Are Spidertrax legal?

[blacklab]

My mechanic tells me he can't install Spidertrax because they are illegal in MA and I won't pass inspection. He also says any shop that installs them faces a fine. I can't find anything to confirm his claims, so I wanted to know if anyone here knows if he's correct or just passing on some shop mythology. If he's correct, is this just a MA thing or a DOT (national) thing?

This may have been discussed before, but I couldn't find it. I've also done a general web search and can't find anything definitive. The Spidertrax website is very vague on this. I wonder if there might be a distinction that wheel spacers (just really metal shims) are illegal, but adapters (like Spidertrax, with their own lugs) are OK.

Any insights?

 

[chaz]

you should be able to find whats not legal in ur state on the web. just do a search for things like: how much lift is legal or lights, etc. in your state, in mine, NJ they are illegal & will not pass state inspection. some shops wont even install or rotate tires on a vec. that has them. im sure it differs from state to state but the info is out there. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/gener...ont-rotate-cause-wheel-spacers-what-hell.html

 

[leftyguns21]

i think their website says for off road use only, just to cover their butts. ive never heard of them being illegal or a shop facing a fine for installing though

my question is why not just install these yourself? if you can change a tire you can install the wheel spacers. mine took 3 beers and a small bag of BBQ chips...about 30mins.

 

[blacklab]

Thanks guys. I was hoping someone could point me to the actual statute or law in MA so I could convince my mechanic otherwise.

Do it myself? Gave that up years ago. Rather spend Saturday playing with my 1 year old daughter.

 

[Slvr RnR]

i think their website says for off road use only, just to cover their butts. ive never heard of them being illegal or a shop facing a fine for installing though

my question is why not just install these yourself? if you can change a tire you can install the wheel spacers. mine took 3 beers and a small bag of BBQ chips...about 30mins.

:iagree:

lefty really isn't overstating how simple it is. The same amount of time you'd be spending at the shop away from your daughter while someone else charges you to do it.

 

[hambone575]

Where are you located..? I have the 3/2 lift and spacers installed and have taken to dealer with no questions or anything

 

[blacklab]

Slvr, I hear you but I can drop off my 4runner at the shop while I'm at work--no lost daddy time.

Hambone, I'm between Boston and Providence.

 

[thetaxguy]

If I were you, I would not rely on others here on the board for legal advice. I would call your lawyer or your Department of Motor Vehilces... That is unless you want to read truough your Vehicle Code yourself, at which point you wont be able to spend time with your daughter anyways...

Another suggestion would be to contact your local highway patrol office. They may have the Vechile Code subsection on "speed dial" for when they write tickets.

Either method will take longer than just installing them yourself. Your daughter can even hand you the lugnuts. :bigok:

Good luck.

-Shawn

 

[chaz]

heres something i just ran across, go down to "altered heights defined" in blue, it states wheel spacers to increase track width is prohibited in MA. http://www.vehicletest.state.ma.us/newsletters/05JULY.pdf

 

[blacklab]

heres something i just ran across, go down to "altered heights defined" in blue, it states wheel spacers to increase track width is prohibited in MA. http://www.vehicletest.state.ma.us/newsletters/05JULY.pdf

Chaz, strong work digging this up. Just what I was looking for. And Tax Guy, good idea on calling the Staties.

 

[leftyguns21]

internet skills chaz. that is a good find.

 

[blacklab]

Caution: Read only if you want the boring minutia of MA Law

So with the tip from Chaz pointing me in the right direction, I did a little more digging. In MA, the DMV regulations pertaining to vehicle heights (for lifting and lowering) are set forth at 540 CMR 6.00. Here's a link: http://www.yankeetoys.org/Documents/CMR6.rtf
These regulations also regulate "wheel track" which is defined as "the shortest distance between the centers of the tire treads on the same axle. On vehicles having different axle widths, the measurement shall be made on the widest one." 540 CMR 6.04(3) states: "The wheel track may be increased by the use of tires and rims for a maximum total increase of four inches beyond the original manufacturer's specification. The use of spacers to increase the wheel track is prohibited. Fractions shall be excluded in all measurements and final calculations." The word "spacers" is not defined. Maybe I'll try to convince them that Spidertrax are "adapters," not "spacers."

Oh, and as Taxman said, don't rely on the ramblings of a nitwit like me for your legal advice. This is just some stuff I dug up while eating my lunch. On to your regularly scheduled programming.

 

[bulldogtaxi]

I really wouldn't worry about the law on this one. I don't even believe a cop would ever look or even care if you had spacers installed. I would do them yourself and if your worried about the the law you could always paint them black!