I know NC doesn't have "real" lift laws -- something odd about the vehicle carrying more than 1 passenger and being used on-highway part time making just about anything legal....

But what about tire exposure? I see little Hondas with 4" of rubber sticking out of the side all the time, but that doesn't mean it's legal.

I'm going to have about 1-2" sticking out of the front wheel wells. I need to know if it's going to be a problem. TIA

I don't know the laws, but i wouldn't worry about it too much. My daily driver is an Isuzu Rodeo running about 12-15" of lift (w/ SAS there's no telling), 63" wide axles (stock being 60"), 3" backspacing 16x10s with 36x12.50 TSLs. I have a good 3-4" of tire sticking out of the fender.
And i have yet to have any runins with NC law enforcement.

-Rob

I havent had a problem with the law either. Run it until someone tells you that you cant:D

If it's anywhere it's in here:

NC Chapter 20 (http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/statutes/generalstatutes/html/bychapter/chapter%5F20.html)

I browsed for about 20 minutes and DAMN there is a lot in there. I couldn't find where it defined the limits of a passenger vehicle. I did this for Wa state law about a month ago for a member in my fullsize club took me all of 10 minutes to find and post!

My jeep isnt real jacked up or anything, but they havent given me any trouble at all. Most cops have liked it, and theres a lot of things more illegal about it than the amount of lift. As long as youve got brake lights/turn signals they dont seem to care. My friend has a dd with 40's on it an its legal.

My Boggers stick out pretty far from the FJ's body, and have gotten nothing but thumbs-up from Mr. M.O.T.L.

Are you a recent transplant from CA? go down by the beaches, and you'll see trucks with their entire tire outside the body, with obscene/absurd amounts of lift, and they don't get pulled over unless they are acting like idiots.

Thanks, I searched through the NC code and couldn't find a single thing about it. Tires have to be pneumatic and made of rubber. That's about it.

And no, I'm not from CA.... but I have lived in VA and MD. Both states abide by the "coin test" where they hold a coin to the fender and let it drop. If it hits the tire before hitting the ground, you get a ticket. I think technically you can have tp to 1" of tread exposure, but that won't stop the trooper.

Sclemons,

I am a law enforcement officer here in NC for the state. Don't worry about tire exposure there isnt anything on the books about it. As you know the only law there is states that it cant be higher than 6" above the factory height unless it is a multi passenger vehicle that is intended for occasional off road use. So basically if its got a title , has all working lights , and you occasionally off road it , and its designed to carry more than one person it is exempt period!:smokin:

coin test? i've never heard anything about that here in VA. i was told that you could have something like 2"-4" of rubber sticking out and be fine. that is just word of mouth of course. i've never seen the actual vehicle code book. one thing i'm wondering about in VA is the legalities of a solid axle swap. i heard some mention of a "reconstructed" title at one point. unfortunately my 4runner is considered a "passenger vehicle" and thus has max bumper height of 22" as opposed to 29". not sure about the frame height on "passenger vehicles".

anyone know about this stuff? maybe i'll post a seperate thread.

Originally posted by TechGuru
Sclemons,

I am a law enforcement officer here in NC for the state. Don't worry about tire exposure there isnt anything on the books about it. As you know the only law there is states that it cant be higher than 6" above the factory height unless it is a multi passenger vehicle that is intended for occasional off road use. So basically if its got a title , has all working lights , and you occasionally off road it , and its designed to carry more than one person it is exempt period!:smokin:


I love North Carolina:D :D

5.0 Beer on sundays everywhere
cool lift/tire laws
Tellico on the West
Ocean (even if it is the Atlantic :flipoff2: ) on the east
Snowboarding in between
Awesome weather year around
etc. etc.