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Thread: Rubbing with 185s?

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    Senior Member Subcompact Culture's Avatar
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    Rubbing with 185s?

    I'm considering switching from a 195/50/15 (15x6.5, +38) to a 185/55/15 or even possibly a 185/60/14 (14x6, +38). I'm lowered on Eibachs and rub in the rears, and I cannot have a rear passenger.

    I'm worried that with only being 10mm narrower isn't going to do the trick. Maye I need to go a 175/55/15?

    Does anyone rub on 185s with these setups?

    For reference: Removed rear springs and jacked the axle up to show what kind of "clearance" I don't currently have. These are Yokohama S.Drives, which I love, but I don't love the rubbing and I don't think rolling the fenders is going to clear the tires.

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  2. #2
    Still Plays With Cars Loren's Avatar
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    185 will probably get you there. It is a pain getting wide tires onto the back of this car!
    Simplify and add lightness.

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    Senior Member Top_Fuel's Avatar
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    I have 185-55-15s on 15x6.5" (+40 offset) wheels. I think my car could be lowered right now and it would clear. I've had 4 people in the car and run over speed bumps, etc. and I have no signs of anything rubbing the sidewalls.

    I took a straight-edge (a piece of wood trim 6mm thick) and placed it across the sidewall of my rear tire. Then I slid it up towards the top of the inner fender. The straight-edge just barely contacts the inner fender lip at the top of the wheel opening. So I'm guessing I have around 3-5mm of clearance with this setup...

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    The wood trim looks like it's bending...but it's pretty straight. I can't find my metal T-square anywhere.


    Your tire sidewall almost looks like it's 3/4 of an inch further out than mine.
    Last edited by Top_Fuel; 09-02-2018 at 11:30 PM.

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    Still Plays With Cars Loren's Avatar
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    Variances in tire dimensions from different tire models aside, his tire should be 2mm further out from the difference in offset, and at least another 5mm out from the difference in tire width. 7mm total. Possibly more if his is a more performance oriented tire, or just one of those tires that tends to "run wide" relative to the stated width.

    One of the reasons I chose the Dunlop Direzza Z3 over the universally acclaimed (for autocross use) BFG RE-71R is that for the stated size of 195/50-15, the Z3 is considerably narrower than the RE-71... and I knew I had a clearance problem in the rear already.

    Tire Rack usually lists "tread width", which is approximately the width of the tread close to "where the rubber meets the road". Maybe that outer 1/2" of the tire. And they also list "section width", which is the width at the fattest part of the tire (as measured on the specific width of wheel that the tire was designed around). Somewhere between those two dimensions is where you're likely to rub the fender. And on the inside, sometimes your shock/strut, spring perch, or spring will interfere with the "section width". When things get tight, you can't just look at the stated tire size, you have to look at your specific tire and it's specific dimensions.

    Problem with the Mirage is that the front and rear are quite different. The ideal offset for the rear is probably around 40-42mm (maybe even 45, I haven't measured it). That gets you off of the fender without getting into the shock. The front is a lot more tolerant on the outside, and fits a 38 offset just fine, 35 might actually be ideal, and could probably do 32 depending on the tire. (and I had problems with 40 offset wheels rubbing tires on the inside in the front... hence the desire to go with less offset)

    I went with the compromise of 38 offset. The 195's barely fit in the back... but, there's enough clearance in the front that I'm actually going to try 205's up there. Because race car. "It's not how fast you go, it's how little you slow down."
    Simplify and add lightness.

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    Senior Member Top_Fuel's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Loren View Post
    Variances in tire dimensions from different tire models aside...
    It's funny you're mentioning that. I've had RWD performance cars where it's all about how much meat you can stuff under the rear fenders. I remember drawing a chart of (supposedly) identical sized 315 tires that varied in actual section width by more than 3/4 of an inch. That's huge when you're trying to keep your Mustang's fenders from taking a bite out of the sidewall of your expensive 315s!

    And from what I remember, BFG's were always the widest tires...when comparing same sizes among different manufacturers.

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    Still Plays With Cars Loren's Avatar
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    Yeah, BFG's usually run wide. Toyos often run narrow. And so on.

    With an easy 1/4" or more difference in width on 195's, I can see 315's varying by a more than double that.

    And "more meat" is usually what you want! I'd love "fat" 195's if I didn't have such a clearance problem in the rear! That's why I've opted to try staggered tire sizes. (I almost went with staggered wheel offsets for the same reason, but couldn't find a setup that worked well enough, stumbled on a good price on the new super-light wheels that I have now... AND a buyer for my old wheels, so the whole "upgrade" only cost me like $150)
    Simplify and add lightness.

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    Administrator Daox's Avatar
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    I'm also running 185 tires on Sport Edition D5 wheels on my Mirage. I am unsure of their offset. I also am not lowered, but I have no rubbing issues. I haven't tried loading a ton of weight into the back of the car either.
    Custom Mirage products: Cruise control kit, Glove box light, MAF sensor housing, Rear sway bar, Upper grill block

    Current project: DIY Nitrous oxide setup for ~$100

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    Quote Originally Posted by Subcompact Culture View Post
    I'm considering switching from a 195/50/15 (15x6.5, +38) to a 185/55/15 or even possibly a 185/60/14 (14x6, +38). I'm lowered on Eibachs and rub in the rears, and I cannot have a rear passenger.

    I'm worried that with only being 10mm narrower isn't going to do the trick. Maye I need to go a 175/55/15?

    Does anyone rub on 185s with these setups?

    For reference: Removed rear springs and jacked the axle up to show what kind of "clearance" I don't currently have. These are Yokohama S.Drives, which I love, but I don't love the rubbing and I don't think rolling the fenders is going to clear the tires.

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    I honestly believe that a fender roll and pull would clear your 195/50/15s. You would be surprised how much the fender can be pulled out. Of course the 185/55/15 would be better and require less pulling.

  9. #9
    Senior Member Subcompact Culture's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Fit View Post
    I honestly believe that a fender roll and pull would clear your 195/50/15s. You would be surprised how much the fender can be pulled out. Of course the 185/55/15 would be better and require less pulling.
    Problem is, I have the Mitsubishi Side Sill Extensions on, and I'm afraid I can't roll the fender enough without taking them off. I might just stick with my Enesaves and moon discs and not worry about it (unless I come upon a super sweet set of other wheels).

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    In thinking about it, I have a set of 185/55/14 snow tires for my Toyota Yaris I could probably test fit and see if they'll rub or not. Hmm ...

  10. #10
    Moderator Eggman's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Subcompact Culture View Post
    In thinking about it, I have a set of 185/55/14 snow tires for my Toyota Yaris I could probably test fit and see if they'll rub or not. Hmm ...
    Be sure to let us know if the Yaris rims will bolt up to the Mirage hubs.


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        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 49.6 mpg (US) ... 21.1 km/L ... 4.7 L/100 km ... 59.5 mpg (Imp)


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