Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Wheels & Tires Help: My Tires Self-Destructed

I have 18x7.5 (+42 offset) Alba Blaze rims with 225/35x18 Bridgestone Potenza S-03 Pole Position tires that look great but I have one really big problem. After 5,000 miles my left front tire has self-destructed, and my right front is about to also. It seems the tires have been rubbing somewhere on the inside. When I had the tires and wheels mounted I checked and did not find any rubbing, inside or out except when the tires were turned near the limit. Well, I guess they rubbed more than I thought and destroyed my front tires. They seem to have worn by rubbing on the strut/spring seat.

What can I do about this? Is there something I can do to the front suspension to stop the rubbing or do I have to get rid of my beautiful wheels? Will other tires sizes make any difference? I'm desparate!

Thanks,

When you say inside, do you mean the sidewall or the tread surface?

If it is the tread surface, then how is the camber on your car. If you've lowered it you could have the camber outta wack and your are scrubbing off the inside of the tread surface simply due to bad alignment.

If you could post pics, that may help diagnosis over the net.

TB

exactly, if your alignment is off, then you're gonna be rubbing the inside of your strut/spring setup. . .those are pretty wide tires, and the offset isn't close enough to stock, so rubbing is going to be an issue. . .you could get a wheel spacer as well, 5mm wouldn't hurt, could remedy the situation all together. . .

we need some pics, of the wheel on the car, show us how much room there is with your steering wheel cocked to one side as well. . .I think an alignment and a wheel spacer sound like the best idea for RIGHT NOW.

Suneil

My car (99 SVT) is on the original suspension and not lowered. I had a four wheel alignment done when I mounted the wheels. It is the tread surface that has worn, not the sidewalls. The wear is not from alignment or camber issues, I know what that looks like. This is even rubbing wear. The tread is still 60% on the tire but the inside shoulder is rubbed into. I've linked pictures of the tire that blew-out yesterday and the other still on the car. Also, one shot of the wheels on the car so you can see why I would like to keep them.
Tire pics

Thanks,

dude ur scaring me..i am about to install the same exact setup..pole s-03's with 18x7.5 42MM offset...i hope SOMEONE can come up with a solution...cause now im not installing until there is 1

I wouldn't either. I am looking at going back to my original equipment wheels with new tires if I can't get some help here.

Been looking at spacers. Those may work but the last thing I want is the splayed-out, low-rider look. Tires sticking out beyond the body just look like crap.

How is everyone else getting away with running these wide, big-ass rims and tires?

Martin

Ill see what my mechanic thinks, im going with a camber kit ( to be on the safe side) new struts and lowering springs.

i DO NOT want to send these rims back and wait any longer to get 40mm offset reactions back...there HAS to be a solution without the lowrider look

Wow, that's crazy damage. Looks too severe to be camber, it's nearly on the inner sidewall.

Must be rubbing on something. Maybe not when sitting still, but when the suspension compresses and you hit bumps.

Glad you didn't kill yourself with that setup! Better get it figured out!

Kerry

OK, after much research I have come to two possible solutions:

1. Remove the Alba Blazes and go back to my stock E1 wheels which need new rubber, I was thinking of 205/55x16 Potenza S-03's - I love these Potenza's!

or...

2. Add a 15mm wheel spacer to the current setup and get new front tires.

I came up with 15mm from these calculations:

Original E1 wheel: 6.5" wide and 40mm offset
122.55mm from mounting surface to inside edge of wheel.

My Alba Blaze: 7.5" wide and 42mm offset
137.25mm from mounting surface to inside edge of wheel.

137.25mm - 122.55mm = 14.7mm
15mm = .59" or between 9/16" and 5/8"

I just hope the wheels look OK with the spacers...

Martin

This comment has nothing to do with your wear problem but based on your picture with the wheel on your car and turned to the right, it looks like the tires may have been mounted backwards. Based on my tires and pictures of other directional tires, the channels in the tread blocks angle to the rear and toward the outside edge. This would be to funnel the displaced water behind the contact patch. Your installer must have been distracted when mounting your tires.

I may be mistaken. Was the photo taken from the front or rear of the tire?