Standard new tyres rubbing?

[Matrixxxx]

Hi all , just had some new 2 new 225/40/19 tyres fitted and the drivers front side rubs when reversing ? I don't think is been lowered ? Any one else had this issue. 

[mrfunex]

Got a photo? Seems very odd behaviour on stock sizes...

[emjay82]

Doesn't sound right, must be lowered or something is catching. Might be worth sending a pic. 

[NemesisUK]

Only when reversing? Could it be a loose arch liner?

[Matrixxxx]

Same size old tyres didn't rub. 

[emjay82]

Might need to take the wheel off to inspect the arch to see what could be causing the rubbing. Nothing obvious I assume? 

[mrfunex]

Doesn't seem lowered... other than that, I can't make anything else out...

jack the car up, try turning the wheel and have a look? Although this may not reveal too much as the suspension won't be compressed...

[Big Rat]

@Matrixxxx If you and a mate in a seperate  vehicle can get to a large open space- empty super market car park perhaps.

And try a few parallel runs, he obviously is going to need a passenger to do the observing.

Worth a try 🤔

🐀

[Matrixxxx]

It's rubbing on the middle of the tyre on the front inside of the wheel arch liner (the second pic). If you google the problem is is quit common with Lexus's but usually lowerd ones, only reversing and on the drivers side. The wheel has a 2" gap to where it is touching, so either the wheel is moving or the whole suspension is dropping when reversing. 

[Ray-ISF]

If you have 2" movement in your suspension forward when reversing you need to check all your bushes and arms on that side. That's way too much movement. 

[Matrixxxx]

It's just been trough an mot so don't think there will be a suspension failure as it's part of the test. As I said it seems a common issue with Lexus's, could just be a warped wheel arch liner. 

[NemesisUK]

As I already suggested above, loose arch liner but the question is why has it become loose/warped since new tyres fitted? Something the fitter did? Can't imagine what...

Second thought, do you have staggered wheel set up? Wider rims on the rear?

Still puzzling why it only does it when reversing

[Matrixxxx]

The thing is I bought the car with worn tyres , so it may just be a few mm that makes the difference. 

I will have a good look at it at the weekend. 

[NemesisUK]

Tyres don't wear 2" ....

Also Lexus wouldn't sell a car with a tyre size that rubs (when reversing) when new. Is the tyres size as given in the handbook?

[Matrixxxx]

225/40/19  standard? 

A few mm's  make a difference, it just rubs. As I said it's not just me who has this issue. 

[NemesisUK]

What model, variant and year are we talking about?

[Matrixxxx]

08 ISF 

[NemesisUK]

Aren't IS-F wheels corner specific?

[J Henderson]

They are, but according to the pic above the wheels are fitted correctly.

Using a heat gun or hairdryer on the wheelarch liner, then pushing it inwards/upwards with a piece of wood or something and holding it there for a couple of minutes whilst it cools ought to solve this.

[Matrixxxx]

My wife's taken the car back to the garage, they couldn't replicate the noise , but they think it must be the liner, in the middle pic you can see one of the louvres broken and sticking out slightly , this may be catching in reverse, they also said the liner doesn't feel as secure as the other side, so I will check at the weekend. The heat gun sound the easy option just moving it back away from the wheel. 

[Defratos]

Are you sure it's rubbing? or is it skipping?

as much as an MOT should check for suspension failure I'd measure up both sides of the car from the ground. Maybe one of your suspension arms is leaking causing it to be lower on one side? just a guess. 

I'm running 245/35 19 tires on the front (this equates to being 8mm lower compared to the OEM tires) and I'm running OEM suspensions and have never had them rub so it's either you're lowered or there's bushing/suspension failure in the mix. 

[Matrixxxx]

The garage checked it again today , it is defiantly rubbing,  it sounds like the bumper is being  dragged along the road.

 

[Neil E]

Er....my eyes aren't the best but looking closely at the second picture, is that not a loose arch liner?

It should be a very easy fix once the wheel is removed, it might be fixable just with the wheels on full lock. The plastic liners are usually held on with a few 10mm screw bolts and push fit retainers. It took me about 10 mins to remove them on the SC. It's difficult to understand why a competent garage would check it and not fix it.

 

[Matrixxxx]

It's not loose, but may be out of position. I'm going to take it off at the weekend and have a good look. 

[Defratos]

The only guess I can make out would be something related to the suspensions or your ride height