QLD Department of Transport hates Subaru.
- FALCONCONVERTTOSUBARU
- Junior Member
- Posts: 130
- Joined: Thu Mar 20, 2014 8:15 pm
- Location: queensland
QLD Department of Transport hates Subaru.
So I chased clarification regarding the bit about MC class AWDs being a "soft roader" in QLD Transports eyes and being not entitled to legally increase Tyre Diameter past 15mm.
First the argument was because I don't have the ladder style body its an AWD. Then when I pointed out that Pajeros don't either then it was because the 4WD system shifts torque from front wheels to back when it needs to that makes Forester fit into the soft roader category.
So I thought id inquire about L series sadly the compliance plate says category is MA, which is a passenger vehicle (not off road). and Yes in QLD transports eyes yet again it too is not a 4WD vehicle in their eyes either.
My forester is MC which is off road vehicle if you have 4WD and meet the other 5 requirements regarding approach,break over and departure angle along with 200mm Ground Clearance and no less than 178mm below suspension. which according to an American site the SF meats all of the above except approach angle but due to above reasons is an AWD.
So unless someone knows something I don't or the department of transport's modification guy is way wrong "legally"215/70R15 or 225/60R16 is the biggest you can go in an SF forester and 185/70R13 is the biggest you can go in an L Series.
One could try and argue for the L series that its RX turbo model in sedan came out with 185/70R13 and so through it being a different variant one might be able to start from the 185/70R13.
First the argument was because I don't have the ladder style body its an AWD. Then when I pointed out that Pajeros don't either then it was because the 4WD system shifts torque from front wheels to back when it needs to that makes Forester fit into the soft roader category.
So I thought id inquire about L series sadly the compliance plate says category is MA, which is a passenger vehicle (not off road). and Yes in QLD transports eyes yet again it too is not a 4WD vehicle in their eyes either.
My forester is MC which is off road vehicle if you have 4WD and meet the other 5 requirements regarding approach,break over and departure angle along with 200mm Ground Clearance and no less than 178mm below suspension. which according to an American site the SF meats all of the above except approach angle but due to above reasons is an AWD.
So unless someone knows something I don't or the department of transport's modification guy is way wrong "legally"215/70R15 or 225/60R16 is the biggest you can go in an SF forester and 185/70R13 is the biggest you can go in an L Series.
One could try and argue for the L series that its RX turbo model in sedan came out with 185/70R13 and so through it being a different variant one might be able to start from the 185/70R13.
2001 Subaru Forester Limited Duel Range stock as a rock with 350 000 kms
- FALCONCONVERTTOSUBARU
- Junior Member
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- Location: queensland
- T.Farm.Brumby
- Junior Member
- Posts: 379
- Joined: Wed Jan 04, 2012 8:37 pm
- Location: North Brisbane
Got pulled up in a 2" lifted RX with 27x8.5s by a cop. He defected me for tyres being outside the guards (no flares) but apart from that he was a bit ignorant, thought the EJ22 was stock, didn't say anything about tyre size, just that they sat outside the guards.FALCONCONVERTTOSUBARU wrote:Has anyone with the L series run either the 27x8.514 or the 185R14 range of offroad tyres and been pulled up for inspection by Dept of transport? If so was it something they noticed or did they let you go?
Note, this was a cop, not a tmr inspector.
Cheers,
Tom.
All The Rigs:
'86 RX Turbo "Thor"
'89 Brumby "Emma"
'89 Brumby "Brumbylicious"
'03 Outback "Uma"
'05 Forester
'14 Forester Luxury (My goodness is it schmick!)
'86 RX Turbo "Thor"
'89 Brumby "Emma"
'89 Brumby "Brumbylicious"
'03 Outback "Uma"
'05 Forester
'14 Forester Luxury (My goodness is it schmick!)
- FALCONCONVERTTOSUBARU
- Junior Member
- Posts: 130
- Joined: Thu Mar 20, 2014 8:15 pm
- Location: queensland
Insurance companies will use anything they can. Any modification that can be seen to reduce the inherent safety design of the original vehicle is sufficient for them to refuse to pay - and running taller than stock wheels that don't meet legislation will definitely be an "out" for them.
1989 Brumby - Shiny new red paint, stroked EJ20 phase 2 SOHC with Darton sleeves bored to EJ22, Wiseco high-compression pistons, Delta 2000 grind cams , EJ/XT6 5 stud with WRX 4/2 pots, 5-speed, 86 GTS seats and so much more.
Contact me for reproduction XT6 hubs...and EA82 rear discs.
Contact me for reproduction XT6 hubs...and EA82 rear discs.
- Silverbullet
- Senior Member
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- Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2010 6:20 pm
- Location: Adelaide
This is exactly why I'm more inclined to insure my modded car (when it is back on the road) with a company that especially takes these things into consideration and doesn't penalize you for it.dfoyl wrote:Insurance companies will use anything they can. Any modification that can be seen to reduce the inherent safety design of the original vehicle is sufficient for them to refuse to pay - and running taller than stock wheels that don't meet legislation will definitely be an "out" for them.
Will it ever end!?
-EA81 TWIN CARB!!!!
-L series 5 speed
-Custom paint job
-2" lift
-Full custom re-wire
-L series front end

-EA81 TWIN CARB!!!!
-L series 5 speed
-Custom paint job
-2" lift
-Full custom re-wire
-L series front end

- FALCONCONVERTTOSUBARU
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- Location: queensland
- steptoe
- Master Member
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- Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2005 10:00 am
- Location: 14 miles outside Gotham City
from the mouth of a shannons guy
so long as the modification was not, or led to the claim one will be covered