Alloy wheel legality ?? for an e30

Post Wed Mar 01, 2006 12:10 pm

hi could you please help me with this question. Can you legally drive with 9x16 Borbet A deep dish alloys on an e30 (all-round)?? question being, my mate got pulled by the fuzz for having these wheels on his VW Vento(like a jetta/passat) ? they said the wheels were to wide and not street legal ? does anyone have these on their e30 ?? Many thanks.

Post Wed Mar 01, 2006 12:12 pm

If they're wider than the arch then they're illegal according to my mechanic and MOT tester.

Normally you can get away with it but your mate was rightfully pulled over unfortunately

Post Wed Mar 01, 2006 12:13 pm

As I understand it, as long as the tread section of the tyre isn't protruding from under the car's wheel arch, then it's legal...

I am not an authority on this though, so am willing to take advice on it...

Post Wed Mar 01, 2006 12:18 pm

Zayyan wrote:If they're wider than the arch then they're illegal according to my mechanic and MOT tester.

Normally you can get away with it but your mate was rightfully pulled over unfortunately

Thats exactly what happened. The wheels are coming out the arch. I should steer clear of them. But they look the nuts. Somebody must have a set of these on there e30 ?

Post Wed Mar 01, 2006 4:31 pm

the old rule was if tread was exposed but now we have tyres that may not even have tread for the first few inches of the outer edge ie some yokohama tyres so that does not apply any more

Post Wed Mar 01, 2006 5:10 pm

wheels cannot project beyond the body line is the official ruling.

so, as long as they dont stick past the edges of the mirrors technically , unless they foul the body/rub they are legal

how many jacked up 4x4's have you seen with 12J alloys and balloon tyres, no way they sit inside the arches, and they'd not be stopped like matey was.

assuming a defect note was not issued ?