Reduce wheel gap without lowering the car?
 

Total noob here when it comes to suspension, wheels and tires.

So, I don't want to lower my car (due to garage scraping issues) but I want less wheel gap. Is this achievable just by getting larger wheels or tires? If so, what sizes would be advisable?

if you don't care about ruining car handling, response and drive ratio then you can slap some ghetto looking 19" or 20" in there but the increase in diameter will affect the way your speedometer works and the gear ratios.

This car BARELY has torque to move itself, adding huge wheels will make this car feel like you are driving a 300lbs guy in your car.
there are mild drop suspension that will fix the wheel gap enough and you won't scrape anywhere.

Example of such suspensions?

-Sent from outer space

Either get the Tein S Techs, or wait for TRD to release their springs that'll work with stock struts and be covered under warranty if they blow. TRD isn't likely to go too low so it would probably be "just" right.

Dude you live in SoCal. The Mecca of modifying imports. Just find a shop slap some springs on and call it a day.

KW Suspension does a pretty decent job, but they're expensive as hell though.

EDIT: Nevermind, shouldve read the title first. Goodluck with that

Go with an increased diameter wheel but yet again as the others have said, torque is an issue. 1" lower wouldn't hurt that much would it? go for some eibach springs and 18" wheels, you'll get more benefits than you would get with 19-20" wheels with a stock ride height.

I run Eibach sportlines and 18" wheels and the gap is nice and even and I don't scrape all over either. Drop it like its hot!!

put 18's with eibach pro kit. perfect. i have a pro kit ill be selling soon real cheap. like $100.00 compared to about $250

Just rock springs, most of the people going low are because they want to.

I got the Eibach pro kit. One inch drop is perfect and it's not low enough to cause any issues.

run wider tires with larger sidewalls.

Saw this, thought it may work for what you want.

Product made by GARAGE VARY to make the car look lower without having to actually make the suspension unusable. It is made to reduce the gap between the fender and tire. Price is for the full set covering front and rear fenders.

http://www.86worx.com/media/catalog/...-003_thumb.jpg

http://www.86worx.com/garage-vary-lo...der-trims.html

:happyanim::w00t:
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_hyvP2RcJM"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_hyvP2RcJM[/ame]

Have you measured how much clearance you have when the car is loaded with driver, passenger, and a load in the trunk? (or whatever your car could have when entering/leaving the garage).

I have clearance issues but it's at the end if my driveway where the sidewalk drops off to the street. I have to drive off slowly at an angle or the front lip scrapes. Even RCE or Swift springs springs would make this even more tricky.

Those Garage Vary fender trims are interesting...

great idea.. but it looks.. tacked on.. IMO
maybe it looks better when its moving..

Slapping 20" wheels makes ur car looking tall and stupid, imo.

Garage scraping issues? Would you mind taking pictures? Are they steep inclines? Sometimes those issues can be easily resolved by driving side way.
Lightly rubs are acceptable, imo. You could run RCE springs 0.75" drop. I'm sure they will clear almost anything even on steep inclines. I've run swift springs which was 1". I never had any scraping issues.

11 posts from people who have no idea what they're talking about until this guy chimes in.

Rim diameter does not directly affect overall wheel (tire+rim) diameter. Keeping rim size constant, buying a larger profile tire will increase the diameter of the wheel and thus reduce wheel gap. That said, it will also throw off your speedometer and affect gearing.

To most of you above: If you don't know what you're talking about, don't post.

Well all specs remaining the same, rim diameter does matter. I.E. a set of 245/40 R17 tires have a smaller diameter than a set of 245/40R19 tires (i.e. 2" larger diameter). I think that's probably what people are saying. Typically, if you went from a 17" rim to a 19" rim you'd go to a 30 sidewall because most people try to keep diameter same as stock (which won't change the fender gap).