safe clearance between suspension struct and tyre pics

[newbie29]

Hi and cheer for taking a look at my post.

I bought some 450h alloys for my wifes 400h the 450 model came with 19's wheel and the 400h 18's different cars, I noticed that the tyre clearance between the top of the tyre and suspension struct is barley 12mm.

The wheels have been on the car for 2 years without any issues, I only noticed this recently when needing new tyres.

1st tyre shop said struct never moves and it shouldn’t be an issue.
2nd alsmost said the same
3rd it will take a fully loaded car and a ditch in the road for the tyre to touch and cause a blow out.

2nd tyre shop also advised why not for fit 235 45 19 tyres instead of 235 55 19 to increase the clearance….will the car look really odd with 235 45 19 profile? Should I go back to standard wheels? I also have the option of 235 50 19 instead of the current 55
Heres some pics.


thoughts

28942187_455189234898540_1258583560_o (2) by Sam smith, on Flickr


28939144_455185514898912_476015103_o by Sam smith, on Flickr

Thanks for looking

[tapkaJohnD]

You have had it for two years, and it's a bit older than that, so stop worrying!
John

[GreenV8S]

The bit of metal you're looking at in the photo is the bottom spring seat, which is connected to the hub and moves with the wheel. The only way that will contact is if you fit tyres with a bigger diameter, or the tyre itself comes off the rim or breaks up - in which case you would have more important things to be concerned about than which part of the suspension it's hitting.

[jkh112]

What size were the tyres on the original 18 inch wheels?

If they were 235/60 18 (which is what they seem to be from from a quick google search) then the 235/55 19 tyres are almost exactly the same overall diameter so will be no closer to the strut than the original tyres.

Edit to add: the 19 inch tyres you have are 1mm taller radius so if you now have 12mm clearance you only had 13mm with the original 18 inch tyres. Nothing to worry about.

Edited by jkh112 on Sunday 11th March 12:24