Choosing new tires for the car must take into account several criteria, such as the season in which it is used or dimensions. This information is found in the car’s handbook and drivers must follow it. But is it legal to put tires with different weight ratings on the same axle?
A car’s tires wear differently on the front and rear. Specifically, the front tires will wear out faster than the rear tires.
That’s why some drivers are tempted to change only the very worn ones when they change the tires.
Is it legal to put tires with different weight ratings on the same axle?
The tire weight index represents the maximum load that a tire can safely carry. This information is written on the sidewall of the tire, next to the speed index, in the form of a number.
„According to the law, a vehicle must be equipped with tires specified in its identity card, having exactly the same values. If more than one variant is allowed, one of them must be chosen and all four wheels must have the same index. Because if even one different tire is fitted, it will change both the aerodynamics of the car and its stability on the road, which can be dangerous“, explained to ProMotor the police officer Octavian Perțea, known in the online environment for the video clips in which he explains road legislation and how to apply the Highway Code.
So, even if not all four tires are replaced at the same time, they must be similar.
So they all have to be the same size and technical specifications.
What happens if you install non-compliant tires on the vehicle
It is not legal to install non-compliant tires on the car or those that do not respect the dimensions established by the car manufacturer.
„The registration or registration certificate or its substitute proof is retained by the traffic police if (…) the tires have different dimensions or characteristics than those provided in the vehicle’s identity card, have cuts or breaks in the core or are worn beyond legally allowed limit“, establishes Art. 112 (1-h), from GEO 195/2002.
Therefore, drivers will no longer have the right to use this vehicle. And in order to recover his car license, he must replace the tires with compliant ones. After which they can request a RAR inspection, in order to receive the necessary approval in order to recover the registration certificate.
Source: www.promotor.ro
