Tires hiting struts?

[Bernie in MA]

When you guys put bigger/wider tires on is there a problem with them rubbing on the struts? Do you have to use spacers?

[Damkid]

Moved to the proper section

[bobstad]

When you guys put bigger/wider tires on is there a problem with them rubbing on the struts? Do you have to use spacers?

I tried the next wider size than the 155-13 tires, I've used for a long time now with '87 Mazda 323 rims; and had to return to the Eureka, CA Les Schwab store immediately, due to the tires rubbing on the rear struts-with KYBs installed on all four corners.

That was a number of years ago, before my installation of an Aspire rear axle; as the rear half of an Aspire brake swap, I'm still in the middle of doing.

The 155-13 tires get excellent gas mileage though corner at best rather poorly; so I'd really like to have some wider rubber on the road.

The tire place not Schwabs, who'd recommended the size which rubbed; had expected the wider size would work well for me, whose prices weren't competitive with Schwab's.

[drddan]

Offset determines how far the tires are from the struts. The smaller the number offset, the farther the tires will be from the struts. Get a smaller offset wheel, use spacers, or get Aspire struts, The spring perch on Aspire struts are higher than the festy struts, eliminating some rub issues.

FWI, you should have about 32-35 offset, that will clear better than a 40-45 offset

[Bernie in MA]

I don't know anything about this. What is this number and how is it determined? Thanks.

[Aaronbrook37]

I don't know anything about this. What is this number and how is it determined? Thanks.

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/tech/techpage.jsp?techid=101

[drddan]

Never mind ...Aaron beat me to it! Ha!

[bobstad]

Offset determines how far the tires are from the struts. The smaller the number offset, the farther the tires will be from the struts. Get a smaller offset wheel, use spacers, or get Aspire struts, The spring perch on Aspire struts are higher than the festy struts, eliminating some rub issues.

FWI, you should have about 32-35 offset, that will clear better than a 40-45 offset

One other thing which could make matters worse; is that I've got four KIA rims to use once the Aspire swap is finished: Those are wider than the '87 Mazda 323 rims the car currently runs on, on the front at least...with a pair of Aspire rims on the back now; guessing, perhaps the same width as Festiva wheels?

The rub on the back, was with all four of the Mazda rims.

So, I have to get rid of perfectly good KYB struts on the back; to replace those with ones made for an Aspire, even though I've already got the KYBs on an Aspire axle.

Interestingly the front struts the car came with, were in pretty good condition; only the rears were wasted, due no doubt to the inadequate springs causing a whole lot more activity with the rears struts-my guess.

Should I get ambitious, and I really need to; I have to change the brake fluid, installed far longer than usual & awfully dirty looking: So, then's a good time to check out all the relevant widths and such with my variety of wheels.

I'd once a chance to have someone repack the stock Festiva front bearings; which now seems could've been an awfully good idea, rather than fooling around with the Aspire swap-as far as I've gotten with that.

One place had already implied they'd intended rapine, should I bring the car to their shop; an established place in McKinleyville, CA used to messing around with cars many multiple times the cash value of the Festiva-so that I'd stupidly given too little consideration to a far more modest Eureka operation's confidence in accomplishing what the posh place claimed was a nightmarish at best job, they'd only dim understanding of at best...no upper limit on what they'd charge me, or even any promise the job could be accomplished-with a four hundred dollar minimum. So, a good chance they'd still be tallying up storage charges-while claiming the job was an impossible one, I'd of been responsible for hauling away the remains of; probably a decade later, now.

My great love of white supremacists!!! On the left heading north out of town; somewheres past the shopping center with the totem pole.