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[805beemer]

I tried having my 235/40/18 Bridgestone re11s mounted on apex arc 8 18x8.5 et45 on my stock sport suspension today. Big brand mounted the rim first and the rim barley clears the strut by a few mm. Then they mounted the right front tire and when you crank the wheel to the left the tire is hitting the inner fender liner and oil cooler vent. I know several other guys run this same tire size on both stock and lowered suspension so was really surprised to have issues. If anything I thought the 275/35/18s would give me problems but those while tight don't rub.....

Includes pic of stock rim and tire to show how little room I have with 215/40/18's

Any ideas on why its rubbing and what I can do to fix it?

[ShocknAwe]

whats your caster?

[135Pats]

Not at all surprised you are very close to the strut, you more or less need a spacer if you plan to run 8.5 and 235. On full lock my front tire rubs a tiny bit on the oil cooler mesh, but not to a degree where i'm overly concerned.

As you are finding out, tire and wheel options are a joke on this platform. It's terrible.

[ShocknAwe]

Originally Posted by 135Pats

Not at all surprised you are very close to the strut, you more or less need a spacer if you plan to run 8.5 and 235. On full lock my front tire rubs a tiny bit on the oil cooler mesh, but not to a degree where i'm overly concerned.

As you are finding out, tire and wheel options are a joke on this platform. It's terrible.

So want to make sure I have it straight: using an 8" with a 235 width tire would be about the same as using a 5mm (lets call it 1/4" even though its less) spacer with a 8.5" wheel and a 235 width tire assuming the offsets are identical.

Or is my math messed up.

[135Pats]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

So want to make sure I have it straight: using an 8" with a 235 width tire would be about the same as using a 5mm (lets call it 1/4" even though its less) spacer with a 8.5" wheel and a 235 width tire assuming the offsets are identical.

Or is my math messed up.

Well if it's an extra half inch of width on the wheel, a 5mm spacer isn't going to make up the equivalent difference. So even with a 5MM, you'll be tighter to the strut with an 8.5 than an 8, assuming identical tire and offset.

So for full context, i'm running 8.5 and 225 with an effective ET40 due to the spacer up front. It rubs a bit and on full lock does make contact with the oil cooler mesh. Not optimal but the tires have been on for over half a year with no issues, so i'm not overly concerned. I've seen far worse.

Oh I should add you'd have more room to the strut on stock tension rods, the M3 ones I run add camber.

[ShocknAwe]

Originally Posted by 135Pats

Well if it's an extra half inch of width on the wheel, a 5mm spacer isn't going to make up the equivalent difference. So even with a 5MM, you'll be tighter to the strut with an 8.5 than an 8, assuming identical tire and offset.

So for full context, i'm running 8.5 and 225 with an effective ET40 due to the spacer up front. It rubs a bit and on full lock does make contact with the oil cooler mesh. Not optimal but the tires have been on for over half a year with no issues, so i'm not overly concerned. I've seen far worse.

Oh I should add you'd have more room to the strut on stock tension rods, the M3 ones I run add camber.

Hm, I figured the 1/2 inch extra on the wheel width would be distributed from the midline, equating to 1/4 inch impacting the strut clearance. I suppose that ratio changes with offset though. Thanks for the info.

[805beemer]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

whats your caster?

No idea, the guys at big brand said nothing they could do alignment wise would change it from rubbing the liner so I didn't have them do the alignment check.

[805beemer]

Originally Posted by 135Pats

Not at all surprised you are very close to the strut, you more or less need a spacer if you plan to run 8.5 and 235. On full lock my front tire rubs a tiny bit on the oil cooler mesh, but not to a degree where i'm overly concerned.

As you are finding out, tire and wheel options are a joke on this platform. It's terrible.

So what would you recommend I do? I have some 5mm spacers I can put on so the rim has more clearence from the strut but that wouldn't help it from rubbing the inner liner would it?

[135Pats]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Hm, I figured the 1/2 inch extra on the wheel width would be distributed from the midline, equating to 1/4 inch impacting the strut clearance. I suppose that ratio changes with offset though. Thanks for the info.

Static yes, but under load it depends on other factors. You can try it and see how much clearance you have before driving, of course.

Originally Posted by 805beemer

So what would you recommend I do? I have some 5mm spacers I can put on so the rim has more clearence from the strut but that wouldn't help it from rubbing the inner liner would it?

That's the dilemma with this car. There is very little room inside so you use a spacer, but then you run into the fender liner. I added camber and a roll and I still rub a small amount. I'm lowered a decent amount but still, there is very little room on this car. I'd like to run 245/275 but that's not possible at my ride height.

[805beemer]

Does running positive caster push the wheel back towards the rear of the car? If so and there's room to go back then that should work correct? I'm waiting to hear back from apex and also Harold from HPA is local to me so I can see him Monday as well.

[805beemer]

Looks like tire rack accepts returns and the 225/40/18's are $30 cheaper per tire so any money I lose on shipping shouldn't be more than the $60 I'd get back. Or would a 245/35/18 be easier to fit than the 235/40 I have now. I know I'd probably need more camber. Was planning on buying dinan plates and the m3 control arms in the next few days.

[135Pats]

Originally Posted by 805beemer

Looks like tire rack accepts returns and the 225/40/18's are $30 cheaper per tire so any money I lose on shipping shouldn't be more than the $60 I'd get back. Or would a 245/35/18 be easier to fit than the 235/40 I have now. I know I'd probably need more camber. Was planning on buying dinan plates and the m3 control arms in the next few days.

IDK but i'd love to know. I dream of fitting 245 up front.

[805beemer]

Originally Posted by 135Pats

IDK but i'd love to know. I dream of fitting 245 up front.

Aaaaaand of course Bridgestone doesn't make an re11 in 245/35.....

[135iam]

I wanted 245/35/18 and 265/35/18 re-11's and was not so happy that those sizes aren't available to put on my ARC-8's. I ended up going with S04's to get the size I wanted.

I went out this morning and turned the wheel all the way to the left (like the pic earlier in this thread) and I can run my fingers between the oil cooler cover and the tire. (Hand touches both, but not a tight squeeze on my fairly big hands)

I have M3 arms, Dinan plates, and KWV3 going on soon. I have been told with these parts and -2.2+ camber I will have zero rubbing (by someone on the forum with this exact setup) and I have been told by others on this forum my setup will rub.....so I know it will be close.

I'm curious to read how you resolve this as those could easily be my next front tires. (Re-11)

[805beemer]

Originally Posted by 135iam

I wanted 245/35/18 and 265/35/18 re-11's and was not so happy that those sizes aren't available to put on my ARC-8's. I ended up going with S04's to get the size I wanted.

I went out this morning and turned the wheel all the way to the left (like the pic earlier in this thread) and I can run my fingers between the oil cooler cover and the tire. (Hand touches both, but not a tight squeeze on my fairly big hands)

I have M3 arms, Dinan plates, and KWV3 going on soon. I have been told with these parts and -2.2+ camber I will have zero rubbing (by someone on the forum with this exact setup) and I have been told by others on this forum my setup will rub.....so I know it will be close.

I'm curious to read how you resolve this as those could easily be my next front tires. (Re-11)

So you are running 245/35 SO4's? And right now you have stock suspension?

I will definitely keep this thread updated.

[135iam]

Originally Posted by 805beemer

So you are running 245/35 SO4's? And right now you have stock suspension?

I will definitely keep this thread updated.

Yes, 245/35 front and 265/35 rears on staggered 18" arc-8's with the stock sport package suspension.

[805beemer]

Originally Posted by 135iam

Yes, 245/35 front and 265/35 rears on staggered 18" arc-8's with the stock sport package suspension.

Okay, thanks. No spacer in the front?

[135iam]

No spacer.

There is a pic of my wheels/ tires on the car in this thread.


http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=945358

[ShocknAwe]

Another thing worth looking at, I believe the front M3 tension struts (uppers) change front caster, and the M3 wishbones (lowers) add neg camber. Dunno how the struts change it though, cant remember to save me.

[128GP]

You're rubbing on 8.5 +45 Arc8's on stock suspension? Are RE11's wider than usual? Im asking becuase I have the same Apex wheels and tire sizes in my home waiting to install. Apex as well as posts here assured me this would not rub.

[805beemer]

Originally Posted by 128GP

You're rubbing on 8.5 +45 Arc8's on stock suspension? Are RE11's wider than usual? Im asking becuase I have the same Apex wheels and tire sizes in my home waiting to install. Apex as well as posts here assured me this would not rub.

Yes arc 8 8.5 +45 on stock sport suspension. RE11's shouldn't by be any wider than normal.

[Icewall]

Must be your tires. I have vmr v810 in the same offset with mpss tires. 235/40/18 and 265/35/18, no rub at all. Not even that tight, but it is close to the fender on the front.