Tyre placard seems to be wrong. Anyone else think so?

[IH8WRX]

Hi

Ok this morning I was having my car engineerd since I did all my engine bay work. I'm N.S.W registered. The engineer asked me for my tyre size, load rating etc. First look and a quick "yes its got 18 x 9"" should be legal right? Upon the first look you would asume yes. Upon a closer inspection of the tyre load rating appears otherwise.

When I bought the car (VX SS series II) in October 2001 I put Dunlop FM 901 235/40ZR18's on it, which have a load rating of 615kg per tyre (91 load rated). According to the Dunlop hand book these were the correct replacement size and load etc.

We take a look at the tyre placard on the drivers door to find it stamped on the sticker from Holden

"Tyres must not be less than 650kg load rating (93) blah blah blah".

Hmmmm, seems I have illegal tyres so I jump on the phone to the brother in-law who sold them to me and asked him what's going on and fill him in on the story.

He then looks at the original factory fitted Bridgestone tyres Holden fitted to the VX SS and surprise surprise they too are only 615kg load rated each tyre, contradicting the tyre placard which states a minimum of 650kg per tyre. So they didn't even leave the factory legal :mad:

I've since contacted my local Holden dealership and informed them of the problem only to be told to "bring it in" :mad: (for christ sake I can read a bloody sticker and writing on a tyre :rolleyes: )

I've posted this up hoping someone might be able to help me with this mater. To me Holden have made the error in the sticker. Problem is that if the Police pull you over they can and will give you a ticket for it even tho it's not your fault.

[GenX]

I might be totally off base. But was the car customised in any way when bought? I ask because i had some factory options and when i was shopping for wheels, i checked my plackard. Calais came standard with 16" and optional with 17". Mine actually reads 17 and 18". Could yours be a sticker placed on by the hsv mob?

Ps just checked and the hsv sticker still states 91 - 615Kg. So i guess i was wrong about that idea

[IH8WRX]

I've just spoken to Holden for 35mins on the phone.

Yes there does seem to be some sort of problem as the tyres fitted by Holden back in 2001 where Bridgestones and they too were only load rated to 615kg, contradicting the tyre placard which states a minimum of 650kg.

They are looking into the mater and will be in touch in a few days time.

Seems someone has made a huge **** up in Melbourne.

[markone2]

Hi


"Tyres must not be less than 650kg load rating (93) blah blah blah".

.


Just checked the tyre placard on both the VY SV8 and VX Calais....both as above.......not less than 650Kg load rating (93)

[IH8WRX]

Just checked the tyre placard on both the VY SV8 and VX Calais....both as above.......not less than 650Kg load rating (93)


Mark, now what are the load rating on your tyres? 615kg?

[SV300]

Just checked my clubby and it says 615kg/91 load rating tyre minimum.



James

[MTC]

Just had a look at My cars. the Clubby 615kg/91 & the Berlina 630kg/93

[HSV,_I_GOT_ONE]

Just checked my clubby and it says 615kg/91 load rating tyre minimum.



James

What he said.

[markone2]

Mark, now what are the load rating on your tyres? 615kg?


Not sure......I have the Bridgestone B530's fitted from new..have to check when I get back home.

[georgec]

From my cars - VS Calais/Clubsport 235/45/17 - Bridgestone S02 - 650kgs, Bridgestone S03 - 670kgs. VX GTS 245/35/19 - Bridgestone S03 and Pirelli P-zero both 650kgs.

[Drewie]

I've just spoken to Holden for 35mins on the phone.

Yes there does seem to be some sort of problem as the tyres fitted by Holden back in 2001 where Bridgestones and they too were only load rated to 615kg, contradicting the tyre placard which states a minimum of 650kg.

They are looking into the mater and will be in touch in a few days time.

Seems someone has made a huge **** up in Melbourne.

So what happens there, do we get a free set of replacement tyres compliments of Holden.....or a new sticker?

[IH8WRX]

So what happens there, do we get a free set of replacement tyres compliments of Holden.....or a new sticker?


Not to sure yet. All Holden has advised me at this stage is that people should pay attention to the placard. They can see that there is a serious error made and they will be back to me within 48hrs

[jody waho]

OK Rick, I just checked the placard, It say's "max load not less than 650kg" with a "load index of 93" and a speed rate of 'V'. However the tyres say they are good for a max load of 690 kg, they have a load index of 95, and a speed rate of 'H'. Now I can tell I'm ok with the 'max load' and 'load index' but what about the speed rate? anyone? cheers.

[abi]

Jody Waho - I think you may have a problem with the lower speed rating. 'H' is a lower speed rating than 'V'.

[Drewie]

I've just spoken to Holden for 35mins on the phone.

Yes there does seem to be some sort of problem as the tyres fitted by Holden back in 2001 where Bridgestones and they too were only load rated to 615kg, contradicting the tyre placard which states a minimum of 650kg.

They are looking into the mater and will be in touch in a few days time.

Seems someone has made a huge **** up in Melbourne.

I just popped out to the garage and checked my tyres on the VX SS, I bought it new and they are the original tyres....Placard says 650kg like you stated above but the Original B530 Bridgestones also say 650kg although it also says below the 650kg "Canada and USA codes only" whatever that means, so they do appear to match the placard. Maybe the tyre guy who said they were only rated to 615kg was wrong, or is there more to the wording "Canada and USA codes only" when it refers to the 650kg on the sidewall of the tyre?

[IH8WRX]

I just popped out to the garage and checked my tyres on the VX SS, I bought it new and they are the original tyres....Placard says 650kg like you stated above but the Original B530 Bridgestones also say 650kg although it also says below the 650kg "Canada and USA codes only" whatever that means, so they do appear to match the placard. Maybe the tyre guy who said they were only rated to 615kg was wrong, or is there more to the wording "Canada and USA codes only" when it refers to the 650kg on the sidewall of the tyre?


Hmmm interesting. The Bridgestone book says in there that the factory Bridgestone tyres the VX SS came out with are only loaded to 615kg, not the 650kg the placard says. So it looks like it might be Bridgestone making the stuff up. Sure is interesting tho.

[cev]

I just popped out to the garage and checked my tyres on the VX SS, I bought it new and they are the original tyres....Placard says 650kg like you stated above but the Original B530 Bridgestones also say 650kg although it also says below the 650kg "Canada and USA codes only" whatever that means, so they do appear to match the placard. Maybe the tyre guy who said they were only rated to 615kg was wrong, or is there more to the wording "Canada and USA codes only" when it refers to the 650kg on the sidewall of the tyre?

IH8WRX, if it helps, im on the same boat as Drewie here. I have a March 2001 VX SS and the tyres like the placard says 650kg. Still the original Bridgestone B530's on there.

[bobg]

@ IH8WRX

I would say you have just got the wrong placard fitted. Easy fix is to fit another placard with the right numbers. The problem is Holden fit a placard that matches the tyres they fit rather than state the absolute minimum tyre ratings required for safety - hence HSV placards having a lower load rating to allow the higher speed rated tyres fitted.

I fitted a set of VT Senator 17" wheels with B530s the day I picked up the Calais new [they are still on the car] and changed the placard for one showing 17" wheels instead of the standard 16". The B530s had a load rating of 650kg or 93 and a speed rating of V and this is what the replacement placard indicated.

I now have an HSV placard fitted that covers both 17" & 18" rims. The placard says load rating not less than 615kg or load index of 91. It also says speed rating of not less than Z. I fitted this placard because I have recently got a set of WH Grange 18" wheels with SO3s [they are yet to go on the car - still trying to wear out the old B530s] and these tyres only have a load rating of 615 kg or 91 but a speed rating of Z.

Don't worry about the speed rating of your tyres though. The national Vehicle Standards Rules only require S rated tyre casings [180 km/h] on a car for it to be roadworthy irrespective of what the placard says.

Regards

Bob G

[IH8WRX]

Ok thanks Bobg, much appreciated.

The problem seems to be in the Bridgestone hand book where it claims the B530 fitted as standard to the VX SS is only 615kg, not 650kg.

I'll pop down today and pick-up a VX HSV tyre placard and that should solve the problem :D

[Drewie]

Ok thanks Bobg, much appreciated.

The problem seems to be in the Bridgestone hand book where it claims the B530 fitted as standard to the VX SS is only 615kg, not 650kg.

I'll pop down today and pick-up a VX HSV tyre placard and that should solve the problem :D

Is it legal to go changing tyre placards??

[VX2VESS]

i have a hsv label with 630kg min, nangkangs are 690kg

[bobg]

Is it legal to go changing tyre placards??
If the tyre placard is one within that which was available as an option for that series of vehicles [i.e. if that tyre combination/placard was an option on any VT1 to VZ series] then yes. Some form of the vehicle has been ADR certified for that configuration and registration authorities accept modifications [it that is what it really is] with no question within the manufacturer's options. [RTA NSW may be the exception to this but it is just bloody mindedness and the use of the Bush and Bracken Act. "No good reason but we want to get you!!!" - sorry for this comment RTA NSW people. Just my past experiences of negotiations with some of you on national uniformity issues coming to the fore.]

If you make up your own placard info then NO!! unless you have an engineer's certificate. But no engineer in his right mind is going to issue a certificate that is completely out of wack with the actual situation.

Regards

Bob G