GTI Wheel Arch Linings - Tyre swap
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2019 10:46 pm
Had a feel around the wheel arch linings on the rear to confirm that on the rear offside (for the benefit of non-UK/IE, remember that we drive on the other side of the road to you, so I mean the wheel arch where the fuel flier flap is), there is a lot less clearance between the wheel arch lining and the tyre than on the other rear wheel arch.
It was cold, wet, but not very dirty around there due to the wet weather, but the gap towards the 2 o'clock position as you look at the wheel definitely feels on or just under 10mm between the tyre wall and the lining. The lining is flexible though, as if it could potentially be pushed further in. The clearance is at its least around the area that is just t the left of the securing screw highlighted by the green arrow:-
I did wonder if perhaps the lining on mine is screwed in a little less than ideally, with the lining able to bellow out a bit as a result.
Another picture of the same lining below, but showing more of it, including where the shock is placed in the bodywork and comes out of the wheel arch lining. the Shock doesn't seem any further proud of the lining than it is on the other rear wheel arch. To the immediate right of the area of the shock, beyond the recessed area of the lining (and where the red arrow is), the gap between lining and tyre edge is more like 20mm.
You can see the other rear wheel arch lining here, (below) the pattern of recess is slightly different, but there is a torx screw on that side that corresponds with the blue arrowed one above. On the passengers side, there seems to be 20mm clearance all along the length of the lining to the tyre face, suggesting that on the side with the fuel filler flap, I am experiencing some arch liner bulge which may be responsible for the lack of tyre clearance.
Any chance of 1 or more of you GTI owners can confirm that for the rear wheel arch with the fuel flap above it, you have roughly consistent clearance between lining and tyre from the shock to the 2 0'clock position of the wheel, hopefully about 20mm? Hoping mine is just bulged a little because of fitment, or because the screw with the green arrow may be less than tight. I'm presuming that those screws pit into a plastic insert not too dissimilar to a rawl-plug, fitting into a hole in the bodywork - can anyone with ekta access confirm?
You might be wondering why the clearance is important to me. I'm looking to change my 215/40 R18 Bridgestone tyres out for Michelin PS4 225/40 R18, as that size of tyre is about 65% of the price of the same tyre in 215/40 R18. Theoretically, that10mm wider tyre should push the inner edge of the tyre 5mm further into the wheel arch, plus any differences in lip thickness.
I might pop the wheel off on the affected rear wheel arch to get a better look, or if people confirm their gap is larger/more consistent, to suggest I have a slightly bulged lining due to slightly less than optimal fitment.
Thanks in advance!
It was cold, wet, but not very dirty around there due to the wet weather, but the gap towards the 2 o'clock position as you look at the wheel definitely feels on or just under 10mm between the tyre wall and the lining. The lining is flexible though, as if it could potentially be pushed further in. The clearance is at its least around the area that is just t the left of the securing screw highlighted by the green arrow:-
I did wonder if perhaps the lining on mine is screwed in a little less than ideally, with the lining able to bellow out a bit as a result.
Another picture of the same lining below, but showing more of it, including where the shock is placed in the bodywork and comes out of the wheel arch lining. the Shock doesn't seem any further proud of the lining than it is on the other rear wheel arch. To the immediate right of the area of the shock, beyond the recessed area of the lining (and where the red arrow is), the gap between lining and tyre edge is more like 20mm.
You can see the other rear wheel arch lining here, (below) the pattern of recess is slightly different, but there is a torx screw on that side that corresponds with the blue arrowed one above. On the passengers side, there seems to be 20mm clearance all along the length of the lining to the tyre face, suggesting that on the side with the fuel filler flap, I am experiencing some arch liner bulge which may be responsible for the lack of tyre clearance.
Any chance of 1 or more of you GTI owners can confirm that for the rear wheel arch with the fuel flap above it, you have roughly consistent clearance between lining and tyre from the shock to the 2 0'clock position of the wheel, hopefully about 20mm? Hoping mine is just bulged a little because of fitment, or because the screw with the green arrow may be less than tight. I'm presuming that those screws pit into a plastic insert not too dissimilar to a rawl-plug, fitting into a hole in the bodywork - can anyone with ekta access confirm?
You might be wondering why the clearance is important to me. I'm looking to change my 215/40 R18 Bridgestone tyres out for Michelin PS4 225/40 R18, as that size of tyre is about 65% of the price of the same tyre in 215/40 R18. Theoretically, that10mm wider tyre should push the inner edge of the tyre 5mm further into the wheel arch, plus any differences in lip thickness.
I might pop the wheel off on the affected rear wheel arch to get a better look, or if people confirm their gap is larger/more consistent, to suggest I have a slightly bulged lining due to slightly less than optimal fitment.
Thanks in advance!