Winter set-up - S5 wheels with lower offset but rubbing

[Chigger]

So I have my Hartmann S5 wheels on...

HRS4-252-GS 19"x8.5" ET38 - I love the look, flush on the side and filled up the wheel gap. I only rub during big bumps.

Right now I have stock size 255/35/19 winter tires on.

Should I 1) go with skinnier/narrower tires 235/35/19s or 2) roll my fenders?


Thanks in advance!

[jran76]

So I have my Hartmann S5 wheels on...

HRS4-252-GS 19"x8.5" ET38 - I love the look, flush on the side and filled up the wheel gap. I only rub during big bumps.

Right now I have stock size 255/35/19 winter tires on.

Should I 1) go with skinnier/narrower tires 235/35/19s or 2) roll my fenders?


Thanks in advance!

What tires are you running, are you lowered, and where are you rubbing? I would suspect the rubbing is really minor. Honestly, I'm a little surprised as the extra 5mm shouldn't be an issue.

[Chigger]

What tires are you running, are you lowered, and where are you rubbing? I would suspect the rubbing is really minor. Honestly, I'm a little surprised as the extra 5mm shouldn't be an issue.

Thanks for the reply! I am currently on stock suspension. (OEM 19" peelers for the summer)

I only rub in the back, very minor only on big bumps. The fronts clear no problem.

I found a set of 235/35/19s Nokian snow-tires, not sure if that's the way to go... or if I need for a new 18" winter set-up.

[jran76]

Thanks for the reply! I am currently on stock suspension. (OEM 19" peelers for the summer)

I only rub in the back, very minor only on big bumps. The fronts clear no problem.

I found a set of 235/35/19s Nokian snow-tires, not sure if that's the way to go... or if I need for a new 18" winter set-up.

There is nothing to roll in the rear, so rolling the fender is not an option. More than likely you are rubbing a small piece that sticks out where the rear bumper meets the fender, or maybe the liner (less likely if you are at stock height).

I would first get an alignment, and see if the they can add a just a little negative camber and/or get toe closer to 0 (decrease the positive toe to move the tire away from the area you are rubbing). I think the low end of the factory toe spec is 0.08, and that would be a good number. The combination of those two things should help. Positive toe means the back edge of the tires are kicked out towards that area where you are most likely to rub. Reducing the positive toe to a lower number should bring the tire in away from that area a little.

If that doesn't work, you can shave down the small place where you are rubbing, or change tires. I probably wouldn't do a 235/35 as it's almost 2% smaller, but see if you could find a 245/35.

[o1turbo30v]

I would take your car in for an alignment and have them give you -2 degrees of camber on the rear, it wont rub after that. Those specs of wheel and tire shouldn't be rubbing.

[Mat@1975]

Hello,

Agree with Jran and turbo30v. A proper alignement should help, but +5 mm protruding / OEM wheels should not rub, even with unperfect alignement specs.
Do you rubb only at the same side ? If so, you may probably have a subframe not properly/ perfectly centered...

See you

BR

Mat

[jran76]

A proper alignement should help, but +5 mm protruding / OEM wheels should not rub, even with unperfect alignement specs.
Do you rubb only at the same side ? If so, you may probably have a subframe not properly/ perfectly centered...

I definitely agree, and that would be something else to have them look at when you get an alignment. I've heard of several unmodified vehicles having a slightly shifted subframe, and it doesn't really become an issue until the wheels/tires are pushed out a little bit. In general, that setup should have at least 3-4mm of additional clearance, maybe more depending on the exact tires being used.

[Skyler@Achtuning]

It seems most likely that the camber is out of spec. We've also seen a few cars which have deformed felt fender liners which can bow in and contact the tire. This is the first time I've heard of a B8 on that wheel and tire spec with rubbing, especially at stock height.

[Chigger]

It seems most likely that the camber is out of spec. We've also seen a few cars which have deformed felt fender liners which can bow in and contact the tire. This is the first time I've heard of a B8 on that wheel and tire spec with rubbing, especially at stock height.

So even with the lower offset ET38 versus the OEM ET43 (5mm), with same size tire, they should not be rubbing.

This makes a lot of sense since the rubbing is only coming from 1 wheel (rear passenger side), and that side/1 wheel might be out of spec.

Thank you all for the information!

[billym]

I used this (or a similar) calculator to determine if my non-S4 wheels would fit: https://www.rimsntires.com/specspro.jsp

I have 18" wheels, of which my winter set up had a 6mm lower offset, which I was concerned about, used the calculator and learned I'd be ok, and they clear.

Hope you find it as helpful as I did.

(edit: actually I think this was the calc I used: http://www.wheel-size.com/calc/ )

[firstars]

Very surprised you are rubbing with those specs. I have 255/35/19 DWS06 on 19x8.5 et33 rotors with no rubbing. Lowered on kw height adjustable springs.