Bob Jane Issues

[walshydub]

I've been trying to get a quote from my local Bob Jane for a set of 185/45 R15 tyres, they come back saying they are not the correct size for my car. I explained that the wheels are not standard and I am currently running 195/50's but want a lower profile tyres but they replied saying;

Unfortunately we cannot fit a 185/45R15 to your vehicle due to the large difference in overall diameter which is outside the legal requirements.

Please let me know if you want us to supply with you a 185/55R15 or 195/50R15.

Is this true?

I'm not asking for a crazy size or loads of stretch and i can't see a problem. Has anyone else had issues like this?

I am obviously going to try elsewhere but their prices were the best.

Wheels are 15x7 by the way.

[kaanage]

That's about a 5% reduction in gearing which is pretty big. Also, since the air volume has been reduced, the load rating of the smaller tyre will be substantially less than the original.

The former will throw your speedo out by a 5% (on top of what it is already under reading as OE).
The latter may take the smaller tyre outside the minimum load rating required by your car.

I would ask them which of these would be causing the liability issue.

[dylan8]

id imagine they cant do it (unless maybe you wave cash and dont get a receipt to prove they did it).
Otherwise do as i do, take my wheels in off the car. have them balanced etc, then fit them at home.

[walshydub]

That's about a 5% reduction in gearing which is pretty big. Also, since the air volume has been reduced, the load rating of the smaller tyre will be substantially less than the original.

The former will throw your speedo out by a 5% (on top of what it is already under reading as OE).
The latter may take the smaller tyre outside the minimum load rating required by your car.

I would ask them which of these would be causing the liability issue.

Fair enough. I didn't think it would be that big a drop in size and as such affect the car as much.
The wheels are already 2 inches bigger than stock so i thought a smaller tyre would bring it back to closer than the original wheel diameter.

id imagine they cant do it (unless maybe you wave cash and dont get a receipt to prove they did it).
Otherwise do as i do, take my wheels in off the car. have them balanced etc, then fit them at home.

It looks like i'm gonna have to do that. Bit of a pain but you gotta do what you gotta do

[dylan8]

It looks like i'm gonna have to do that. Bit of a pain but you gotta do what you gotta do

reason to own multiple sets of wheels

[brad]

Bob Jane is the only tyre seller in your area? Surely there's a cheaper independent you can go to rather than paying Rodney Jane all his franchise fees?

[walshydub]

Bob Jane is the only tyre seller in your area? Surely there's a cheaper independent you can go to rather than paying Rodney Jane all his franchise fees?

Of course not, there are loads, but they were the cheapest and were offering a free wheel alignment.

What can i say i'm a sucker for a special offer

I was also confused by what they were saying so I wondering if what they said was correct and would have similar problems elsewhere.

[mikinoz]

Bob Jane fitted the exact same size in Nankang to my 7" rims on the MK1 - no question.

It is the franchisee being a c#@&!

[ffoff]

Just say they're for your show wheels man. I took my wheels in off the car, and told em I was only using them for shows. Who's gonna know the difference anyway??

[wai]

It is not what you are doing with it, but what the vehicle is classified as and what can be done in that class of vehicle. You don't say what vehicle it is or what the OEM tyre size was.

For example, many with utes fit ultra low profile tyres and appropriate rims, however the vehicle is certified by the manufacturer with tyres that have a load rating. Because of this, any tyre fitted as a replacement must still match the tyres that were nominated by the manufacturer in all aspects, including the load rating. You may not want to carry heavy loads, however the vehicle is still rated to carry those loads, and you could sell it tomorrow to an unsuspecting buyer. Don't worry, there is a police promotional vehicle here in Sydney that is not legal because of just such a modification!

Of course, you can seek a re-classification of the vehicle, but this then means you will have to comply with all the design rules that apply to the new classification.

In your case it may not be the load rating, but just the size being too different to the nominated tyre. From a liability stand point, the tyre dealer could well end up in court if they fit a tyre that means the speedometer reads incorrectly. In your case, fitting a tyre that is smaller in diameter would mean that it reads too high. You may think that this is great as you could never be caught speeding, however humans being human will try and out think the speedometer and drive at a faster indicated speed only to get caught because their calculation was too far out.

You may be able to find a tyre dealer willing to fit the tyres you want, but then there is the insurer. You will have to advise them of the change and they might knock your policy on the head. If you do not advise them, then they might decide not to meet any claim you (or the other driver) make.

[brad]

Of course not, there are loads, but they were the cheapest and were offering a free wheel alignment.

What can i say i'm a sucker for a special offer

I was also confused by what they were saying so I wondering if what they said was correct and would have similar problems elsewhere.

They are obliged to sell you the correct tyres for your vehicle. I'd assume they've been stung before (with returns or legal action) & are a bit wary.

Bob Jane are usually the most expensive in my district

[walshydub]

Bob Jane fitted the exact same size in Nankang to my 7" rims on the MK1 - no question.

It is the franchisee being a c#@&!

That's what i am starting to think. It was your recommendation that made my try Bob Jane as well

[mikinoz]

Head to a ricier suburb.

[kaanage]

I didn't think it would be that big a drop in size and as such affect the car as much.
The wheels are already 2 inches bigger than stock so i thought a smaller tyre would bring it back to closer than the original wheel diameter.

If you have gone up in wheels size, you would have had the width increased and the profile lowered as well to keep the rolling diameter and load rating consistent with the OE wheel tyre combination. Fitting a narrower tyre with lower profile will lower both rolling diameter and load rating as I stated previously (and wai reiterated).

Have you checked with the store yet to find out the reason(s) for not fitting your preferred size?
If the store is the one in Mermaid Beach then they may be stricter than some others since that is a company run store while most are franchises.

Bob Jane is the only tyre seller in your area? Surely there's a cheaper independent you can go to rather than paying Rodney Jane all his franchise fees?

Not necessarily. As a corporation, they have a lot of buying power which lets them negotiate good pricing with the tyre distributors which will more than offset the franchising costs (for the franchise stores) in many cases.

As with most purchases, get quotes from several stores in the area as they will all often sell for less than the listed prices.