French laws on x-treme remould MTs

I'm guessing my Malatesta Kaimans are legal on French roads as they are "E" marked but thought I'd best ask to see if anyone, mainly our French members can say for sure.

I'm going to Le Mans again this year & was considering taking the Jimjam for a few reasons:

1) I am unlikely to get caught speeding in the Jimjam but I am likely to speed and get caught in a normal car!
2) The campsite was, shall we say a little moist last year and getting across it can be an issue, but not for a Jimjam!
3) It's the done thing to go to Le Mans in something cool. I think my Jimjam fits that category!

It's 5 hours normally from Calais to Le Mans though, which in my Jimjam will be about 6.5-7 hours I expect. I'll be in no rush though.

So I'm a little unsure if I will take it as it's a fair treck in such a modified truck and a normal car will get me there quicker and in more comfort.

Decisions, decisions! But only if I'm not gonna get grief from the French Police as I'm travelling on my tod and my A level French is rusty. It got miraculously better last year though when I had my passport stolen! You suddenly become fluent when getting out the country depends on it!

Anyway. Enough waffling. Are my bloody tyres legal in France or not?

Cheers

Kirkynut

ive been to france a few times with my work and from what ive seen driving in france is a "contact sport"

the cars all have dings in them and dont think they heard of washing them

if your jeep looks as good as your picture you will be fine

plus the only rozzers i saw was at the airport

If they're e marked then you ought to be fine. But it's France and you're travelling alone in a modified car with English plates, the gendarmerie will be interested in you and will try to use you as a cash cow, not so much in town but in the back country you will be fair game. You will probably be ok but all it takes is one to be having a bad day...

What's the problem, its not like they carry guns!!!!!!

It's only really a contact sport in the big cities from what I've seen and in Paris last year it wasn't as bad as when I went there as a teenager.

I hope not to have my passport stolen this year though, thus not go to Paris!

Rouen was ok too.

For Le Mans week the normal police are on the motorways with speed guns. Despite this being known people wang it along. It's easy to get caught if you don't notice you've done it to be fair though. Cruise control is useful.

My Jimjam will attract attention though & being alone as I'm meeting people there is a concern as they could see me as a cash cow as you say.

My winch will have at least one bolt welded to the bumper too!

I'll have to have a thunk but if anyone has any actual experience, Renard etc, of how French police view modified off roaders I'd be grateful.

Kirkynut

I don't think you will have any problem Kirkynut with your Jimny. If the tyres are legal in the UK then they will be fine in France. The Gendarmes do like to hide to catch speeding motorists so watch out for them behind trees etc and they alone don't seem to need to wear hi vis jackets which ordinary folk do! So for France you will need 2 breathalyser kits in the car, hi vis yellow jacket, triangle and watch out for your sat nav. If it warns of cameras it's a 1500 Euro fine! However they have to catch you!
As to mods as it's a UK car again no problem if it's legal in the UK. My Jimny is modified a lot, and on French plates, but I have only been stopped once and that was to check the lights on the trailer I was towing. They ignored the car, other than looking at the tyres to make sure they were legal. The fact they are bigger than standard they thankfully ignored!
I'm sure Renard will add some info to this as well.
Have fun!