What have you done with your Polo so far (and today)

[readerr0r]

In terms of fitment under the guards, that's no different to the stockies with an 11mm spacer, which many have done.

If that's the spec of an aftermarket wheel you're looking at, then why even upgrade to a wheel that's the same width as stock, but change only the ET?

Maybe it's just to get a wider track but then you may as well just go to 8inch ET38...its a much better set up. Unless of course the wallet is a little light and you got a bargain somewhere.

Nah, just after a new wheel style (replica of an OEM VW Wheel)

[JonW]

talking of spacers... if you have the spacer welded to the wheel is it then legal as it cannot move and snap bolts etc? If so you can paint/powder over it and not get pulled, just a thought?

[ATYPIC]

talking of spacers... if you have the spacer welded to the wheel is it then legal as it cannot move and snap bolts etc? If so you can paint/powder over it and not get pulled, just a thought?

I doubt it's legal because it's not considered an original piece of the manufactured wheel...much like adding a fake blower to the top of your engine...like the XC coupe in mad max

[MackTheKnife]

I had a look through austlii (database of legislation & court cases), the RTA vehicle standards and the ADR's for info on wheel spacers.

In NSW the directive is that the Wheel Track must not be increased to more than 25mm more than the maximum allowable by the vehicle manufacturer: http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registrati...vsi09_rev4.pdf

The Australian Design Rules say: Wheel spacers (or adaptors for dual wheel conversions) between the wheel mounting face and the road wheel must not be used unless fitted as original equipment by the vehicle
manufacturer. ( http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roa..._2011%20v3.pdf )

My last car had wheel spacers as standard, so technically I could put whatever spacer necessary on it to increase wheel track to 25mm bigger than stock (effectively a 30mm spacer).

I haven't got my polo yet but i'll hazard a guess that they don't have spacers as stock. If they don't then it'd be illegal to add them.

To get a defected the officer would have to know they weren't there as standard, so if they're subtle enough you'd get away with it.

[Bassik]

There is a thread on here about spacers and someone had posted a pic of their Polo with spacers on it. I would get them but just not big... 12mm maybe

[gavs]

I had a look through austlii (database of legislation & court cases), the RTA vehicle standards and the ADR's for info on wheel spacers.

In NSW the directive is that the Wheel Track must not be increased to more than 25mm more than the maximum allowable by the vehicle manufacturer: http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registrati...vsi09_rev4.pdf

The Australian Design Rules say: Wheel spacers (or adaptors for dual wheel conversions) between the wheel mounting face and the road wheel must not be used unless fitted as original equipment by the vehicle
manufacturer. ( http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roa..._2011%20v3.pdf )

My last car had wheel spacers as standard, so technically I could put whatever spacer necessary on it to increase wheel track to 25mm bigger than stock (effectively a 30mm spacer).

I haven't got my polo yet but i'll hazard a guess that they don't have spacers as stock. If they don't then it'd be illegal to add them.

To get a defected the officer would have to know they weren't there as standard, so if they're subtle enough you'd get away with it.

That is technically incorrect. Unless you are fitting the same spacer to the vehicle it is illegal because you are now fitting a non standard spacer to the vehicle that the specific model was never sold with, hence you are changing the compliance status of the vehicle. To increase the track by 25mm that is 12.5mm per side. To legally do this can only be done on the wheels themselves, not by adding a spacer that would be 12.5mm wider on each wheel because you will then be fitting a non approved spacer to the vehicle hence rendering the vehicle to a status of requiring re-compliance or an engineers certificate.

I know spacers are cheap but really people, just do it properly if you want the wheels to poke a bit more. I thought the VW community was better than our bogan commodore-owning neighbors.

[MackTheKnife]

That is technically incorrect. Unless you are fitting the same spacer to the vehicle it is illegal because you are now fitting a non standard spacer to the vehicle that the specific model was never sold with, hence you are changing the compliance status of the vehicle. To increase the track by 25mm that is 12.5mm per side. To legally do this can only be done on the wheels themselves, not by adding a spacer that would be 12.5mm wider on each wheel because you will then be fitting a non approved spacer to the vehicle hence rendering the vehicle to a status of requiring re-compliance or an engineers certificate.

I know spacers are cheap but really people, just do it properly if you want the wheels to poke a bit more. I thought the VW community was better than our bogan commodore-owning neighbors.

Cool, thanks. I was talking about NSW as per the question. I know they'd be more restrictive in Victoria.

They are illegal in NSW, sometimes (well most of the time), but NOT always. I only checked out the legality here because my previous car had them as OEM fitment. Porsche also used wheel spacers on some older models. They are not strictly the domain of Falcodores.

The whole statement that dictates their legality in NSW is "Wheel spacers (or adaptors for dual wheel conversions) between the wheel mounting face and the road wheel must not be used unless fitted as original equipment by the vehicle
manufacturer."

It makes no mention of a standard or OEM wheel spacer. The rule is encompassed in one single sentence. There is no separate state directive like there is in Vic, Qld & SA (and probably others).

It infers that Wheel spacers between the wheel mounting face and the road wheel may be used if fitted as original equipment by the manufacturer. Keep inside the other rules and you're good to go.

I can honestly say I won't be adding spacers to my Polo, but I also wouldn't give someone a hard time for doing it. It's their car and their choice.

[BLN355]

Just did a test fit of the new wheels. Looks to be a maximum of 10mm poke so should be all good (i hope).

Front



Rear

[gavs]

What about the allowance for tyres and wheel travel mate?

[BLN355]

What about the allowance for tyres and wheel travel mate?

Yeah there's enough room for tyres, 225/35/18 should be perfect. Suspension travel may be an issue in the back depending on how far the rears move up into the well (dont want it to belt the guards on full compression). They are only street wheels/tyres though so no hard driving but will be making sure all bases are covered