matty

the front works fine. the rears dont!

in the rear, i got 17 x 9.5 +38 offset rims with 275 width tires and they rub the fender lip. this happens when i go over a decent size bump and the suspension compresses. Tire rack says they should fit as well as other people that i have spoke to. but they dont. they hit the fender lip pretty good. in fact i can see that they hit as much as 1/2 - 3/4s of the lip as i can see rubber on the fender lip. thankfully no damage done. they dont rub constantly but they do occassionally.

What can i do? tirerack will accept them back but they look really good and dont offer another size that will work with 275s. i am wondering if i raise the koni yellows to the top perch rather then the middle if this will make a difference. however i def dont want a setup thats gonna have me nervous to drive my car. i really thought these would work as knowledgable people have recommended this fitment. is the problem cause my car is lowered? the suspension setup up isnt aggressive. i have koni yellows with eibach springs. what can i do?

SiH

I would have thought a light lip roll and a narrower tyre may give you the extra clearance you need

TRISPEEDFD3S

iTrader: (26)

Try giving doing the raise, and if it works and does not change the way it handles, keep it. If you raise it, and it does change the way it handles in a bad way, lowering it back down and try a nice fender roll. If either option fials, I don't know. Maybe even do both!

matty

i hear ya but doing the raise doesnt change the fact that the tires sit under the lip. i guess i have to return them. i just thought people run this setup with no issues.

matty

also is there anyway to verify that rolling the fender will actually make the necessary adjustment? who does this anyways. i called a body shop that i like and they dont do it. basically the dilemna is that tirerack will take them back but i cant hold on to them for weeks will i try to roll the fender. additionally rolling the fender and still having issues would suck!

aznpoopy

its hard to make generalizations about fitment because many factors contribute to whether a wheel tire combo fits, including ride height, alignment, and also suspension travel and stiffness.

i would personally just roll the fender. basically, you heat up the fender with a torch or heat gun until its prety warm to the touch, but not burning. then you place a bat or pipe between the wheel and fender, at the end, angle it properly, and have someone roll the car forward. the rolling motion will roll the pipe along the inside of the fender lip, folding it flat. someone has to guide it with their hand, obviously.

the alternative is to buy/rent a fender roller. i prefer the top version though. its quick and the results are clean and cheap. you can go gradually by using rollers of different width. you'd really have to be pretty dumb to mess it up.

iirc some ppl have mentioned problems with rolling FD fenders. i'm not a FD owner, but if you are, you might want to look that up before trying anything.

as for confirming whether it will clear up the issue... the fender lip will be creased flat against the fender when you are done. just go out and take a look at the wheel tire and where its catching. you should be able to tell.

TRISPEEDFD3S

iTrader: (26)

Rolling should be fine. If not, maybe a minor pull? I like how ken at shineauto has his rear fender pull, but thats a lot of work and I bet a pretty penny. I wouldn't know any shop over there that does, since i'm here in cali (Rishie at AutoRND does fender rolls here in the bay). Maybe you should contact someone on the forum around you if they might know a place.

-Jeff

ARD T2

iTrader: (22)

Run a 265/35/18 in the rear if you don't want to do the SUPER EASY ROLL.....

RETed

I've always claimed 275 is just too wide of a tire to fit in the rears of an FC...

Get ready with a sledge to pound out those rear fender lips.
The double wall is a pain to just roll.

275 is the NOMINAL tire width size.
In reality, they can vary in as much as 1" either way!
With that kinda range, I've never recommended 275's in back just to be safe.
255's will easily fit back there, and a 255 / 40 / 17 has better speedo deviation than a 275 / 40 / 17.


-Ted

drftwerks

iTrader: (1)

YOUR WHEEL FITS

your tire does not

Specter328

iTrader: (2)

I'm pretty sure car is an FD not an FC.

GoodfellaFD3S

iTrader: (213)

The car is an FD, and I'm pretty sure he wants to keep the meaty 275s out back, that was his whole reason for going with 17s vs the stock wheels.

RETed

Oops, sorry about that!
Don't you guys run like 10.0" wide with +45 offsets back there?
It sounds like it's 1/2" pushed out too much toward the fender lip.

The 275 / 40 / 17 versus stock 225 / 50 / 16 tire size comparo still applies.


-Ted

matty

thanks for the all the help guys. i decided i am going to ship the rims back to tire rack for couple of reasons. 1) i am not into taking a bat to my fd to roll the fenders even if done with a roller. its just not how i do things...blow torches, bats, paint chipping....no ty. 2) as i look at the car more you can tell by looking at them they they simple dont fit. they dont look right on the car. the look isnt what i was going for. i dont like the rims sticking out of the wheel well. it just doesnt look right. now if this was an old chevy or soemthing that looks good. but not on the fd imho.

you are right goodfellas....this wasnt intended to be an appearance mod. i bot rims to upgrade performance, ie give me traction when the second turbo comes on in lower gears. additonally when my engine goes i will go single....so this a tire upgrade that would get me ready for 450-500rwhp eventualy. rich hit me on im when u get a chance


now on to more rim shopping. i want 275s out back with atleast 45mm ofset. someone told me that 275s dont really give you more contact patch then 255s when stretched to fit on a 9.5 wheel. what do u guys think of that? cause if i do 255s i saw a 5zigen wheel that alot of guys are doing. thos fnorc or whatever they are. afraid that lok my be alittle....ummm whats the word...youthful when compared to the look that i am looking for.

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

If you are going to go with a higher offset, then there is no need for the stretched tire (255) as you'll have plenty of room. That was a suggestion to make your current setup (which you are now sending back) work. I would recommend going for a +45 to a +50 in the rear since you want to run a 275 size tire.

matty

not to mention that the higher offset is the look i am going for. i dont like when the wheel hangs outside the wheel. it just doesnt look right. i really like the 5zigen fn01r-c but the offsets arent the greatest.

rynbergs fitment is what i like. seems us older guys go for a bit of a different look. i just wanted a rim thats a bit more aggressive then the ones he has.

matty

is it posible to special order a particular offset that isnt listed. its winter here so i can wait.....juts seems nothing is availble in +45 or more

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

That depends on the rim. There are some which you can do custom offsets, however most rims are just "what you see is what you get". The custom rims typically start around $500 per rim. Not a bad price to get exactly what you want though. Other than that, you have to deal with either:

1. Running a rim you don't really like aesthetically for the right fitment
2. Using a smaller tire to fit because you aren't able to get a decent offset for the rim you like
3. Rolling or pulling fenders
etc..
4. Spending money on Volks who will have wheel with good fitment, but pretty much at a custom wheel price.

Enkei has their NT03+M at a 9.5" +44.

GoodfellaFD3S

iTrader: (213)

I really like the Enkei NT03s. I remember when they were brand new, getting a set installed on a customer's FD at the shop, they looked great.

fd3virgin

what rims did you have and what kind of tires. i am trying to run 18/9.5 rim with a 285 tire.....they won't fit for sure i am assuming. kvn

matty

what offet?

i had enkei rp03s. really nice looking rim. but not fd friendly fitment.

matty

i think when u have to roll the fender you are forcing a fitment that doesnt look right. i dont like when the rim sits out far on a fd. the wheel is designed to fit in the wheel well. if it doesnt i dont like the look. to each his own.

those enkei's probbaly look great. i really want a concave look though. i love that. seems every new bmw has a concave rim these days...the look is hot.

the 5zigen fn have the concave look but fitment isnt fd friendly i dont think. well that is if you want to run a decent tire.

matty

i just snapped a few pics ....how do i post these?

GoodfellaFD3S

iTrader: (213)

Downsize them so that they're less than 250kb (800x600 works well) then upload them as an attachment when you're making a post.

ARD T2

iTrader: (22)

Hey Matty,

So what

DIAMETER

wheel are you going for? Are you open to 18's?

Finding concave spoke wheels in a high offset isn't very easy. If you do find one it will be a "LOW DISK" type of wheel. THis may create problems for you if you decide go BBK in the future. It might.

Once you answer the diameter question I'll be able to look into more options.

17" might be hard, 18" i think will be easier.

ALSO, Do you have a WEIGHT REQUIREMENT?

What's your BUDGET? ARE YOU LIMITED TO BUYING FROM TIRERACK?

Thanks, Rishie