USA Vs Italy - law and omologation

Guascone

Guascone

Member
Hi everybody,

I'd like to ask you some information in terms of law and omologation about Jk modifications.
Italy is very strickt with omologation law and every change on the car has to be checked by the right office.
For example: if I would like to change the tyre dimension, 33" instead the 31" stock, I have to ask Chrysler the omologation fiche, than change the tyre in an approved tyre shop that will write me a certificate and after make the final check with the governament officer/engineer (and the change will be written on the car registration paper).
The trouble is that many changes are not admitted by Chrysler Europe, so only some private offices are able to ask Chrysler USA to give them the documentation...you can imagine what this means in terms of money...

Is it the same in the USA?
 
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I don't think there are any factory 33" tall tyres fitted to JKs. The tallest I'm aware of are 32" - 255/75x17 or 255/70x18.
Where I live, we have an allowance for increasing tyre height without specific approval.....allows me to fit up a 34" tyre without asking anyone's permission. :)
 
The tyres are an example...the worst case is to have the permission to enlarge the veicle width mabe with spacers ore wheels or if you install a lift kit. Have the permission to install a coilover lift kit is a mission impossibile!!!

Someone try the illegal way ( installing lift kit or increasing wheels diameter whitout permission) but the risk is that the insurance don't cover any axcident...

Now I'm installing a lift kit, front and rear bumpers and 33" tyres but I'm wating all the papers coming from USA.
After that I will start the omologation procedure, that it will include also an expertise documentation from a sort a civil judge...😫😫😫

Just the omologation procedure cost around 2000$...

An other solution is to buy a veicle direct from USA but you have to trust the seller!

I love my Jku but it is very hard to update it!
 
We don't have to go thru the same process you do but we do have something similar I guess you can say. We have state inspection laws and vehicle codes we need to abide by. For example in Pennsylvania our tires cannot stick out anymore than 3" past our fenders otherwise we will not pass inspection. Depends on where you go or who you have a good relationship with but it's easy to pass.
 
This is actually a really good idea for a thread. I'm surprised nobody has started anything comparing vehicle modification reglulations yet (though I'll admit, I haven't searched for it yet either).

I'm not really surprised that you have a hard time getting Jeep upgrades done in Italy. Another thing I've heard is that the Eurpoean Union has "pedestrian protection" laws that require a full width bumper. That's why the Jeeps sold outside of North America come stock with that ugly plastic bumper that ties into the fender flares.

In Canada, it can be very different province to province (and territory). For example, up in the Northwest Territorities I can do pretty much any changes I want to my Jeep. Worst case, I could still get it registered as an "off road vehiche" which is only restricted from being driven within the downtown core of Yellowknife, and even then that's only about 4 blocks. I think in most provinces, you need fenders the same width as your tires, but there aren't limits on lift and tire size. The only province I've seen that kind of restriction for is Quebec: max 35" tires and max 2.5" lift over stock.

I know in the US things can vary a lot in what is allowed too. Just from reading what the gents from California have said, they need to have mud flaps, light bar covers and other weird stuff when they are driving on the road. At least it doesn't sound like they have limits on lift kits or tires, etc.

cozdude said:
For example in Pennsylvania our tires cannot stick out anymore than 3" past our fenders otherwise we will not pass inspection.
Click to expand...

Just wondering, is that only for stock fenders? If you get aftermarket fenders that are wider than stock, will you still be good to go?
 
Guascone said:
Thanks for the explenation!

For bumpers and winch, have you some specific regulations?
Click to expand...

I've heard of at least one state that requires full width bumpers, but I can't remember which one.

I've never heard of regulations about winches though. Only thing I can think of, there are 31 states in the US (and only 4 provinces in Canada) require you to have a licence plate at the front and rear of the vehicle. There are plenty of people who leave the front plate off so they don't have to mount that and a winch, and just pay the fine if they get a ticket about it.
 
Wardell said:
This is actually a really good idea for a thread. I'm surprised nobody has started anything comparing vehicle modification reglulations yet (though I'll admit, I haven't searched for it yet either).

I'm not really surprised that you have a hard time getting Jeep upgrades done in Italy. Another thing I've heard is that the Eurpoean Union has "pedestrian protection" laws that require a full width bumper. That's why the Jeeps sold outside of North America come stock with that ugly plastic bumper that ties into the fender flares.
Click to expand...


You are right! The reason for bumpers and lift kit limitations are the pedestrian protection.
For the tyres, for the engine and other modifications,mainly we have trouble due to the insurance regulations.
The insurance contract in case of modications become invalid because the veichle is not more compliant with the factory omologation...so, in case of any axcident they don't pay!
In the past we had also some trouble due to sigarets contraband. In south Italy the mafia people modify the 4x4 as a tank, with steel bumpers, steel shield, powerfull engine and runflat tyre to escape from police...
To prevent this issue the governament ban the customizations.
Now the market is starting again to open it and some shop try to find a solution to have the permission to customize 4x4 in according to our law.
In fact I have bought the lift kit, the bumpers and the tyres from a italian shop that it work also in US and they have also a direct contact with US Chrysler.

I hope that my explenation is clear because it is not so easy to translate in english...😊
 
Pretty much in the States we can change just about what ever we want without asking anyone for permission. (except maybe for the wife):cheesy: Other than that, like Cozdude said, as long as you pass your specific state's inspection rules; you are free to change what ever you want! (i have gone through 3 different tire sizes, changed the bumpers twice, and am changing the wheels, axles, driveshafts, ect) Sorry you have to go through so much hassle with your ride.
 
Australia also requires full width bumpers for pedestrian safety reasons....but we can fit steel replacements that are certified to comply with the design requirements (no sharp edges, top hoops to slope backwards, no projecting accessories, airbag compliant etc).
People fit short and mid width bars, but they aren't legal.
 
As others have said in the US it varies state to state. I'm originally from New Hampshire and there along with most of the northeast states you have fairly strict inspections. I don't know that bumper type would be an issue but tire coverage in both flare and potentially mudflaps is. Suspension height is an issue too. I live in Michigan now and we have no inspections here and thankfully no front plate either so you don't have to worry about a front plate working with a winch. There are vehicle codes that limit tire width and suspension height but really they are not enforced. It's the sort of thing a police officer would only hassle you about if you were drawing attention to yourself. I pick up my Jeep tomorrow and I'll need to keep in mind New Hampshire vehicle laws with my mods cause I do hope to move back at some point.
 
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