Tyre size; you can go 50mm above the biggest tyres in your model range

The question of ‘how much bigger tyres can I fit’ on your 4WD comes up regularly, and one of the most overlooked pieces of information is what the law is, and what the consequences are of running a vehicle that has tyres bigger than they are allowed to be.

VSB 14 states that you can increase the tyre size by 50mm. What it doesn’t make clear though, is that in some cases you can actually go more than this.

Here’s the exact wording “Must not be more than 50mm larger or 26mm smaller than that of any tyre designated by the vehicle manufacturer for that vehicle.”

What this refers to is simple; its any model vehicle in your range. You should be able to compare tyres sizes for the base model, middle models and top of the range models and go 50mm bigger than the largest tyre in that year range.

If you are wanting to change tyre sizes, please have a read of this first – Fitting bigger tyres to your 4WD; what you need to know.

How can you fit bigger tyres?

You are allowed to go 50mm bigger than the largest tyres found in your model range. For example, if we look at our Isuzu Dmax, it came with 245/70/16 tyres, which are 749.4mm in diameter.

For more information on Dmax tyre size options from the factory, look at your tyre placard on the A pillar. Whilst I wasn’t going for the biggest tyres on our Dmax, I wanted the next common size up.

If you want a tyre size calculator, check this out –  https://www.exploroz.com/Vehicle/Tyres/SizeCalc.aspx

Most people would naturally think that the maximum tyre size is 799.4mm. However, the LSU (a fancier model) came out with 255/65/17 tyres, which are 763.3mm.

Providing the changes between the models are purely cosmetic (chrome bits, fancy dashboards etc) you can go 50mm bigger than the biggest tyres in your model range.

This means the maximum size is actually 813.3mm. This is perfect for us, as a 265/75/16 (one of the most popular tyre sizes around) is 803.9mm.

This exceeds the 50mm increase for the SX versions, but is within the 50mm increase for the LSU versions, and as a result we’ve gone for them.

At 54.5mm bigger in diameter than the stock tyres they are a fair increase, but they actually correct the speedo and give us about 25mm more clearance everywhere under the vehicle.

Now, I want to clarify the cosmetic comment; if there are changes to the driveline, suspension, brakes or anything else between models then this will not apply, as the engineering is different.

Having chrome door handles and a nicer stereo though, is not going to change the way your vehicle handles on the road (and this is what it refers to).

You can’t compare a Ford Ranger Raptor to a Ford Ranger for example, as they are not the same vehicle by a long shot.

For a random fact, the Dmax wheel offset is positive 33mm. If you want more information like this, including the Dmax tyre size for different models head over to Redbook and look through the different models – SX, LSM, LSU etc.

Now, bigger tyres on your 4WD are good in many ways, but like everything, have a number of downsides to 4WD modifications. Don’t forget about them when it comes to fitting them to your 4WD.

What if you want to go bigger?

If you want to go to larger tyres (like 33 inch tyres on a Dmax) then it will be illegal straight off the bat, unless you get engineering paperwork to back it up.

This can be as simple as getting an engineer to sign it off, but more than likely you’ll have to do lane change tests and lots of mucking around.

Check with your local authorities

Please, before you fit bigger tyres, give your local road authority a call, and ask them the question. Stick within the regulations and you’ll be much better off!

Is your 4WD legal? If not, you can be in hot water really, really quickly. 

If you aren’t sure of what’s legal, have a read of this; 32 ways to make your 4WD illegal.

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