my front tires are rubbing on my springs. they are 215/35 r17. should i use 1/2" spacers, or put up the cash and get a skinnier set of wheels?

 

Several options. First, what tire pressure are you running,. That low of a profile requires 40-45 psi. If you're running them at 35, the pressure increase may give you the clearance needed. You can buy spacers as thin as 1/8" and it won't affect stud length. Add a washer between the hub and wheel on all 4/5 studs and see if that gives the needed clearance, then buy spacers. 3rd option is going with ReSpeed coil overs with 3" O.D. springs if the rub is above the lower spring perch where the springs widen out.

If none of those solve the problem, then change the backspace of the rims, go with a set of strechies or buy a set of spacers as a last option.

 

I am running 215/40/17 azenis RT-615 on 17X7" rims. +42 offset (GSL-SE).

3mm spacer on the fronts cleared up any chance of rubbing, although driving without them didnt mark the tire....

Whats your rim size?

 

im not sure of the exact rim size or offset. im doing a complete rebuild, and found out the previous owner actually shaved the struts and heated and tweaked the springs for them to fit. im using the springs off another car for this project, and this problem came up. the rears fit fine with 245/40r17s. just the fronts giving me issues.

oh, it is an -se suspention

 

i think i'll get a set of coil overs. i want a lowered stance anyway. the rub is on the spring perch (rubs backside of tire) and the 1st large coil of the spring (rubs top lip of the tire). any more suggestions for my build, T?

 

Since I have no idea what all your build up or goals consist of, it's hard to make further suggestions off the top of my head. Keep in mind that lowered may 'look' cool, it doesn't mean it will handle better. The opposite is often true.

Suspension, handling and brakeing is a packaged sum total of many well selected and integrated parts. Imho, 15/16" wheels/tires are part of that package, 17" ones aren't.

 

To fix this properly, you will either need to change the backspacing on the wheels (new wheels) or go with coilovers. I would recommend the Respeed coilovers, since you would be receiving extra benifits over just changing wheels (and will probably cost a lot less too).

 

It's reverse actually. More pressure will make it rub more..... as more pressure internally will cause the sidewalls and the whole tire in general to expand outwards. Tested on a 225/40/r18 tire and the car had a drop. Discount tire put 42 psi in it on the mounting. Dropped the pressure down to 32, and the tire stopped rubbing.

Further more it also depends on the brand of tire. Different manufacturers have different thickness of sidewalls. So going with one with a little more bendy (aka thinner) sidewall will affect this as well. If i went with a khumo escta asx vs a bridgestone potenza re01-r's that khumo would fit in a wheel well much better than that potenza (one of the thickest sidewalls ive seen on a tire, such a huge rim guard and super stiff sidewall that allows for one of the most responsive road tires)

 

mayb a skinnier tire, im runnin 205/40/17 on my -se with a .8" spacer no issues unless i hit a pretty big dip in the road