If you have wide tires on your car, you know that sometimes they can rub against the frame when taking tight turns. This can cause a lot of damage to your tires and can be very frustrating.
In this article, we will discuss some ways that you can minimize the amount of damage that is done to your tires when taking tight turns. Before we dive straight into the topic for the day, let’s first look at what tire rub is and its causes.
What is tire rub?
Tire rub is when your tires make contact with the fender, suspension, or any other part of the car while turning. Tire rubbing can lead to several problems, including:
- Tires wearing down prematurely
- Damaged suspension
- The car’s handling is affected
This is extremely dangerous and can lead to a tire blowout, as it causes your wheel to crash with the wheel well whenever you hit a bump in the road.
Causes of tire rubbing
There are a few different reasons why tire rub can occur. Some of the most common reasons include:
1. Worn-out suspension components:
The first reason why tire rubbing occurs is because of worn-out suspension components. When your car’s suspension components are worn out, they can’t properly support the weight of the car, which causes the tires to make contact with the fender when taking a turn.
Suspension components include shocks, struts, and springs.
-Shocks: Shocks play a vital role in keeping your tires in contact with the ground, and they can wear out over time. When they do, it causes the car to bounce around more, which puts more stress on the tires and can cause them to rub.
-Struts: Struts are another suspension component that can wear out over time and cause tire rub. They help support the weight of the car and keep the tires in contact with the ground. When they wear out, it can cause the car to sag, which puts more stress on the tires and can cause them to rub.
-Springs: Springs can wear out over time and cause tire rub. They help support the weight of the car and keep the tires in contact with the ground. When they wear out, it can cause the car to sag, which puts more stress on the tires and can cause them to rub.
2. Improper wheel alignment:
Another common cause of tire rub is improper wheel alignment. If your wheels are not properly aligned, they will make contact with the fender when taking a turn. This can be caused by hitting a curb or pothole or simply due to wear and tear over time.
Cars are machines that rely on each component to function properly for the car to operate as intended. When one component fails, it can cause other components to fail as well. This is why it’s important to have your suspension and alignment checked regularly by a professional.
3. Worn-out tires:
Another common cause of tire rub is worn-out tires. Tires are made of rubber, and over time, they will start to break down. This process is accelerated by heat, UV rays, and road debris. When tires break down, they become softer and more pliable, which causes them to deform more easily when taking a turn. This can cause the sidewalls to collapse and make contact with the fender or suspension, which will cause tire rub.
4. Modifications
Modifying your car is also a common cause of tire rub. When you lower your car or add wider tires, it changes the geometry of the suspension and can cause the tires to make contact with the fender when taking a turn.
If you are like me and enjoy modifying your car, then it’s important to be mindful of the changes you are making and how they will affect the suspension. You may need to make additional adjustments to prevent tire rub.
5. Improper tire pressure:
The final common cause of tire rub is improper tire pressure. If your tires are not properly inflated, they will make contact with the fender when taking a turn. This can be caused by several factors, including a slow leak or simply driving on a hot day. Properly inflated tires will help prevent tire rub and make driving smooth.
Now that we know what tire rub is and its causes, let’s look at how to minimize the damage it can cause.
Ways of minimizing the damage on tires during tight turns
There are several ways you can adopt to minimize damage on your tires that rub the car’s frame during tight turns. They are:
-Reducing the turning radius
-Adjusting the car’s suspension
-Installing fender flares
-Choosing the right tires
1. Reducing the turning radius
One way to minimize damage to your tires is to reduce the turning radius of your car. This can be done by making some adjustments to your car’s suspension. By doing this, you will be able to take tighter turns without your tires rubbing against the frame.
If you notice while taking a turn, your car usually drifts to the outside, this is an indication that you need to adjust your car’s suspension. This can be done by lowering the spring rate or by adding some camber. In case you might be wondering what camber is, It is the angle of the tire in relation to the ground when viewed from the front or rear of the car. Adding a camber will help keep your tires from rubbing against the frame during tight turns.
2. Adjusting the car’s suspension
Another way to minimize damage to your tires is by adjusting the car’s suspension. This can be done by making some adjustments to the car’s alignment such as lowering the ride height of your car. By doing this, you will be able to take tighter turns without your tires rubbing against the frame.
Adjusting your car’s suspension also helps in terms of tire wear. When you adjust the car’s suspension, it helps to keep the tire contact patch perpendicular to the ground which results in even wear on all parts of the tire.
3. Installing fender flares
Another way to protect your tires from damage is by installing fender flares. Fender flares are pieces of plastic or metal that are installed on the car’s body. They help to cover the tires and protect them from being damaged by debris or rocks.
I quite remember when I had to replace my car’s tires after taking a turn too tight and the outside of the tire got scraped against the curb. It was a very costly mistake that I made until i decided to install fender flares.
4. Slow down
I would suggest slowing down when taking a turn, this will help prevent your tires from making contact with the frame and getting damaged. If you have modified your car as I mentioned earlier it means you have altered the car’s suspension which causes the tires to rub on the fender.
You can prevent this by slowing down when taking a turn and also, be extra careful not to hit any potholes as this can cause your tire to rub and later explode.
5. Choosing the right tires
One final way to help minimize damage to your tires is by choosing the right tires. There are many different types of tires available on the market and each one has its own advantages and disadvantages. Some tires are more resistant to damage than others.
When choosing the right tires for your car, it is important to consider the type of driving that you will be doing. If you know that you will be taking tight turns often, then it is a good idea to choose a tire that is more resistant to damage.
Final Thought
Tire rubbing is a common problem that can be caused by several different factors. By being aware of the causes of tire rub, you can take steps to prevent it from happening. If you do experience tire rub, try any of the methods I suggested above and you will be good in no time.
I hope this article helped explain what tire rub is and how to prevent it. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment below and I will be happy to answer them. Thanks for reading!