C2 rear fender clearance - more than I expected!

[Timothy B.]

Prior to ordering 215/70-15 tires I decided to see more precisely how much clearance I have now with 205/75-15 size installed. I just had my alignment adjusted to 1 deg neg on the rear, and visually at normal riding height it really looked like I didn't have much extra clearance at all. I was not convinced that 215s would clear the fender. I had read on this forum comments that as the wheel moves up the top of the tire moves inward, but I wanted to confirm just how much. I disconnected my rear spring and manually moved the rear wheels up and measured clearance at the tightest point in the travel. As you can see in the photos, I have over 1/2" on one side and more than 3/4" on the other. Basically, I don't think I need to worry about rear clearance since I understand the section width on the 215's is only around a 1/4" greater. Some of you who are also concerned about tire fit and think that you don't have much clearance in the rear probably have more room than you think.

[Gerard F.]

How do the fronts fit?

Any rub on a turn?

Jerry Fuccillo
#42167

[Timothy B.]

Re: How do the fronts fit?

In the front with my existing 205 series Michelin X tires, there is slight contact at full right turn on the bolt heads of the idler arm. This is the typical contact that I hear referenced in this forum. I don't have the 215s yet, but I expect only slightly more contact once installed.

[Duke W.]

Re: C2 rear fender clearance - more than I expecte

The high roll center of the C2 rear suspension yields high negative camber gain with jounce, so if the clearance is okay at normal ride height, jounce should not be a problem.

Also, the more static negative camber you have, the more clearance you will have at normal ride height, and cleance will increase about .25" for every degree negative bias, so running negative one degree static camber will usually provide sufficient clearance and about a quarter inch more than zero camber. Since the OE spec is about negative one-half, running negative one is not a signficant deviation from nominal OE spec and will usually improve handling, especially if combined with negative one at the front and hard anti-roll bar end link bushings.

Sllght front tire shoulder interference with the frame on full lock is normal with wider than OE tires, but since you don't use full lock at other than parking lot speeds, it's not a safety issue and should not damage the tires.

Duke