matches your tyres (or is less than your tyres). If it isn't, peel it off and put another one that says it's OK. So simple, and so stupid.

The cross-reference from the VIN to DOTARS will never be performed from a random roadworthy test (or in Vic, a targetted, defect station). They look at the number - make sure the numbers match up on your car.

Where to get a placard?

Speak to your local compliance workshop. It is just a sticky piece of paper afterall. Dean at UPI here in Melb has given me another one which states a minimum tyre index of 90, but has 245 tyres for an 18 x 9.5". I have a copy of the ADR book from Bob Jane saying that 265s are legal on that size rim.

Was my car ever unsafe?

No. This was my principle concern - I didn't want an accident to result for having tyres that weren't up to scratch. But they are. They are good tyres, well suited to the vehicle, and well above the Nissan and DOTARS legal requirement.

I will not be paying a fine.

I don't need new tyres.

I will get this defect cleared - but at this stage, no-one can answer me as to how to do it.

Just make sure you don't cop a load of this bureaucratic bullsh*t.

[Merli]

[sewid]

What a drag.

I wondered about that myself when I looked at the tyre placard on my own car. It lists rim sizes all the way up to 19x8.5 or something redic.

I figured Nissan wouldn't have put that there so whats the deal.

Sounds like my complier was a bit more creative than yours.

[Guest INASNT]

How can you avoid this?

Simple - make sure your placard matches your tyres (or is less than your tyres). If it isn't, peel it off and put another one that says it's OK. So simple, and so stupid.

Y not just remove it and leave it? 95% of cops wouldnt even know about this, u were just unlucky u got a cop that actually knew what he was defecting.

[ultimatepowder]

thats such bu115hit mate, hope you can get it cleared up....with minimal expense

thx 4 tha heads up 2, as when i go 2 buy my first import, ill be checking stuff like this

good luck with it

[Jamezilla]

Sewid: If your rim sizes aren't listed - that's defectable also. Make sure you get a sticker that shows your diameter and a variety of widths. I am getting a copy of the ADR rim/tyre book from Bob Jane to show what tyres are legal on what rims. Will PDF the Skyline applicable pages and make available here.

Inasnt: That's what the cop suggested. But... they have been told to look for this (only recently mind you), so if you don't have a placard - they'll probably defect you for that. Easier to have one that says your tyres are legal.

Merli: So much running around to prove something they already know. All because of a sticker. Stupid.

Thanks heaps for your help Are you still able to email the photo of your placard?

[Zahos]

I will get this defect cleared - but at this stage, no-one can answer me as to how to do it.

Does the roadworthy simply say the tyres are mismatched, or does it state what weight they currently are, and what your placard has listed.

If not the latter why not just replace the sticker and go get it cleared???

I'm guessing though it IS the latter of the 2, so I'd try the same thing anyhow, and simply say that he made a mistake!

At this point I think it is worth a go, after all the trouble you're having sourcing some tyres suited to some sticker some moron slapped on at random!

[Merli]

Merli: So much running around to prove something they already know. All because of a sticker. Stupid.

Thanks heaps for your help Are you still able to email the photo of your placard?

Oh sorry James, I didn't think you needed it anymore after reading your update in the other thread...

Here are two photos of it... The second one is better but I like the first because it shows the beautiful (although dirty) purple paint

Hope that helps,

Andrew.

[Guest INASNT]

James

I talked to a relos friend who has worked at vicroads for 10 years and she said that she has not seen a tyre placard issue ever come up in the 10 years she has worked there and she clears alot of canaries.

[Jamezilla]

Merli: Thanks heaps! Just getting a few more to build my case

Zahos: Unfortunately it states the requirement for 670 load tyres. As these were the local TMU, they are bound to pull me up again - I want to make sure I do everything by-the-book. If only to show how stupid these import regulations are... in that there are none.

Either way - I am not getting new tyres. Mine are perfectly good

And they can jam their fine...

[Jamezilla]

Yep. This is the problem for not having anything else defectable on the car

Except maybe my super-high-flow catalytic-pipe-converter flame device... but then they didn't see that. Getting it fixed for my EPA test anyway.

[Guest INASNT]

Yep. This is the problem for not having anything else defectable on the car

Except maybe my super-high-flow catalytic-pipe-converter flame device... but then they didn't see that. Getting it fixed for my EPA test anyway.

Well the way vic is going soon they will make you pull your engine out and apart so u can prove to them its running all stock gear still. :bs!:

yet they dont care about all the shit buckets on the streets on vic with worn suspension, bald tyres and panels that will fall apart if u kicked it.

[meshmesh]

Jamez,

still sourcing the pic for you. However just noticed, mine only lists 15" & 16" tyres?? GTR's come stock with 17"?? WTF

Merli:

Can't see the pics, could you make them any BIGGER

[GTRgeoff]

Bugger, time to get out of here and up to Qld with Gordo.

We're becoming South Australia.

[DJ984]

Except maybe my super-high-flow catalytic-pipe-converter flame device... but then they didn't see that. Getting it fixed for my EPA test anyway.

????....straight through pipe instead of cat???? could you elaborate for the flame-thrower envious ppl.... (ie me...)... lol

[Jamezilla]

Ah... yeah. Something like that

[king_kw13]

Where is tyre placard?

[Jamezilla]

Should be on inside of driver's door jamb, or on door itself.

Is white sticker.

[Guest RedLineGTR]

Good luck with it all james.