What are super singles — and why were they created?
The conversion: four dual rears off, one wide high-load wheel and tyre each side on.
- Name origin: US heavy trucking — wide-base singles replaced dual pairs; fewer tyres, less weight, lower rolling resistance
- US van scene adopted it because duals are the wrong tool off-road
- Factory 519 rear: 195/75 R16C 2WD (~700 mm) · 205/75 R16C 4×4 (~714 mm) — no serious AT tyre exists in either size
- Converted: one 17″ wheel per side, proper light-truck tyre
Why owners convert
- Fits a real off-road tyre
- One spare fits any corner
- No mud and stones packed between the twins
- Rear tracks in line with the front — one set of ruts
What's in a set
- Five wheels, three types
- Two fronts — +89 mm offset
- Two deep-dish rears — −110 mm, the tyre sits where the duals sat
- One universal spare — drilled to fit either end
You've seen them in the USA — are they legal here?
USA: bolt-on. Australia: legal in every state and territory — as a certified vehicle modification.
| USA | Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| Certification | None — fit and drive | Individual engineer's certificate, every van |
| Standard | DOT wheel standard | ADRs + VSB14 (≤4.5t) / VSB6 (>4.5t) |
| Factory approval | Not required | No MB Letter of Compatibility exists — we asked MB directly |
| Type approval | — | Not available for aftermarket mods; no transferable certificate |
| Speedometer | Owner's problem | Legal instrument (ADR 18) — must be recoded |
| Over 4.5 t | Same rules | Heavy vehicle: NHVR examiner, LR licence, speed limiter (ADR 65) |
Why certification is triggered:
- Each rear tyre now carries half the rear axle limit on its own
- Every usable tyre is 100 mm+ taller — speedo and electronics no longer read true
- The van no longer matches its compliance plate
The federal rules — light truck vs heavy vehicle
Uncertified allowance is set nationally — the state only changes who signs (VSB14 / NCOP Section LS §4.2.4):
| Registration category | Allowed without certification | Beyond that |
|---|---|---|
| Passenger car (for reference — not a 519) | +15 mm / −26 mm on any factory-designated size | State-certified |
| 519 at 4.49t — goods / off-road category, car licence | +50 mm / −26 mm on any factory-designated size | State signatory certificate (VSCCS, VASS, AP…) |
| 519 at 5.0t / 5.5t — heavy vehicle, truck rules | No allowance — any non-factory size is a certifiable change | NHVR-approved examiner (VSB6 codes D3/E3) |
Max uncertified: ~750 mm (2WD) / ~764 mm (4×4) · smallest super single tyre: ~803 mm → every conversion is certified, every 519, every state · no ±7% rule exists · 5.0t ordered as 4×4 auto-carries the XL4 upgrade = 5.5t.
What certification can extend it to
- 4.49t (light code): certified envelope = +150 mm total ride height (tyres + lift + blocks) · >+50 mm total lift = ISO 3888-1 lane-change test required · >+150 mm = case-by-case state approval (NCOP LS §4.11, LS7/LS8). Scale: a +103 mm tyre alone ≈ +52 mm ride height.
- 5.0t / 5.5t (heavy code): no numeric cap — evidence-based: braking maintained · speedo + limiter recalibrated · bearing loading checked · guards covering (VSB6 D3/E3).
- Real ceiling = practical, not legal: guard/liner clearance, driveline angles, ESP bind first — hence "lift + trim" on the big sizes, and the certifier signs the whole package.
State by state — who signs the certificate
| State | Up to 4.5t (VSB14) | Over 4.5t (VSB6) |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | VSCCS-licensed certifier (Transport for NSW) | NHVR Approved Vehicle Examiner |
| VIC | VASS signatory — VASS Approval Certificate | NHVR Approved Vehicle Examiner |
| QLD | TMR Approved Person — modification plate | NHVR Approved Vehicle Examiner |
| SA | Recognised Engineering Signatory (VASS certificates widely accepted) | NHVR Approved Vehicle Examiner |
| WA | Dept of Transport approval + engineer's report — apply before the work | Own heavy framework (not HVNL); HVNL mod certificates accepted |
| TAS | Approved Vehicle Certifier (Dept of State Growth) | NHVR Approved Vehicle Examiner |
| NT | MVR-approved engineer's report | Own heavy framework (not HVNL); HVNL mod certificates accepted |
| ACT | Access Canberra — interstate signatory certificates accepted | NHVR Approved Vehicle Examiner |
Certify in the state of registration — certificates rarely transfer · VIC VASS = most widely accepted interstate.
Your situation
Four picks — drive, GVM, state, tyre. The panel returns your axle loads, tyre verdict, certifier and wheel spec.
Find your van
Drive
GVM
State
Tyre
/R
Every 519
| 519 | Front axle | Rear axle | GVM | Front tyre | Rear tyre | Rules | Licence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.49t 2WD | 1,850 kg | 3,200 kg | 4,490 | 925 kg | 1,600 kg | VSB14 | Car |
| 4.49t 4×4 | 2,000 kg | 3,200 kg | 4,490 | 1,000 kg | 1,600 kg | VSB14 | Car |
| 5.0t 2WD | 1,850 kg | 3,500 kg | 5,000 | 925 kg | 1,750 kg | VSB6 | LR |
| 5.0t 4×4 = XL4 5.5t | 2,100 kg | 3,600 kg | 5,500 | 1,050 kg | 1,800 kg | VSB6 | LR |
Front/rear tyre = load each tyre must carry (half the axle limit). Source: MB VS30 MY24 data. Your plate governs. Roof height and wheelbase change nothing — MWB/LWB share identical axle limits.
Every tyre
| Tyre | Dia. | Load | Covers at full rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 265/70R17 · LI 123 | ~803 | 1,550 | — (axle de-rate) |
| 275/70R17 · LI 124 | ~817 | 1,600 | 4.49t · no lift |
| 285/70R17 · LI 126 | ~831 | 1,700 | 4.49t + margin · mild lift |
| 295/70R17 · 3,970 lb | ~845 | 1,800 | All tiers · lift + trim |
| 285/75R17 · 3,970 lb | ~859 | 1,800 | All tiers · lift + trim |
Need more payload? A GVM upgrade certifies alongside the conversion — engineering fees cap together, not double.
Every wheel
| Wheel | Load / wheel | Rear offset | Construction | Set |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R35V Rambler | 1,995 kg | −110 · factory track | Cast · knurled beads | 2 front · 2 rear · 1 universal spare |
| R45V Marauder | 2,109 kg | −120 · wider stance | Flow-formed · knurled beads | 2 front · 2 rear · 1 universal spare |
Both wheels out-rate every 519 axle — the tyre, not the wheel, is the limit. The R45V's −120 offset widens the track; the certifier assesses that delta in the same certificate. Rears are dual-valve for TPMS; the spare is drilled to fit either end.
Approval & cost
What must be satisfied
Mechanical
- Tyre load rating — rated to the axle's legal maximum, not current weight (MB §3.8)
- Offset / bearing loading — certifier-checked; stub de-rating can apply (VSB6)
- Clearance + guard coverage — big sizes need lift + liner trim; covered in plan view (ADR 42/04)
- Spare mounting — factory cradle fits only the 16″ dually spare; carrier or interior mount
Electronic · one ~2 h session
- Speedo/odo recode — 16″→17″ crosses MB wheel-size groups; XENTRY/SCN (ADR 18)
- Speed limiter recal — over 4.5 t (ADR 65)
- ESP — recalibrated; aggressive tread can need MB's coarse-tread code (MB §8.9.1)
- TPMS — live sensors in all five wheels incl. spare (MB §6.1.6)
- Radar cruise — recalibrated after height/mass change (AU Supp. §8.9.3)
Paperwork
- Engineer's certificate — state signatory ≤4.5 t; NHVR examiner above. Ours works mobile.
- Plate + placard — certificate lodged, modification plate fitted, placard updated
- Licence + insurer — LR over 4.5 t; notify your insurer
Mercedes warranty: following the factory directives keeps the base warranty valid; MB may decline claims on affected components only. MB's stated concerns — speedo, ESP timing, wear, alignment — are the list above. Do the list, and they're answered.
The cost
| Item | Indicative | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Wheel set — 5 wheels | from $3,999 | REIKA |
| LT tyres × 5 | from $485 ea | REIKA |
| Fitting & balancing | $249 | REIKA |
| Coding & calibration | workshop rates | Workshop |
| Engineering certificate | ~$990 | Engineer |
Inc GST, indicative. Five tyres — a spare without a tyre is not a spare. Super single + GVM together: engineering fees cap, not double.
The process
- Read your plate — compliance plate + axle-mass label (driver's seat base) tell you your tier.
- Order your set + tyres — R35V or R45V, tyres to your axle figures.
- Fitted & balanced — TPMS in all five, clearance checked, spare mounted.
- Coded & calibrated — one ~2 h session: speedo, limiter, ESP, TPMS, radar.
- Certified — independent engineer, mobile, our referral. We supply; we don't certify.
- Plated — certificate lodged, plate fitted, placard updated. Tell your insurer.
Document library
The regulations and factory documents this guide is built on — view or download each.
Dept of Infrastructure · Cwlth
VSB14 / NCOP Section LS — Tyres, Rims, Suspension & Steering
The light-vehicle wheels & tyres code your certification runs under at ≤4.5 t.
Dept of Infrastructure · Cwlth
National Code of Practice (VSB14) — full index
Every section of the light-vehicle modification code.
NHVR
VSB6 Section D — Rear Axles (Code D3)
Heavy-vehicle rear wheel/axle modification code — applies to 5.0t/5.5t vans.
NHVR
VSB6 Section E — Front Axle, Steering, Wheels & Tyres (Code E3)
Heavy-vehicle front axle and wheel code — the front half of a >4.5 t certification.
NHVR
VSB6 — Heavy Vehicle Modifications overview
The full heavy-vehicle modification framework and all current sections.
Mercedes-Benz Australia
Modification Guidelines (Sept 2024)
MB Australia's own guidance on modifying their vehicles — including the warranty position quoted in this guide.
Mercedes-Benz Vans (global)
Body & Equipment Mounting Directives — Sprinter BR 907
The factory directives quoted throughout this guide — §3.8 tyres, §8.9.1 ESP, §8.9.7 TPMS and more. Download from Mercedes' own Bodybuilder Portal.
Cited, not distributable
- MB AUS/NZL Supplement (AU2023-09) incl. §8.9.3 radar — issued via the Bodybuilder Portal login to registered bodybuilders; as a registered Mercedes-Benz bodybuilder we hold the current edition, and the key clauses are quoted throughout this guide.
- Sprinter VS30 MY24 technical data + AU ordering guides (axle ratings, XL4/GVM provisions) — dealer documents, the ordering guides marked internal-use; every figure this guide relies on is reproduced in the tables.
- ADR 18 (instrumentation) · ADR 42/04 (guards) · ADR 65 (speed limiting) — Australian Design Rules, Federal Register of Legislation.
Where to from here?
Your numbers: 03 · Process & cost: 04 · Free plate check: photo of compliance plate + axle-mass label → tier and tyre options confirmed. No obligation.
Your compliance plate and axle-mass label always govern. This page is information, not a compliance certificate or engineering advice — certification is issued by a licensed engineer in your state.