Helping you get a warrant
(and stay alive)

There are several laws which apply to your vehicle’s tyres, wheels and related mechanisms.

The New Zealand Warrant of Fitness criteria has several safety checks for wheels and tyres. These include (but are not the complete list):

• Tyre tread
  Tyre treads must be at least 1.5mm deep across three-quarters of the tread pattern, around the entire circumference.This applies to almost very type of vehicle on NZ roads, including on-road motorcycles, goods vehicles, trailers and caravans. The odd exception includes bicycles, mopeds and trikes.
• Tyre size and construction
  Tyres on the same axle must be of the same size and construction.
• Tyre standard
  Tyres must be of an approved standard.
• Tyre pressure
  Tyres must be inflated to the correct pressure.
• Tyre damage
  Tyres must be in a roadworthy and safe condition, e.g. no damage, bulging, cuts, splits and cracks likely to cause tyre failure. Damage to the wheel rim is another reason for WOF failure.

Other wheel-related fixtures that a Warrant of Fitness inspection looks at include the hubs, axles, mudguards, steering, brakes, suspension and spare wheel security.

For more information visit the NZTA website.