Wheels rubbing on Body

[keynsham]

I have just had my 350i fail the MOT because I have fitted new tyres to the front which are 205/60R15's as I understand they are the correct size, and they are rubbing on the front inner if the wheelarch. I have no idea what I can do about this other than fit lower profile tyres.

Anyone have any ideas? Is the front adjustable to move the wheels backwards? I didn't think so?

[Classic Chim]

Buy some concentric wheel spacers. Try 5 mm first

[keynsham]

According to the Steve Heath Wedges book, the 15" wheels should be 50 profile and the 14" wheels should be 60 profile so my error I think!

If anyone wants to buy a pair of Toyo Proxes 205/60/R15, V rated with only 1 mile on them, please let me know!!

[adam quantrill]

205/60 R15 is a very common size for the 350i.

There are a number of problems with the MoT testing of a wedge, first off they check for rubbing when the suspension is dropped down.

When you have fitted new tyres it's quite usual for a bit of rubbing to happen, I had the same. Inner front wheel arches, or rear outer.

What size do you have on the rear? Maybe swap front-rear and resubmit for the MoT. If they are part worn you'll be fine.

[keynsham]

All four tyres are the same 205/60/R15's and all brand new. The car has been off the road since 2009 and the old tyres were 21 years old so I replaced them. They had been rubbing too though as the marks on the front inner arches are clear. I am getting a pair of 205/50/R15's for the front tomorrow of a matching make. I have Toyo Proxes which I believe are OK and not too pricey. I don't do track days or drive particularly hard but it is nice to have an all matching set.

TBH it only failed the MOT on the front tyre issue and the headlight aim! It could have been much worse like rear brakes seized so I count my blessings that it is only £150 to get it through the mot after such a long time!

[adam quantrill]

Well we all have a bit of this rubbing, but I've never had an MoT fail for it before. THere is no steering stop on the rack.

I'm sure you will be able to sell the previous tyres, or just store them in the dark for when the current rears wear out!

[BlueWedgy]

I had a kit car that rubbed the wheel arch on full lock, that failed the second MOT in my ownership. Due to the lack of steering end-stops, the recommended bodge/fix from the owners club was to put jubilee clips under the gator to restrict the rack ram (rod) movement on full lock. Did actually work and the MOT man was more than happy at the time.