Rear tyres scrubbing on plastic shock cover

[bad_boy_nova]

Ive lowered my nova 60mm, ive got 195/50/15 tyres on it. There seems to be enough clearance in the front arches, but at the back arches, the tyre is permanently touching the plastic cover on the shock. What should i do? I dont want to use wheel spacers, as this would put too much load on the wheel bearings and then the wheel would probably rub on the outside of the arch. Cheers!

[Nova-Boy]

Are you using the right offset and what size rims are they? I am not sure what spacers on the back would do bearing wise. The dont turn like the front ones so wouldn't be under as much stress would they??

[Will]

you running et49 im guessing, it might be partly to do with the fact your tyre is a 50 not a 45 which is recommended. What suspension set up are you running? e.g. standard, just springs or uprated shocks and springs??

Wheel spcers on the rear are not a problem if it comes to that, ive got them on my 16s as they are 7j x 16 and et49 so they are to close to the inner rear arch and rub without the spacer. You can buy universal ones that fit any pcd, that wot mine seem to be.

What are the actual name of the rims ur running, are they vaux e.g. cav rims or an aftermarket one?

will

[Ste_Nova]

why is 45 profile recomended :o 45 works well on 195/16" i don't see a need to run 45s on 15"s

[bad_boy_nova]

They are 5 spoke 15's off a vectra, et49 offset. I previously had them on a different nova and i used 5mm spacers on that at the back, but the bearings dont last 5 minutes. It should b ok rubbing on that plastic shock cover because it will wear through it soon and then it will be fine.

[Aragorn]

45 is reccomended because the rolling circumference on 45's is equal to the nova's original 13" alloys meaning the speedo will be accurate(ish) and gearing will be kept original fitting 45's to 16" rims will knock the speedo out slightly and also futz slightly with the gearing

what kinda tires are they??

i had cheap kwik fit tires on my old nova and i found they had a very bulbous profile - the sidewall stuck out way more than the tread and sat about 1mm away from the shock cover - it wore a nice little hole in it and also into the underseal on the inner arch too

[Ste_Nova]

oh well i never buy cheap tyres so i havn't had that prob

novas came with 14"s too

[bad_boy_nova]

The tyres that i bought are, Michelin Pilot Exalto, 195/50/15.

[Aragorn]

hrm - prolly not cheap

but whats the profile like?
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^ good ^ bad

[Ste_Nova]

humm same tyres i run on my 49mm offset 16"s

5 up 60mm lowered no mods and no rubs
http://mig.lathwood.co.uk/upload/2/2000_-_currentx.jpg

[_JH_]

45 is reccomended because the rolling circumference on 45's is equal to the nova's original 13" alloys meaning the speedo will be accurate(ish)

GTEs came with 175/65/14 tyres as standard, I havent wasted my time calculating circumferences or anything, but they look bigger than standard 13inch nova wheels+tyres on other mk1s. is there a difference between the two speedos then? Are the calibrated differently? if so one 'recommended' tyre profile may be ok on one car and not another

[fearless]

Why not remove plastic cover - Its only a dust cover !!!!

[mikeoxford]

Why not remove plastic cover - Its only a dust cover !!!!

why not forget you even saw it!? wont do any harm