RWC Victoria - Tyres - Opinion / Interpretation

• 

  Hithere on 15/05/2020 - 10:32

  Take your car, and pay for a new roadworthy, elsewhere.

  The tester has made their decision and you're stuck with it.

  Maybe a wheel alignment is needed if your tyre/s are wearing unevenly.

  • 

    JimmyF on 15/05/2020 - 10:35

    Agreed the tester has made their decision and the OP won't be changing that anytime soon. But if the tester is 'right', the next tester will also fail it for the same points. But after seeing the updated pictures, yeah go someone where else they'll pass, the tester is being silly.

• 

  JimmyF on 15/05/2020 - 10:33

  +2

  His explanation is that the outer groove failed because it only had 1.2mm left and that part is in contact with the road surface. Therefore new tyres are required.

  That is correct, any part of the tyre that is in contact with the road, must have 1.5mm or more.

  Your picture doesn't work, so we can't really see what the tyre looks like.

  EDIT - Ok can see your pictures, yes the RWC guy is being a knob, go somewhere else.

  • 

    jklo on 15/05/2020 - 10:44

    Link updated.

  • 

    Hithere on 15/05/2020 - 10:47

    Agreed Jimmy.

    RWC guy obviously sells tyres also.

  • 

    jklo on 15/05/2020 - 10:49

    +1

    Knob or not, technically speaking, is that still a fail?

    My interpretation on the RWC is that the measurement is from the Tread's Depth and if there is a Tread Wear Indicator, you use that as that as an indication rather than having to measure it?

    • 

      GG57 on 15/05/2020 - 11:00

      +1

      To be blunt, your interpretation is not relevant.

      If you are not happy with the RWC outcome, you can take it somewhere else (and pay for a further RWC).
      My understanding is that it is all standardised now, and no longer open to tester discretion.

      You could back out of the sale and add the tyre costs to the selling price, if you wanted to /able to.

• 

  pantsparty on 15/05/2020 - 10:33

  Shouldn’t tyres on a new car last for 40,000 or 50,000 kms?

  • 

    SnoozeAndLose on 16/05/2020 - 10:06

    Depends on car weight , driving style , road conditions etc

    I would say 30,000km is the avg figure for a tyre

    Also in OP case a wheel alignment may be required for the uneven depth of the tread.

• 

  Hithere on 15/05/2020 - 10:36

  Depends on how it's driven.

• 

  rambutann on 15/05/2020 - 10:45

  Based on the images, RWC dude is being a c-word.

• 

  AdosHouse on 15/05/2020 - 10:53

  Why is he testing the edge like that? If that area is touching the road, you must have about negative thirty degrees of camber.

  • 

    picklewizard on 15/05/2020 - 13:07

    Because he's trying to rip OP off.

• 

  BOGOF on 15/05/2020 - 10:54

  His explanation is that the outer groove failed because it only had 1.2mm left and that part is in contact with the road surface.

  Is this correct? does the outer groove come in contact with the road surface?

  If yes, then replace the tyres, and within 7 days go back to the tester for your RWC

  if No, then you have 2 options:-
  Pay for another test at another tester, with fingers crossed
  or, take the car to a Vic Roads centre, for a final judgement. However, that is useless, as they have no jurisdiction to make the tester do anything more.

  All roadworthy inspections follow the standards set out by VicRoads but these standards are written in a way that requires the licensed vehicle tester to make an interpretation of the condition of your vehicle against the standards. If you have any concerns about an item that has been noted as unroadworthy, then you can take your vehicle to a VicRoads centre for a final judgement on whether repair is necessary. However, VicRoads don’t have the authority to enforce the tester to either make your vehicle good or reimburse you. You can seek expert legal advice from a solicitor; take your dispute to the Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal or to the Magistrates court.

  on a personal opinion, those tyres look perectly safe and legal to me, based on my interpretation.

• 

  pegaxs on 15/05/2020 - 11:32

  And let me guess… he "knows someone" who can do them "on the spot" and get it done for you "today"… It's either windscreen or tyres with these arseholes. If he suggests anyone or gives you a card of someone who can do tyres, report him to VicRoads. They take a pretty dim view of people reporting shit they dont need to and then suggesting you take it to someone they know or though their own business.

  • 

    jklo on 15/05/2020 - 12:12

    Exactly! when he knew the fact that I have already sold the vehicle with settlement coming up pretty quickly as well.

    • 

      pegaxs on 15/05/2020 - 12:20

      And I would be asking how accurate that device he is using. How is it calibrated? Is it an officially supported tool by VicRoads? Christ, pushing down on it too hard could give a reading of 0.3mm either way.

      To give you an idea. A typical 80gsm sheet of paper is about 0.1mm thick. So, this tool he is using, on the wrong part of the tread, is saying it is about 3 sheets of paper (or a sheet of approx 240gsm card) thickness under the limit.

      And he is taking the piss and measuring a part of the tyre that isn't "normally in contact with the road". I don't know, but do they charge a "re-inspection fee" in Victoria? He may just be milking it for that, if that is the case.

• 

  MS Paint on 15/05/2020 - 12:13

  Name and shame.

  This RWC dude is pulling your leg.

• 

  knasty on 15/05/2020 - 12:37

  Agree with those above - just go somewhere else…

  First ever new car was a Honda Accord Euro. great car but went through 3 sets of tyres in 70,000ks. It all became clear why after a while:

  Was getting Honda dealership servicing due to extended warranty deal - dealership always inflated tyres to 32 psi. Tyres would wear substantially faster on the shoulders than the centre;
  Honda dealership never commented on uneven wear - alignment was significantly out.

  I learned my lesson now and have always used/asked for 36-38psi which gives much more even wear, and check for any signs of uneven wear for alignment issues.

• 

  picklewizard on 15/05/2020 - 13:06

  +4

  I came here on my high horse thinking OP is being a dick because he wants to sell a car with non-RWC tyres.

  Those tyres are fine and will be for another 15,000 kms easily.

  OP, ask him to test at the exact same point on his own car or another car with clearly RWC tyres.

• 

  brendanm on 15/05/2020 - 19:05

  Rwc guy is being a bit of a twat.

• 

  Speckled Jim on 16/05/2020 - 09:37

  Yeah outer shoulders aren't normally in contact with road surface.

• 

  MontyMacaw on 16/05/2020 - 09:44

  -2

  It failed. Get over it. Of course the dealer gave a great report because it was a general service it wasn’t an RWC report and they wouldn’t have looked as closely as the inspector. Either get a second opinion to confirm then take it up with the dealer or tyre manufacturer if it has not lasted as long as it is supposed to. I once had a whole set of tyres replaced after 60,000k by the manufacturer over tyre quality.

• 

  kale chips suck on 16/05/2020 - 10:34

  I no longer use RWC testers who also do work, the conflict of interest is too great.

  I've had bullshit "oh, there's rust in the chassis we can get it cut out and fixed for $900 today" (they then sprayed undercoat over the chassis and didn't do any work… because there was no rust) and "we'll have the RWC Monday" when it turned out they weren't an authorised RWC tester at all and couldn't actually produce a RWC at all - and I paid one bloke over $2,000 for a RWC only to have him do a runner and leave me with no cert.

  Following that, I approached a place that had formerly done one for me, explained the situation, and had them agree to look over it for a RWC… then they demanded, amongst other things, I replace all 8 seat belts at $140 each. When I said I'd fix the slight slackness in the belts myself they pointed out that the RWC was issued on Wed arvo (it was now Sat arvo) so I had to get it done and back in by Wed morning or they'd have to retest. I'd been calling daily about the car and was only told on Sat they had done the test. I.e., they "coincidentally" left it so that my opportunity to DIY a solution to any problems was greatly reduced. Anyway, it turned out they had lost their RWC tester status and in spite of me being there as a "refugee" of shitty behaviour then proceeded to apply almost the exact mindset and try to screw me over. I had literally asked them, outright, "are you able to do official RWC tests" and they'd flat out lied.

  The industry is as dodgy as they get. My last RWC was in Jan and I used Vehicle Inspections Australia. I think they're in Northcote. Near Bell Street.

  Car was in and out and passed with zero issues (as it should, it had under 60k on it, full service history, well looked after) in 45 minutes.

  I'm not related in any way to the company.

• 

  jklo on 16/05/2020 - 13:03

  Refer to update.

• 

  Hithere on 16/05/2020 - 13:29

  +1

  Where to from here

  If you haven't yet paid the scammer's part of the bill obviously don't.

  You could try reporting the incident to VicRoads or CAV but it may be a "they said, I said" issue if they deny claiming to be a licenced tester and say they just did a pre-roadworthy check FOR a licenced tester.

  If you have already paid the scammer a chat with VCAT may get your money back.

  With 20/20 hindsight ask to see the tester's certification before booking your car in next time.

• 

  HeWhoKnows on 16/05/2020 - 17:15

  -5

  Nothing wrong with what the mechanic has done.
  Its normal practice to take the car to a licensed tester as not all mechanics are licensed to do testing.
  And as somebody else said and as the tester noted, the wheel alignment is out which has caused the outside of the tyres to wear much more than the centre.
  So both opinions are correct however the VIC roads rule that states the "MINIUMUM anywhere on the tyre must be 1.5m" is the over riding factor mate.

  Bottom line, somebody should have told OP the car needs a wheel alignment some time ago.
  Thats where OP has been let down. Not ripped off.

  For OP's information the wheel alignment can be knocked out simply by hitting a pot hole or bumping the kerb when parking.

  Also having your tyres UNDER INFLATED will also cause excessive wear on the outside of the tyre. Always check to ensure they are inflated the the MAXIMUM PRESSURE! (at least once a month if not every fuel fill)
  When checking your tyre pressure you should also check the tyre for uneven wear or "feathering" on the outside edges.

  So Nothing to do with age or distance travelled.

  The only person to blame here is OP himself for not regularly checking his tyres. Its that simple.
  No different to the need to check oil and fluid levels regularly mate. Its YOUR RESPONSIBILITY!

  • 

    jklo on 16/05/2020 - 18:12

    So you are saying anyone can claim that they can do RWC and not be a certified RWC tester and this is not a misrepresentation? I guess what i learn from this is to make sure this person is a licensed tester before entrusting him or her to get it done.

    To your point regarding looking after my tyres, I agree with my own responsibility to look after. And yes a wheel alignment and swap was done at 15k km. Tyre pressure maintained at all times as well.

    • 

      MontyMacaw on 16/05/2020 - 22:33

      Take it back to where it came from and have your consumer rights enacted

• 

  RobotWizard on 16/05/2020 - 23:54

  Legally any mechanic can provide you their opinion on what they think but if he is not certified tester he has no right to write on rwc paper or fail your rwc.

  By looking at the photo it's clear that tyres have plenty of tread left, if I have to guess he was just trying to rip you off, EG: get you to buy brand new tyres. get commission on that and then sell your old tyres as "Good used tyres" to some other poor bastard.