Hello Everyone,

I recently got some cheap rims and tire set up but they look cool The tire size was the same that was on the car stock but I would guess the offset on the rims is not what stock is since they rub over dips and hanging corners at high speeds. This only happens in the rear, anyone have some inner wheel trimming experience or advise on what to do? I got these rims and tires brand new cheap so I kind of want to make them work. Tire size 205/45/17. Any input would be great.

Thank you!

 

I have had rear tire rubbing issues when the suspension is loaded (weighted down, large bumps, hard turns) with my 2003 and 2006 MCSs.
Both were due to changing wheels or wheel offsets.
2003 was with 17x7 et38 wheels, 215/40-17 tires, and H&R lowering springs.
2006 was with 18x7 et52 wheels, 215/40-18 tires, 15mm spacers, and JCW springs.

Both cars required tirming of the plastic wheel arch and the plastic wheel well liner. I could see where the tire had rubbed on the plastic. I removed the tire and trimmed/ground-down the plastic with a dremel tool.

If you only have a very slight rub it might fix itself over time by the tire grinding down the plastic where it rubs. You can probably get an idea of how bad the rub is by looking at the tire damage.

Make sure the rub is not so bad that the tire is rubbing on any metal. I could see a little metal part on my 2006 that I had to slightly trim.

 

My VMAXX coilovers let me go low enough on stockies to rub the very spot you're talking about. I just had to raise them up due to rubbing today (springs are finally done settling)

 

Nice thanks guys! I checked the tires when I first heard the rubbing to see if it was metal rubbing but it is just the inner plastic wheel well plastic. It is definitely worse when I have more than just me in the car so it gets a little annoying. I am sure it will wear itself down eventually but I like to go buy new tools since I dont have a dremel I think its time for one.

 

Not trying to dissuade you from buying new tools but you can use a drill with a burs bit (deburring bit such as might be used to port a cylinder head). Here is an example:
http://www.mcmaster.com/#rotary-deburring-tools/=jodydc

Last time, I used a cordless drill with a carbide deburring bit and it worked great.

Of course demel tools are great because of the higher RPM.

 

Ahh good idea, I can just get one of those for my cordless drill, sounds easy enough.

Thanks!

 

If you are just going to use the bit for trimming the plastic you should be able to find a high-speed steel version at a local hardware store at a reasonable price.
I happened to have a carbide bit because I used it to match port a manifold to a cylinder head.

 

Is there any metal that would rub under the plastic wheel liner? I may go the trimming route if theres little chance of any tire damage

 

Yes there is some metal right under the plastic wheel well liner in some places. For example where the wheel arch connects to the body there are bumps in the liner. On my 2003 the tires did not rub near the bumps but on my 2006 the tires did rub on the bump. When I trimmed the plastic at the bumps I hit metal. I ground-down the metal slightly in one area to make sure it would not rub. I remeber at least one other place where I saw metal after removing some plastic and I made sure the metal was very smooth in that area in case it ever rubbed.

On both cars, after trimming the plastic I have not had any more rubbing. The metal that I trimmed probably would not have been a problem but I wanted to make sure while I was working in the area.

I also think I sprayed some primer anywhere I saw bare metal.

 

Exactly what I feared my 06 is rubbing on those exact same bumps. Guess I've got a weekend project in my future...