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Nov 24, 2007 10:54:05 GMT
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Some of you may recall that, in the midst of a banded wheels thread, I e-mailed VOSA for their view on the practice. The question I asked was:
I have a query about a specialist modification to steel car wheels over which there is much debate about legality.
The modification involves cutting off the outer part of the steel wheel rim, welding a band of additional steel to the wheel, then welding the outer rim back onto the band which has been inserted. The aim of the modification is to allow the wheel to accept a much wider tyre for increased grip. The welding is usually carried out by qualified welders.
Can you confirm whether there is anything within the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations, or any other legislation, which prohibits the use of wheels which have been modified in this way?
They have now responded as follows:
Dear Mr Hilton
There are no specific regulations in the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, as amended (C&U) relating to the type of work you propose.
Regulation 100 of C&U does require that all parts fitted to a vehicle are not likely to cause a danger to the user of the vehicle or other road users. I have attached a copy of Regulation 100.
Additionally, you will need to ensure that the wheels do not protrude from the wheel arches, or that modifications are made to the bodywork of the vehicle to ensure that the wheels do not protrude.
Yours sincerely
name removed
DfT - Transport Technology and Standards
I can't copy Reg 100 because what I've been sent is a scan.
My reading of the above is that banded wheels which are properly welded are legal. Ones with curse word welding aren't.
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Jaguar S-Type 3.0 SE
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Nov 24, 2007 10:57:21 GMT
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I think that's the conclusion we had come to  Glad to have it confirmed by VOSA! Mine are being picked up monday ;D Adam |
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Last Edit: Nov 24, 2007 11:09:36 GMT by Adam
1997 TVR Chimaera
2009 Westfield Megabusa
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street
Posted a lot
6.2 ft/lbs of talk
Posts: 4,662
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Nov 24, 2007 11:02:00 GMT
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Nice one Kiethyboy, good to have it clarified |
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Nov 24, 2007 11:27:45 GMT
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top notch work |
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Nov 24, 2007 11:37:05 GMT
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These type of threads are really getting somewhere. Well done.  So long as the work is definately top notch, then its fine. It will be shonky DIY copy cats that will get this sort of thing 'banned' if anything, lets hope that doesnt happen. |
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 it doesn't matter if it's a Morris Marina or a Toyota Celica - it's what you do with it that counts  |
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bryn
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,913
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Nov 24, 2007 11:41:33 GMT
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A+ sir... well worded letter and a great response. Thank you for sharing. *Copy and paste* Print and stick in window of car to silence haterz... |
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Volvo, Buggy, Discovery and an old tractor.
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Nov 24, 2007 11:53:31 GMT
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Nice one.
However the other issue is they need to be declared to insurance companies and a lot of insurance companies still don't like them.
I have been asked in the past when sorting out modified insurance if steel rims have been banded. When my escort was on the road (10+ years ago) I could have easily insured it with banded rims, don't know how they would react now though.
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bryn
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,913
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Nov 24, 2007 12:03:14 GMT
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I know it sounds naive, but I was never asked going back ten years or more, so never mentioned mine when running them. In the last couple of years I've been more carefull with age... |
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Volvo, Buggy, Discovery and an old tractor.
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Ether
Posted a lot
Posts: 4,450
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Nov 24, 2007 13:06:21 GMT
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Good work |
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Nov 24, 2007 16:16:09 GMT
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Why do you have to declare a wheel to an insurance company as 'banded'? Do you insure non-standard alloy wheels as forged or split rims or whatever? Aren't they just classed as a 'non-standard steel wheel' or whatever?
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1997 TVR Chimaera
2009 Westfield Megabusa
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Nov 24, 2007 16:26:31 GMT
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Why do you have to declare a wheel to an insurance company as 'banded'? Do you insure non-standard alloy wheels as forged or split rims or whatever? Aren't they just classed as a 'non-standard steel wheel' or whatever? There are ways and means. You could tell them you've fitted wider wheels, which is entirely true. If they ask if you've banded them (which is unlikely) you'd have to tell them though. |
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Jaguar S-Type 3.0 SE
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Nov 24, 2007 16:32:28 GMT
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I should add that, although I haven't put the person who replied's name on here because I don't think it's fair to do so, I will be keeping it on file and, as and when questions of this type arise, I'll go back and ask about them.
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Jaguar S-Type 3.0 SE
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Nov 24, 2007 17:45:45 GMT
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Re informing insurance companies, when I filled out the modifications form for my Amazon (insured with Adrian Flux), it asked whether the wheels were banded, and if so, who by? Presumably therefore as long as it's by a recognised outift (or TUV approved if from Germany etc) then the insurers will be ok with it?
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Gompo
Part of things
Posts: 539
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Nov 24, 2007 17:48:38 GMT
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Why do you have to declare a wheel to an insurance company as 'banded'? Do you insure non-standard alloy wheels as forged or split rims or whatever? Aren't they just classed as a 'non-standard steel wheel' or whatever? If the wheel fails due to poor welding or whatever, and the insurance don't know about it, you will be in the curse word basically. You should really tell the insurance the EXACT modifications to the car, or there could be all sorts of problems - most of the time it will go down on their database as 'none standard' but sometimes it will be more specific. I'm sure a few insurance companies don't cover for none-standard items. |
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1976 Ford Escort 2dr 1100
1977 Ford Escort 2dr 1300
1978 Ford Escort 2dr 1300-2000
1999 Honda Integra Type R (Black)
1990 Lotus Excel SE
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Nov 25, 2007 11:37:34 GMT
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Bear in mind that the instant a "curse word" banded wheel causes an accident and kills someone they'll be banned at a stroke.....  and if your ins company asks if you have mods and you don't tell them the truth you'll discover that you're not covered,and you'll only find out when you need them to pay out....  |
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Last Edit: Nov 25, 2007 11:38:19 GMT by redvictor
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slater
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 6,390
Club RR Member Number: 78
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Banded Wheels Legalityslater
@slater
Club Retro Rides Member 78
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Nov 25, 2007 22:34:10 GMT
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nah i don't think they will. Good work by the way! its pretty much as i suspected. |
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The aim of the modification is to allow the wheel to accept a much wider tyre for increased grip. I wonder what the reply would have been had you stated, "The aim of the modification is to allow the wheel to accept the same size or even much smaller width tyre for increased sidewall stretch purely for cosmetic reasons. Furthermore, such banded wheels will be 'proof-tested' using explosive means of tyre mounting. Such explosive mounting is performed using hairspray and brake cleaner to ensure a safer driving environment for fellow motorists." ;D |
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 Team Blitz Ford Capri parts worldwide: Restoration, Road, or Race. Used, Repro, and NOS, ranging from scabby to perfect. Itching your Capri jones since 1979! Buy, sell, trade. www.teamblitz.com blitz@teamblitz.com |
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Banded Wheels LegalityRobinxr4i
@robinxr4i
Club Retro Rides Member 143
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Nov 26, 2007 10:25:25 GMT
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Great work mate! Nice to know where the offical line is and where the bullsh!t ends  |
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Sierra - here we go again! He has an illness, it's not his fault.
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Nov 26, 2007 13:34:14 GMT
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The aim of the modification is to allow the wheel to accept a much wider tyre for increased grip. I wonder what the reply would have been had you stated, "The aim of the modification is to allow the wheel to accept the same size or even much smaller width tyre for increased sidewall stretch purely for cosmetic reasons. Furthermore, such banded wheels will be 'proof-tested' using explosive means of tyre mounting. Such explosive mounting is performed using hairspray and brake cleaner to ensure a safer driving environment for fellow motorists." ;D I suspect it would not make much difference at all. My job involves working with and interpreting legislation and, most of the time, it is concerned with what can and cannot be done. The reason for doing the action which is being permitted or prohibited would be considered when the legislation was drafted but you can't use it to affect how you interpret the law. That you are doing it for purely aethestic reasons does not make it less safe as such. That the wheel is banded and has a stretched tyre on it are two separate issues. If a banded wheel is properly welded then it is safe. That a tyre is stretched onto that rim may not be safe but that is a separate issue to the wheel banding issue. That same tyre could be stretched onto an 8" rim that was designed as an 8" rim and it wouldn't be any more or less safe. |
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Jaguar S-Type 3.0 SE
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Glad to have it confirmed by VOSA!
