Cuts in tire from fender?

[rsuhandy]

Can anyone confirm these cuts are due to fender rubbing?
I assume it's under full compression as there is plenty of clearance when the vehicle is standing. My opinion is that the tires are still safe to drive on but please let me know otherwise if I'm wrong. Also it's only on one front tire (Drivers side); I guess I'm heavier than I thought...?

Thanks!

[rockyfeller]

It's hard to tell 100% but most probably those cuts in your tire were due to fender rubbing. You should have heard some noises in the cabin when the tires rubbed especially on full compression. The easiest way to tell if the tires rubbed? Why not bend down, look up inside the wheel well with a flashlight and look for evidence of a rub at the fender?

The main cause is not weight, but because you're running aftermarket wheels that have an aggressive offset and the tires are coming out of the fender.

From the pics you provided it looks most likely like the car is safe to drive. The cuts in the tire are fairly superficial and within the tire tread. They'll wear through. The real danger is when there's a full-thickness cut into the tire past the tread, then you'd need to be worried.

The only way to fix this is to change your wheels.

[rsuhandy]

Originally Posted by rockyfeller

It's hard to tell 100% but most probably those cuts in your tire were due to fender rubbing. You should have heard some noises in the cabin when the tires rubbed especially on full compression. The easiest way to tell if the tires rubbed? Why not bend down, look up inside the wheel well with a flashlight and look for evidence of a rub at the fender?

The main cause is not weight, but because you're running aftermarket wheels that have an aggressive offset and the tires are coming out of the fender.

From the pics you provided it looks most likely like the car is safe to drive. The cuts in the tire are fairly superficial and within the tire tread. They'll wear through. The real danger is when there's a full-thickness cut into the tire past the tread, then you'd need to be worried.

The only way to fix this is to change your wheels.

Thanks! I did look at the fender and couldn't find any noticeable residue on the fender. It probably happened when I took a hard hairpin turn, I went for a quick drive on one of my bumpier roads and didn't find any rubbing. These wheels have a slight bit of extra offset (3 mm), so I'm surprised that it managed to rub.

[technician117]

Definitely look like cuts from hitting the fender/body. Is the car lowered? I see those are Cup 2 tires, are they stock size?

Different people will have varying opinions on if the tire is still safe. The close up pic shows the cut going fairly deep, but it's still only in the tread. IMO, the tire is fine to keep running provided you figure out why it rubbed and stop it from continuing.

[M5Rick]

The off-set looks too large on those after market wheels which is why the arch inner lip is catching them.

[rsuhandy]

Originally Posted by technician117

Definitely look like cuts from hitting the fender/body. Is the car lowered? I see those are Cup 2 tires, are they stock size?

Different people will have varying opinions on if the tire is still safe. The close up pic shows the cut going fairly deep, but it's still only in the tread. IMO, the tire is fine to keep running provided you figure out why it rubbed and stop it from continuing.

Yes stock size. I think the rubbing was a one time thing. Hard bump during a hard right-hander.

[rsuhandy]

Originally Posted by M5theonlyone

The off-set looks too large on those after market wheels which is why the arch inner lip is catching them.

I don't think the offset is too aggressive...

[rockyfeller]

Hmm. You're right. The offset doesn't look too bad from that angle. I'm running spacers and my tires come out more than that for sure. I have no rubbing.

Our EDC is supposed to compensate well on turns. Loads up firmness as the weight shifts. Keeps the car flat. Hard to think it would allow much compression on a turn like a traditional setup. Unless you hit a hard bump on a turn?

[M5Rick]

Yes I see now,I was going by the width from the hub to the centre of the wheel.