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Is this enough clearance for my tire?

sloopy

2-digit whp
Joined
May 25, 2020
Location
Dallas, Texas
I've got a set of enkei 92's with 215/70R14 cooper cobras and the tire is really really close to the strut housing/lower spring seat. I bought a set of extended wheel studs and nuts thinking that I would have to add some spacers, but I haven't had any rubbing as far as I can tell. I took a picture of the gap which looks to be almost 3mm. Second picture is with a standard volvo bone tool stuck in the space.


https://i.imgur.com/lgY19mq.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Ijg4nv0.jpg


Would it be foolish to leave this alone, or would it be a good idea to add spacers?
 
I just measured the distance between the hub face and the inboard edge of the wheel. I guess I would call it the "inner offset". It's the exact same at 4" as the factory steel wheel. So it looks like any width this wheel gained compared to a factory steelie went outward. I guess the reason the tire is so close is because this tire is wider and slightly taller than the factory specified tire for a wagon (195/75R14).
 
If it doesn't touch it should be fine. Go hit some bumps and see if the sidewall flexes into the closest object, if not you are good.
 
Nevermind I'm just gonna get spacers :^)

4 & 5 Lug 3mm Thick Spacer (Pair) $11.99


600-2T.jpg
 
^^That would be perfect, and legal for inspection almost everywhere. You can usually do 5mm max before the inspection guys get upset.
 
Why that tire size specifically? With a wagon, your tire size should be around 24.7" to keep an accurate speedo and with your size you're at 25.8", which gives you around .5" less clearance of things like strut towers.
 
As far as I understand, the factory spec for a wagon is a 195/75R14 which has a 25.5" rolling diameter. So I'm only 0.3" over which gives me 0.15" less clearance than spec. My speedometer is practically dead on for once. If anything it reads maybe 0.5 to 1 mph over compared to my phone's gps.
 
depends on your comfort with tire touching the spring base

I've driven with sharp shoulder winter tires and about the same clearance. Upon some side loads, the tire did make contact and eventually wore a bit of a divot into them.
Although I won't choose that wheel offset for that tire diameter again, it doesn't make me worried at all in use.
So for my money, yeah spacers are an ok idea, but I'd prefer a more proper wheel offset without spacers. Can't you find a 14" wheel that gets you an extra 3mm of clearance for, like, very low cost?

I've got a set of enkei 92's with 215/70R14 cooper cobras and the tire is really really close to the strut housing/lower spring seat. I bought a set of extended wheel studs and nuts thinking that I would have to add some spacers, but I haven't had any rubbing as far as I can tell. I took a picture of the gap which looks to be almost 3mm. Second picture is with a standard volvo bone tool stuck in the space.


https://i.imgur.com/lgY19mq.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Ijg4nv0.jpg


Would it be foolish to leave this alone, or would it be a good idea to add spacers?
 
Nah there's no way I'm getting rid of these wheels. I need to post pics of them. Anyway I think it would do well with some 16.5mm spacers
 
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