Wheel Spacers, Rolling Fenders, Tire Sizes

[livestrong14]

Have a few questions:

My rear tires are rubbing on the very bottom of the struts only. I am dropped on gr-2's with whiteline springs. My current tire size is 205-55-16. I plan on going to 225's here this spring.

Can I get some wheel spacers and roll my fenders to make 225's fit? Should I go with a lower profile tire? 50 or even 4 series? Will the fronts rub with 225's?

Any answers and/or suggestions are greatly appreciated!

[Imprezive]

What kind of rims do you have? You could go with a 50 or 45 series if you wanted to, but a 45 series tire on 16's looks funny if you ask me.

[livestrong14]

05 WRX wheels. I think 50 is as low as I would go.

[skid542]

What tire are you running? I'm running a 205/55/16 and don't seem to have issues with the spring perch.

Jamal and Phil will probably step in as I know they do/have run 225's.

[livestrong14]

as stated above I am currently runnin 205-55-16's.

[skid542]

I know, what I meant was what actual tire, make and model?

It appears that this size is hit or miss on stock suspension and when searching you hear a lot of people saying that it fits and a lot that says it doesn't. So it would be helpful to include make and model so we can slowly put a list together.

[greg donovan]

I know, what I meant was what actual tire, make and model?

It appears that this size is hit or miss on stock suspension and when searching you hear a lot of people saying that it fits and a lot that says it doesn't. So it would be helpful to include make and model so we can slowly put a list together.

also a 205/55/16 from one manufacturer will be wider than a tire in the same size from another manufacturer apparently.

my kuhmo ecsta supra 712s in 205/55/16 on a set of gold 98 RS coupe wheels rubbed on the rear fender lip under hard cornering every now and then.

however, my struts were totally shot. when i replaced the struts i also put my smaller winter tires on. so maybe it was the struts but i wont be sure untill next may.

i plan to replace them w/a 205/50/16 next spring. the 50 series is a closer match to the stock overall circumfrence anyway.

[Imprezive]

Well first off you shouldn't plan on going to an even wider tire if your tires are already rubbing, and spacing the wheel are further will only make it rub on the fender lip more.

My suggestion: Get stiffer springs or get coilovers.*

OR check your alignment. Maybe something is bent.

If you are tight on money, try getting a coilover kit from Ground Control and fitting it to your GR-2's. That way you can cut off the huge lower spring perch and your tires wont rub anymore.

[skid542]

If he's rubbing on the spring perch then new springs won't do anything for him.

Spacers and rolled fenders may work if you do both together. Ideally though you want to run without the spacers. If you're rubbing just slightly, perhaps take a big hammer and 'adjust' your spring perch.

Greg, you're running 5 spokes then correct? I wonder if your rubbing is a result of the 7" rim as opposed to my 6.5".

And for the records sake, I'm running Yoko Avid TRZ's and haven't noticed rubbing on the perches.

[Imprezive]

What I meant is:

True Coilover springs from Eibach can be bought from Ground Control in 2.5" diameter sizes. This is much smaller than the OEM/Whiteline springs. If you have a smaller spring you don't need as large of a spring perch so you are able to cut off the excess. Giving you more room to run wider tires.

I have 215/45/16 Falken Azenis tires on 7 spoke 2.5RS rims. My car is lowered about 1" and my tires do not rub at all. But I also have somewhat aggressive spring rates of 450 lb/in in front and 425 lb/in in the rear.

[greg donovan]

If he's rubbing on the spring perch then new springs won't do anything for him.

Spacers and rolled fenders may work if you do both together. Ideally though you want to run without the spacers. If you're rubbing just slightly, perhaps take a big hammer and 'adjust' your spring perch.

Greg, you're running 5 spokes then correct? I wonder if your rubbing is a result of the 7" rim as opposed to my 6.5".

And for the records sake, I'm running Yoko Avid TRZ's and haven't noticed rubbing on the perches.

yep, they are 16X7 5 spokes.

[jamal]

Yes, I have 225/50-16 RE750s on 16x7 +53 RS wheels. The rear fenders need a bit more rolling but other than that there have been no problems and they look really cool.

With my stock struts I barely had room between the tires and spring perches with 205/55-16s. With STi struts there is tons of room for the 225s because the perch is up higher. I'm pretty sure if you switch to the 92+ struts you'll have more room. Additionally if you put on Ground Control sleeves you won't have that problem since you can cut off most of the perch. Phil had his 225s on 92+ GR2s or AGXes or something.


Spacers are a bad idea because the widest you can use is a 3mm before you need longer studs. Also it gives you less room in the fender and puts more stress on the wheel bearings.

[Adam West]

I've heard that camber plates can help you run wider tires by moving the struts in - but the person telling me this was an STi owner. Would that apply to our car as well?

[jamal]

Yes you could get a touch more clearance if you angled the strut inward and then used the camber bolt to adjust back out. However it wouldn't be much and would be a pretty good waste of your money since you're not getting the most out of the plates.

[Adam West]

That's what I thought - the strut would have to be very upright. But don't STI plate have wider wheel wheels on the inside that let you move everything in? Thinking if they do they have a completely different camber plate with large lateral "hole" for top of strut....This guy was running 245's or 255's...

[livestrong14]

Thanks for all the input guys! I am using stock WRX bridgestone potenza's in 205/55/16.