The wheels and tires on a vehicle are some of the most important components involved in its handling, ride comfort and even appearance. Installing wider or taller performance tires and wheels is a common upgrade that many car owners make to their vehicles in the search for better performance and a more appealing appearance. However, cars and trucks are designed by their manufacturers to use very specific sizes of wheels and tires. If the wrong tires or wheels are installed, the tires can rub against the vehicle's bodywork and even against the suspension and brakes components.
One of the most common causes for a tire rubbing on a vehicle's bodywork is a suspension that has been lowered excessively. A popular modification that car enthusiasts make to the their cars is the installation of a lower suspension. This is generally accomplished with the installation of lowering springs and performance shocks. The result is better handling and reduced body roll due to the stiffer suspension and lower center of gravity. However, if the suspension is lowered excessively, the tires will often make contact with the wheel arch. This will usually be exacerbated over bumps and around corners, or when the vehicle is carrying extra weight. The solution is either installing taller springs or potentially using narrower tires that will provide additional clearance. Some owners also roll the insides of the fenders, which involves bending the inside lip of the fender away from the tires.
The wheels, tires, bodywork and suspension on a vehicle are designed to work as a whole. The wheels and tires have a specific width, profile and diameter. While changing the dimensions of the tire may have no affect on the vehicle in question, if the vehicle already has limited clearance, wider tires may rub on the bodywork or the suspension. If the tires rub, narrower- or lower-profile tires may need to be installed to eliminate the issue. The fender lip can also be modified by bending or rolling the inside portion of the fender opening, away from the tire.
Car owners often upgrade their stock wheels with larger and wider wheels for an improved appearance or better performance. However, if the offset of the wheel is incorrect, it may cause the tires to rub on the bodywork or the suspension. Offset refers to where the wheel is located in relation to the vehicle's hub (the place where the wheel bolts to the vehicle). If the wheel sticks out too far from the suspension, the tire may interfere with the bodywork and if it is located too close to the suspension, it may interfere with the suspension and/or brakes. The same applies to wheels that are too wide. The correct wheels for the vehicle in question will solve this issue. Other solutions may include modifying the bodywork with wider fenders that can accommodate the larger wheels.
There may be other issues that can cause a tire to rub on the bodywork or the suspension, though they are not as common as the above issues. They include: worn shocks, suspension components or even an improper alignment. A professional alignment shop should look at your vehicle to determine the exact cause of the issue.
