suspension problems or tire fitment?

[crimsonGST]

On my 1995 RS I have 235/45/17 on my car with the stock spring/shocks. I bought the car with these rims and exact same size tires, but recently purchased new tires. For some reason theres an arm behind my tire that is rubbing on the backs of them, that never rubbed before. Is my suspension just getting too old and sagging [if so what do I need to purchase] or are these tires just too wide to fit on this car?

 

[chris712vt]

The part of your suspension I assume you're talking about it the knuckle. It's oriented vertically, centered behind the wheel, connects to the upper control arm... it is rigid and wouldn't sag.

The problem is probably the offset of your wheels in combination with whatever brand of tires you got. First of all, if your old 235s fit before and now your new tires rub the knuckle, your new tires may be slightly wider because they're a different brand/model even though they are still the same 235/45/17 size. I have 245s on my car and they clear all suspension parts... thus your wheel offset is the main reason why they would be scraping. Usually +40 or 42 is the best offset range for our cars, if your wheels are out of that window your tires may come in contact with your knuckle or fenders.

Your wheel offset might just not allow you to clear the knuckle with wide tires without being spaced out.

Hope this helps you.

 

[crimsonGST]

Yes that helps a great deal and that was the part I was referring too.
Other than purchasing new tires, is there really any way to fix this, such as spacers?
I just dont want to worry about blowing a tire any time soon, but I also dont want to have to put huge spacers behind my wheels causing my car to look some "wanna-be hot rod"

Is my best bet just to buy new rims? or just get some different tires?

 

[chris712vt]

In my opinion, the cheapest (cost) solution is to just get spacers. If one set of 235s fit, and another didn't you must not be rubbing by much. So I would assume you only need very thin wheel spacers.

However, I have never used wheel spacers before, and I don't know how wide of a spacer you can use without causing a problem with not enough threads left on the studs to hold the wheels on or something.

My advice would be pull a wheel off and look on the back of one of the spokes. There should be a number on there like +40 or +38 or whatever. That's your offset - and then someone can tell you how wide of spacers you need. That will be a much cheaper option that buying another set of new tires or different wheels.

 

[crimsonGST]

Okay ill do that.
thank you my friend.

 

[chris712vt]

no problem, glad to help. you'll have to get another opinion on how wide of a spacer to get though haha. I know Wret would be able to answer that.

 

[bullettdsm]

Just for your piece of mind, I race with 1/2" spacers on. No problem. Just be aware that if you put spacers on, you may have to put on extended wheel studs (depending on size and type of spacer and lug nut).

MB

 

[crimsonGST]

Ok, well ill keep that in mind. Definitely going to do a little more digging and research on this though.
Thanks for you imput.