maybe stretched tyres arent so illegal after all..

i just nipped down to the shop in my new legnum, more or less its first drive out, and got the mother of all pulls.
as i was parking (legally, thankfully!) a black volvo traffic car went past, immediately about-turned and pulled over for a 'word'. or seven

1.not showing as insured.
2. not displaying tax disc.
3. illegal registration plates.
4. 'dangerously low'.
5. stretched tyres on front.
6. mismatched front/rear wheels.
7. car generally very dusty inc. windscreen.

1. i have a trade policy but didnt have my paperwork on me, so they did ring my insurer to make sure i was covered, and on the type of car i was driving too (modified import). i need to add the car to the policy, but havent had it on the road for 14 days yet.

2. i had it on the seat, ironically i was going to the shop to buy some food and a tax disc holder!

3. they werent, cos its an import, he did have a good measure though. hence me asking questions on here before i bought them

4. they checked it had suspension travel front and rear(which it did, about half an inch) and the wheels werent rubbing, and gave up on that one.

5. he wanted to fix penalty me for the tyres/rims, but could find nothing in the C+R handbook about recommended tyre sizes for specific rim width, and even rang his superior/base before deciding it was a matter of opinion and not fact, and 'letting me off'. he did know what stretched tyres were though, and didnt seem to like them. but, he didnt tell me to get them changed, or that they were illegal.

6. it had stock wheels on the back as my tyres for the other rims were being fitted. i pointed out that they were matched to axles and both radials, he then admitted i was right on that too.

7. i had to show him my washers worked. seriously.


so, did i get (un)lucky, or is it pretty much impossible to get 'done' for stretched tyres as there is no hard and fast guidelines on what is ok and what isnt?