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[SMD]

Fitted a part worn tyre to get the car through the MOT yesterday, and I remembered Optis post about tyre widths and went to the car to have a look. I wrapped my arms around the tyre and tried to get my fingers to meet between the tyre/shock (of course this was not possible  )

Is it possible to check or a tell tale that tyre is rubbing against shock?

Tyre is 235/45/17

[Kevin Wood]

Look for any witness marks on the sidewall of the tyre.

If it's not actually touching at rest, and there's a few mm of clearance, it'll probably be OK.

[SMD]

Look for any witness marks on the sidewall of the tyre.

I'll keep an eye on it, cheers 

[dejbear]

The 235/45 17 leaves virtually no gap! Are they omega wheels? As fwd vauxhalls have different offsets.

[SMD]

Yes, early Elite wheels.

[dejbear]

They'll be fine then, the omega's based on carlton/senator chassis so 17" was a later fitment and why spare wheel well only big enough for 195's

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Fitted a part worn tyre to get the car through the MOT yesterday, and I remembered Optis post about tyre widths and went to the car to have a look. I wrapped my arms around the tyre and tried to get my fingers to meet between the tyre/shock (of course this was not possible  )

Is it possible to check or a tell tale that tyre is rubbing against shock?

Tyre is 235/45/17

I've had my new tyres  (Goodyear Eagle F1 asym 2 235/45/17 ) fitted for a couple of hundred miles now.......and I think they are just about okay........but they sit extremely close to the front shock......about 1mm.

As stated in my previous post, the Goodyears are getting on for an inch wider than the Michelin Primacy's they've replaced.

I can't hear any contact or rubbing, but I'm tempted to remove the front tyres, just to check.

[dejbear]

Use a compact camera or your phone, hold it at back of tyre and take a few pics 

[flyer 0712]

I have 245/40/18 on the front of mine and thats tight but perfectly ok..

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Use a compact camera or your phone, hold it at back of tyre and take a few pics 

Good idea.

[feeutfo]

Some allowance will be needed for tyre deflection. A gap at rest will not necessarily mean it won't touch the shock at speed when cornering.
Tell tales are
... burning rubber smell lingering after a corner.
... wheel speed related knocking, check on full lock both sides in forward and reverse.
... With wheel removed you'll see the paint missing from the shock in the relevant area.

It "should" be ok with 1.10-1.20 camber setting if there's no rim protection on stock wheels. But not all tyres side walls are shaped and behave the same way at speed. Add in, say, et38 vectra wheels, rim protection (again this varies between manufacturers) and or excess camber, or a wheel weight on the inside edge, and rubbing may occur while cornering.

A stock wheel with Wim spec set up should give enough clearance, provided non of the above apply. But as said, not all tyres and sidewalls behave the same.

[05omegav6]

Just to add:

The hub position, and therefore the wheel position, is fixed in relation to the strut once the hub/strut bolts are tightened, they are essentially the same part. Any movement happens either at the ball joint between the hub and lower arm, or at the top of the strut. in either case well away from where the rim is next to the strut. Tyre flex under duress should be the only cause of contact between strut and wheel

[Kevin Wood]

..and while the tyre will deflect at its' contact point with the ground, I doubt deflection will be significant at the top of the tyre. As said, though, just keep an eye out for marks on the sidewall.

[cem_devecioglu]

Just to add:

The 1.hub position, and therefore the wheel position, is fixed in relation to the strut once the hub/strut bolts are tightened, they are essentially the same part. Any movement happens either at the ball joint between the hub and lower arm, or at the top of the strut. in either case well away from where the rim is next to the strut. 2.Tyre flex under duress should be the only cause of contact between strut and wheel

 
1.yep..
 
 
2.for a 1 mm play in tire shape , you need to jump in a half meter deep pothole

[feeutfo]

Just to add:

The 1.hub position, and therefore the wheel position, is fixed in relation to the strut once the hub/strut bolts are tightened, they are essentially the same part. Any movement happens either at the ball joint between the hub and lower arm, or at the top of the strut. in either case well away from where the rim is next to the strut. 2.Tyre flex under duress should be the only cause of contact between strut and wheel

 
1.yep..
 
 
2.for a 1 mm play in tire shape , you need to jump in a half meter deep pothole

You'd be very suprised. Clearly.