I started to lose confidence in tyre retailers after the last set I bought turned out to be far less brilliant than was described. This lack has been added to as I've talked about a new set, particularly as I'm trying to get set up with rubber that handles & feels like passenger tyres. Finally, I decided to bite the bullet & find out exactly what's legal & what will get you fines, demerit points & insurance knockbacks.

Queensland Main Roads Department pointed me here: http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roa..._2011%20v3.pdf The essence is on page 25. I cannot fit a tyre with a load rating less than is listed on the tyre placard on the driver's door surround, but I can fit a lower speed rated tyre as long as it is at least S (180 kmh) rated. The 16 inch rims on my Comfortline has a standard rubber of 215/65 R16 102H (850 kg load; 210 kmh speed).

That means that the Continental Vanco 2, especially built for vehicles like mine is unacceptable as it only has an R (170 kph) rating, but that many agricultural units with sidewalls built like the proverbial are fine despite having tread patterns that would aquaplane in a puddle. The options are getting less. Even today, I had a tyre salesman telling me that the Conti was legal & that I had been given misinformation on tyre fitment.

The Michelin Latitude Tour HP looks magic but costs a motza, the Pirelli Chrono & Bridgestone R210 seem a tad robust in the sidewalls & while less expensive, the Kuhmo KL51 & Hanhook Dynapro HP RA 23 are totally unknown to me.

Has anybody any comments on my options?

John