Wheels - What is legal?

[DriftEightSix]

this is hurting my head :S

Is 17×9 + 35 Tyre size is 225/45 legal in QLD?

[1UPZ]

Hey guys

Maybe I'm a year late.
But I've been reading some information, and would like to share it OR even confirm it with others.

For aftermarket wheel size.
Each Australian state have their own guidelines.

Since I'm from Victoria, I've done some digging... Now you can either correct me if I'm wrong or confirm if it's correct.

- Victoria, Vicroads website have a guideline for vehicle modification.
- On this document, under Wheel/Tyre/Suspension portion; vicroads pretty much points out another document to refer to, this document is called VSB 14.

- Research VSB 14 and it refers you to NCOP, you also figure out VSB 14 stands for Vehicle Standards Bulletin 14.

VSB 14 summary
1. Cannot have different wheel size and offset installed on an axel. So you can't have right hand wheel different from the left hand wheel on the same location (front and rear).
2. Cannot have wheel (rim + tyre) diameter increase pass 15mm. And you can't have it decreased by 26mm.
3. Cannot have over 30% wider tyres than the highest OEM (stock) tyre available or provided by the manufacturer. This is a massive range actually.
4. Using the rule for #3 above, there are tables on VSB 14 showing the allowable rim width per tyre width, and categorised into two aspect ratio groups, 60<85 and 60>. For toyota/subaru 86/BRZ, 60> is where you should be looking at.
5. Wheel track, which is from right tyre/rim center line to left tyre/rim center line (or vice versa). Basically you cannot increase this dimension by 25mm, which is 12.5mm each side. Meaning you cannot have wheels that decreases offset by 12.5mm.

Example: +50 stock offset, you cannot go to a +37 offset or lower.

Also you cannot decrease the track width, so if stock is +50, you cannot have +51. You can only choose offset between +50 and +38.

The above information are for non-4WD SUVs, Off-road vehicles...
Also all the above requirements assume your wheel (tyre or rim, or both) DOESN'T stick out from the fenders (stock fenders or engineer approved fender modification).

Also if it sticks out, that's when police will most likely pull you over and fine you.


Conclusion.
There is no "1 inch" upsize limit on rim diameter and width anywhere to be found on this document.
Unless someone has a document showing this information, it's a myth perhaps spread by wheel dealers that doesn't know much.

In NSW, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, NT... They will have their own regulations. They may also point to VSB 14.... But please check their documents first. For VIC, it's pretty clear looking from Vicroads guidelines.

[Hydaral]

I'm not sure of the source for the Western Australia regulations quoted in the OP, but this is what I found in the "Road Traffic (Vehicle Standards) Regulations 2002":

Table of alterations requiring approval

[snip non wheel stuff]

3. Fitting any wheel rim with more than a single weld around
the circumference, or which does not conform to one of the
dimensional standards for wheel rims set down in the Tyre
and Rim Standards Manual issued by the Tyre and Rim
Association.
4. Widening the wheel track of front or rear wheels by more
than 25 mm beyond the maximum specified by the vehicle
manufacturer.
5. Fitting spacers between wheels and hubs additional to any
provided by the vehicle manufacturer.
6. Fitting wheel nuts which do not engage the thread of the
wheel studs for at least the same length as the nuts provided
by the vehicle manufacturer, or wheel nuts which do not
match with the taper on the wheel.
7. Fitting tyres other than those appropriate to the wheel rim
as specified in the Tyre and Rim Standards Manual issued
by the Tyre and Rim Association.

Page 52: http://www.slp.wa.gov.au/legislation..._homepage.html

The only surprising one for me is no spacers, I guess it increases the leverage on the hub, but no more than that of a wheel with less offset.