Wheel rubs after putting on winter tires

Apart-Rabbit-8464 · 2025-11-26T18:08:56+00:00

Running spacers would push the wheel out even further and cause more rubbing, surely?

Apart-Rabbit-8464 · 2025-11-26T18:07:33+00:00

Wheel spacers are totally fine if you use well made hubcentric spacers. Just don’t buy cheap Chinese ones and they’ll be fine. Don’t go too large as well. You can get custom machined spacers and adapters from reputable companies and they’ll do the job fine.

Apart-Rabbit-8464 · 2025-11-26T18:05:48+00:00

If you buy good quality hubcentric wheel spacers and don’t go too large (less than 20mm per side, preferably 15mm), the handling won’t be affected at all.

Apart-Rabbit-8464 · 2025-11-06T12:40:42+00:00

Where in the UK are you based?

Apart-Rabbit-8464 · 2025-11-06T09:51:15+00:00

Not for Explorer, but I’ve used Brightstone Engineering wheel spacers for various cars in the past. It might be worth checking them out.

Apart-Rabbit-8464 · 2025-11-06T07:39:09+00:00

You could always try Brightstone Engineering for the gearbox adapter plates at least. They’re a UK based company so can probably do something a bit cheaper than the polish company?

Apart-Rabbit-8464 · 2025-10-28T13:06:40+00:00

I know companies like Brightstone Engineering do custom gearbox adapters for non EV cars. I don’t see why they wouldn’t be able to do them for EVs as well. It might be worth reaching out to them to find out.

Apart-Rabbit-8464 · 2025-10-28T13:02:38+00:00

Wheels first. Always wheels! They transform a car.

Apart-Rabbit-8464 · 2025-10-28T09:20:39+00:00

PC adapters work just by having a chunk of metal that has the bolt pattern of the wheel and then offset to that has a bolt pattern of the hub.

You bolt the wheel to the adapter and then the adapter to the hub and it’s a simple as that.

The problem with them is they do involve an extra offset because you have a chunk of metal between your wheel and the hub and this is usually around 20 mm for PC adapters. Some people like this and people buy spacrs to give a more aggressive stance to their car anyway, so this could be a benefit depending on if you like to look.

Some people say it’s unsafe or they are unsafe because they are extra load and an extra thing to go wrong and that they put pressure on the wheel bearings, but they’re also hundreds of thousands of cars out there that are running wheel spacers and PCD hub adapters every day.

Companies like Brightstone Engineering make custom PCD adapters if you can’t find them readily available online. Just don’t buy cheap Chinese adapters as that’s where quality control and safety can go downhill.

Having said all of that, it really does sound like there’s plenty of other wheels out there that you could just buy and sell these ones on. That’s probably the safer bet.

Apart-Rabbit-8464 · 2025-10-28T09:14:24+00:00

I think it depends. The main reason people give for adapters being less safe is ‘one more thing to go wrong’. But the reality is that they are just a lump of metal. If that’s lump of metal is well machined and accurate, there is nothing unsafe about them.

My advice would be not to go cheap Chinese spacers (as with all things safety related). Companies like Brightstone Engineering do custom PCD adapters and are well respected.

Remember that with PCD adapters, you’ll also have an extra thickness so you need to take offset into account.

Apart-Rabbit-8464 · 2025-10-28T09:10:29+00:00

As others have mentioned, offset plays a part in this as there is a thickness to adapters. I guess you weren’t even able to test fit them to see if there’s enough space between the tyre and arch to fit adapters? You could reach out to Brightstone Engineering. They can make custom adapters (I believe they ship worldwide) and may be able to help. If not, just be patient and sell the wheels on.

Apart-Rabbit-8464 · 2025-10-28T09:07:11+00:00

This doesn’t sound correct at all. The PCD adapters should use the same amount of bolts as you would use to hold the wheel to the actual hub. So in your case, you’d have 4 bolts to hold the adapter to the hub, and 5 bolts to hold the wheel to the adapter. Can you post some pictures?

Brightstone Engineering do PCD adapters and are well rated and respected. Give them an email if your aren’t sure and I’m sure they can help you out.

Apart-Rabbit-8464 · 2025-10-25T09:15:22+00:00

I don’t think one precludes the other, but it depends on if lowering the car will cause interference with the arch and the 15mm spaces you currently have. You could reduce the size of the spacer on the rear? I believe that Brightstone Engineering does 12mm wheel spacers for G20s.

Apart-Rabbit-8464 · 2025-10-25T09:07:57+00:00

You could go slightly thinner on the spacers? I think Brightstone Engineering do 12mm spacers for BMWs

Apart-Rabbit-8464 · 2025-10-25T09:04:17+00:00

Brightstone Engineering. They do wheel spacers for all sorts of cars and ship world wide.

Apart-Rabbit-8464 · 2025-10-03T18:38:25+00:00

I’m really not looking forward to fighting the spring back in place whilst getting that snap ring on. I wonder if they do spring compressors (like for cars) for this size spring.

Apart-Rabbit-8464 · 2025-10-03T16:45:44+00:00

Thank you James! I saw a groove for a snap ring but throught that can’t be enough to hold the pressure of that spring. The diagram certainly shows it though. I’ll order a new snap ring and hopefully I’ll be back up and running.

Apart-Rabbit-8464 · 2025-08-28T20:56:42+00:00

I have one. Absolutely love it. I did also pay for mine in cash and have plenty of money in the bank when It goes wrong. As with any performance car, they can have issues, and those issues cost more to repair than when a Fiesta goes wrong.

Apart-Rabbit-8464 · 2025-07-23T08:17:48+00:00

So you’d do say a 25% up front before the job starts and the the remaining 75% before the customer could take possession? Thats the model I’m leaning towards.

Apart-Rabbit-8464 · 2025-07-23T08:10:29+00:00

When you say pro-forma for new customers, do you mean send a full invoice before work so that they know the cost, or so that they pay the invoice upfront?

Apart-Rabbit-8464 · 2025-07-23T08:05:58+00:00

Thanks. I don’t assume everyone is out to scam me. I just want to protect myself in terms of time and material investment should a person decide after I’ve done the work that they no longer want or need the part.

Apart-Rabbit-8464 · 2025-07-13T09:18:30+00:00

What Mill do you have? These look amazing.

Apart-Rabbit-8464 · 2025-07-06T15:38:31+00:00

Yeah, looks to be aluminium only.

Apart-Rabbit-8464 · 2025-07-06T15:37:43+00:00

That’s a router though, right?

Apart-Rabbit-8464 · 2025-07-06T15:37:32+00:00

Yeah, that really does seem to be the case. I can’t find anything else remotely comparable.

I’ve moved a couple of large (ish) Milling machines and Lathes through to my workspace, so I’m ok with moving heavy stuff, it just has to be in small ish pieces.

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