Do your fat tires rub your shocks?

[frdwrnch]

Finally got around to installing my widened rear rims and 295/45-18 Nitto 555 tires today along with new front kdws's and a fresh alignment. I could not help but notice the inside of the rear tires is damn close to the shock. I realize most sidewall flex and bulge occurs at the contact area but I'm not sure if this is going to work. i could not test drive the car as I did not locate the wheel wts. on the fronts correctly and they are hitting my freshly painted calipers so I've got to redo that tomorrow. Any of you guys running this setup have to relocate the shocks?

[Blk Mamba]

I'm only running 285/50/18's, on stock rims, but no rub

[DTUB]

Finally got around to installing my widened rear rims and 295/45-18 Nitto 555 tires today along with new front kdws's and a fresh alignment. I could not help but notice the inside of the rear tires is damn close to the shock. I realize most sidewall flex and bulge occurs at the contact area but I'm not sure if this is going to work. i could not test drive the car as I did not locate the wheel wts. on the fronts correctly and they are hitting my freshly painted calipers so I've got to redo that tomorrow. Any of you guys running this setup have to relocate the shocks?
My 305 NTO5R'S rub the shocks and shock towers.

[J-MAN]

I've got the same size nittos on the rear with widened rims and get some slight rubbing. I'm going to add a 1/16th spacer to each side and that sould fix it.

[RoyLPita]

My 2nd pair of 295 width Hankooks on non-widened wheels are no where close to rubbing the shocks.

[DOOM]

There is a spacer to fix the problem.

I only use my widened rims & 305's at the track so I'm not sure if my tires rub.

[ntd]

my 295's are close but don't rub. Think your tires would clear if you grind down the lower mounting spacer and use washers to push the shock inboard?

[DTUB]

my 295's are close but don't rub. Think your tires would clear if you grind down the lower mounting spacer and use washers to push the shock inboard?
Are you saying move the bottom of the shock in?

[ntd]

Are you saying move the bottom of the shock in?
Yup not going to give you a lot of clearance but may tilt it in far enough to clear if not perfect time to upgrade to the Naake shocks

[frdwrnch]

my 295's are close but don't rub. Think your tires would clear if you grind down the lower mounting spacer and use washers to push the shock inboard?

That's exactly what I had in mind. Anyone done this?

[DTUB]

That might work with the shocks but i'm rubbing on the towers too.

[ntd]

That might work with the shocks but i'm rubbing on the towers too.

The mount welded to the frame that the top of the shock bolts to? if just kissing maybe a small 1/8th inch wheel spacer

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/WHEEL-SPACERS-4-5-LUG-UNIVERSAL-1-8-THICK-BRAND-NEW-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem1e 5e1e1661QQitemZ130428048993QQp tZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fParts Q5fAccessories

[ImpalaSlayer]

That might work with the shocks but i'm rubbing on the towers too.

i guarantee if you buy my cobra SB they will no longer rub :D

[ntd]

i guarantee if you buy my cobra SB they will no longer rub :D

:lol: I admirer your sales skills

[03mmmonroe]

Finally got around to installing my widened rear rims and 295/45-18 Nitto 555 tires today along with new front kdws's and a fresh alignment. I could not help but notice the inside of the rear tires is damn close to the shock. I realize most sidewall flex and bulge occurs at the contact area but I'm not sure if this is going to work. i could not test drive the car as I did not locate the wheel wts. on the fronts correctly and they are hitting my freshly painted calipers so I've got to redo that tomorrow. Any of you guys running this setup have to relocate the shocks?

Hello Russ,

Marauderman has the same concern. After Marauderville 8 I was going to help him with his car.
Russ

[FordNut]

Mine does not rub the mount. It would probably rub the stock shock but no rubbing on the QA1's.

[blazen71]

Put some thin wheel spacers on and be done with it! That's what I did.

[BUCKWHEAT]

Mine does not rub the mount. It would probably rub the stock shock but no rubbing on the QA1's.

Agree: QA1's fix the problemo. Also, use 305s for drag-only and ignore it or, buy a set of Kazera wheels with slightly different offset for the Nitto 305 DR's. Mine clear on inside and outside. My street tires are the 295 Nittos, & no problem on the factory rims w/ Q1'S.

[Marauderman]

Finally got around to installing my widened rear rims and 295/45-18 Nitto 555 tires today along with new front kdws's and a fresh alignment. I could not help but notice the inside of the rear tires is damn close to the shock. I realize most sidewall flex and bulge occurs at the contact area but I'm not sure if this is going to work. i could not test drive the car as I did not locate the wheel wts. on the fronts correctly and they are hitting my freshly painted calipers so I've got to redo that tomorrow. Any of you guys running this setup have to relocate the shocks?

Yes Russell, mine do too just like described --and the solution is also as described here too--get different thinner shocks like some mentioned ..I still need to do that but dragging my feet---
I would not go the spacer route unless they are exact fit and no slack to compensate for fit as they then tend to slip on the hub and the noise and feel is frightening

[FordNut]

Agreed, only use spacers if they are the centering type.

[ntd]

Correct me if I'm wrong TCE sends a spacer along with there front big brake kit do people have a problem with that slipping on the hub? While not ideal I have ran an 1/8 inch spacer on one of my cars for over 2 years without issue.

[Joe Walsh]

I'm also running P295 Nitto 555s on widened rims and have no rubbing at all.
I have about 1/8 - 1/4" clearance between the inside of the tire bulge and the shock.
My P305 Nitto DRs rub just a little bit on the shock, but I only run them at the track.

[frdwrnch]

I drove the car today and they did not appear to rub. Could not find the right time or place to check the Stickies. That may have to wait til Friday w/MV8 crew. Will put it on drive on lift tomorrow just to make sure. I see spacing shock as my first workaround attempt and go from there. Thanks for the feedback.

[sailsmen]

I've got the same size nittos on the rear with widened rims and get some slight rubbing. I'm going to add a 1/16th spacer to each side and that sould fix it.
Carefully think the spacers. Ford spent enormous sums to center and load the wheels on the hub. I think there is a brand of spacers that maintains the center lip.

[FordNut]

Some cars I've seen will rub the shocks if it is jacked up, but when the suspension is in the normal driving position they don't rub.

[TooManyFords]

I just had a set of NITTO 295/45R18's put on my stock rims. No rubbing!

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4126/4974426207_dea8d82540_z.jpg

[Raven34]

If I'm reading this correctly, 295/45R18 will fit on non widened (stock) wheels too? and then if I get widened wheels they will still fit properly?

[hotford]

I found that running the orginal rear shocks clear widened rims with 305/45/18, but when going with the ford replacement rear shock which change up to a lincoln number, they will rub on the shock plastic cover for the rod.

[Raven34]

TooManyFords, do you have original oem shocks? Do you have a guess as to how close the tires are to the shocks? I'm interested in doing the same to my car and dont yet have widened wheels. Sorry for all the questions. thankssss

[Marauderman]

Hello Russ,

Marauderman has the same concern. After Marauderville 8 I was going to help him with his car.
Russ



That's reminds me--I have such great needs for your service of expertise its not funny anymore---------we need to set a date and I can then go about getting what I need to bring over---Thanks--



Yes Russell, mine do too just like described --and the solution is also as described here too--get different thinner shocks like some mentioned ..I still need to do that but dragging my feet---
I would not go the spacer route unless they are exact fit and no slack to compensate for fit as they then tend to slip on the hub and the noise and feel is frightening

So what did you decide on after MV8 Russel?....I still need to do something--I painted a white stripe on the inside tires to see what and how much was rubbing--you might try that as well--it shows a lot of info....Tom

[TooManyFords]

TooManyFords, do you have original oem shocks? Do you have a guess as to how close the tires are to the shocks? I'm interested in doing the same to my car and dont yet have widened wheels. Sorry for all the questions. thankssss

Yes, everything is stock and everything fit just fine. I do not have an exact measurement of the distance from the shock to the tire, I just know it did not rub.

Cheers!

[Raven34]

^^^ I appreciate all your help, i just had to ask because after seeing the extensive work done to prorauder I didn't know if you had done any "minor" mods to this one in the back yet.

Thanks :)

[TooManyFords]

Yep, I know it's hard to believe but I don't mod the he!! out of every car I own.

LOL!

[Zack]

Widened wheels are a WASTE of MONEY IMHO.

You will overpower any tire with a supercharger and for a NA car they are pointless.

[Raven34]

If I'm planning to run nitto nt 555 295/45 18's in the rear (on stock NON-widened wheels), would the best size for front be 255/45 18 or could I go as low as 245/45 18. I have traction control, and if the info I used is correct the 295's for the rear would be 28.4" tall and the 255s would be 27" and the 245s would be 26.7"

IIRC I read somewhere that you wanna stay close to a 1.3" difference in height between front and rear if you have tc because that's the factory difference.

I'm trying to get a wider rear tire without going to wider wheels and i want to keep them matching brand.

Sorry for the novel and the hijack

[Raven34]

also is there a close matching (factory height diff) front if you get the 265 rears