I am running Hoosier R3S03's in 225/45/15 on 15x7 Team Dynamics wheels with 45 mm offset. These wheels were fine with my 225/50/15 Sport Cups, but not with the Hoosiers. ITR is about 23.5" from ground to fender, and I installed H&R 5 mm spacers in the rear only. I have no rubbing issues in the front (some minor rubbing in spots of the inner fender) but even with the spacers in the rear, I have significant rubbing on the rear trailing arm, and tire smoke from the rubbing in some corners. I added washers of 2.5 mm thickness to see is that was enough (7.5 mm total) and rubbing was still there but no more smoke in the tight corners under load. That was about equivalent to 38 mm offset wheels. Does anyone make a 9-10 mm spacer with hub centric feature. H&R and Eibach do not. I have heard of people modifying the trailing arm to add clearance, but also of failures of said modified trailing arms, so spacers is my preferred choice. I am not in the mood to buy more wheels at this point.

From this picture on RTR's old ITR's, I can see this is a common problem.



Suggestions (aside from buying new wheels)?

 

try to get down to +35 or soo offset that should take care of the problem

 

You don't actually have a problem here Claude.

Scott, who doesn't see any need to stick that much tyre under the back...use 205's...

 

If I use smaller tires, then I can't swap them all around. Plus I have 8 brand new 225/45/15's that I am itching to use. If I have to buy 8 brand new 205's to go with those, and 35 mm ofset wheels, I won't have any more money to pay for seat time to hunt those Vipers down!

 

You need to removed some material from the trailing arm. It is a common fix. Should not comprimise the strength. I would be more wary of adding additional spacers as the rear hubs on these cars are susceptable to failure.

#81 H4 Acura Integra

 

5mm spacers and extended studs will fix what ails you.

and for the record , I agree with Scott on "that much tire" but I like a really loose car...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Doctor CorteZ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">5mm spacers and extended studs will fix what ails you.

and for the record , I agree with Scott on "that much tire" but I like a really loose car...</TD></TR></TABLE>

But as I said, I already have 5 mm spacers and extended wheel studs (H&R) and it did not fix what ails me. Tires were smoking with that set-up and glazing at the point where they rub on the control arm. No contact whatsoever in a straight line, 40.5 psi hot. Does anyone make spacers between 5 and 15 mm?

As for the too much tire issue, I understand I could buy 8 more tires in 205 size to match up with my 8 225's, but that would not be in the budget right now.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Andrew240z &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You need to removed some material from the trailing arm. It is a common fix. Should not comprimise the strength. I would be more wary of adding additional spacers as the rear hubs on these cars are susceptable to failure.

#81 H4 Acura Integra</TD></TR></TABLE>

It may be a common fix, but I would assume you have to cut through the arm and then re-weld something to make it strong again. Any pics or examples. The cutting/grinding part would of course be easy, it is the strengthening I would worry about.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by descartesfool &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If I use smaller tires, then I can't swap them all around. Plus I have 8 brand new 225/45/15's that I am itching to use. If I have to buy 8 brand new 205's to go with those, and 35 mm ofset wheels, I won't have any more money to pay for seat time to hunt those Vipers down!</TD></TR></TABLE>

Well if it was me I'd buy FOUR 205's (that ought to get you thru 8 fronts), and simply drive less.

Come to think of it...that's even better than if it was me, cause you'd still get to actually drive twice as much as me! No...wait....that's not right...2 X 0 = .....Hmmm.....anyway, that's what I'D do.

Scott, who always picks quality over quantity....to a fault.

 

I can see you all want me to buy more tires, but I think I have enough tires (if you saw my basement you'd think I own a rubber company), and I want to drive the car, not spend more money on it. I like driving the car but I do not like smoke. I truly appreciate all your opinions on buying wheels and tires, truly, but is there another option?

Does anybody know what the RTR guys were using in that picture? I can also see that they use those little screws to hold the disk, but their spacer has a hub-centric part to it.

 

All you have to do is remove some material from the side of the traling arm. Not cutting or welding is necessary. Jack the car up and check the clearence and grind away the metal in the way. Make sure you smooth it all out. That simple.

 

Claude,

I've got 5mm spacers on my 7 inch rims with 43mm offset - and I rubbed the typical amount with the 225/45 R3S03.

I figured there was no way the R3S04 was going to work without more spacer and cutting off completely my already rolled fender lips.

I'm not crazy about the idea of cutting into the trailing arm either.

You sure you can't afford one pair of 205's to get you thru most of the rest of the year?

Scott, who has plenty of tires for next year at this point too...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Doctor CorteZ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">5mm spacers and extended studs will fix what ails you.

and for the record , I agree with Scott on "that much tire" but I like a really loose car...</TD></TR></TABLE>

No. 5mm spacers are not enough to get 225/45/15 Hoosiers away from the LCA when the tire is flexing. The do not rub when you spin the tire and its on a jack stand. And they don't rub when going in a straight line. But they most assuredly rub with 5mm spacers when under heavy cornering loads.

Alan "who has nicely polished LCAs and has 2 Hoosiers with nicely polished inside shoulders"

 

Hmm....something just occured...

I was just thinking that at peak lateral g...when you're getting that rub on the outside tire / trailing arm...that's contributing an understeer moment!

Scott, who takes a dim view of such things..."I don't like you Understeer...I think you'd better get the hell out of here!"....

 

As soon as I decide to buy my D sports racer, Radical or Stohr, as the wind takes me, I may take you up on that "leave this forum" concept. Until then, understeer is my mantra.