245/60R-18 Tire rub after verifying that it wouldn't

[Thylacine76]

After doing some research, I bought new tires for my 2021 Bronco Sport Outer Banks, to replace the stock tires. My Bronco Sport also has the HRG Offroad 1.5 inch (38mm) Lift Kit installed. I had this lift kit installed before I had the new tires installed. After researching here and other places saying that these tires will fit with no rub, I ended up buying 245/60R-18 BFGOODRICH TRAIL-TERRAIN T/A SL tires. My vehicle looks great with them. However with sharp turns, these tires DO rub on the front part of the wheel well. On the wheel wells, on the inner part on the forward side, there is a metal seam that "Sticks out" behind the liner. The wheels have rubbed through the liner and now catch on the metal seam sticking out. This only happens when I'm turning sharp while driving slow, i.e. out of driveways, parking spots, etc. I don't turn sharp while driving highway speeds. I only drive local, usually to and from work. Is there any way to fix this besides having to get smaller tires. I do tend to make my wider turns to avoid the rub. I'll try to get some pictures this weekend and post them.

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[Escape2Bronco]

After doing some research, I bought new tires for my 2021 Bronco Sport Outer Banks, to replace the stock tires. My Bronco Sport also has the HRG Offroad 1.5 inch (38mm) Lift Kit installed. I had this lift kit installed before I had the new tires installed. After researching here and other places saying that these tires will fit with no rub, I ended up buying 245/60R-18 BFGOODRICH TRAIL-TERRAIN T/A SL tires. My vehicle looks great with them. However with sharp turns, these tires DO rub on the front part of the wheel well. On the wheel wells, on the inner part on the forward side, there is a metal seam that "Sticks out" behind the liner. The wheels have rubbed through the liner and now catch on the metal seam sticking out. This only happens when I'm turning sharp while driving slow, i.e. out of driveways, parking spots, etc. I don't turn sharp while driving highway speeds. I only drive local, usually to and from work. Is there any way to fix this besides having to get smaller tires. I do tend to make my wider turns to avoid the rub. I'll try to get some pictures this weekend and post them.

There have been some that have cut and beat the pinch weld out of the way. I wouldn’t go that route but some have. Others have tried wheel spacers but that generally makes the issue worse.

The Easy answer isn’t the one you probably want to hear. You need smaller shoes!

 

[Tigger]

Sadly, I can only reiterate what @Escape2Bronco stated as there are several threads saying 245/60/18 pinch. Here is one:
https://www.broncosportforum.com/forum/threads/new-tires-on-my-wifes-bronco-sport-falken-wildpeak-a-t.10794/#post-185520

 

[Meanderthal]

It would be interesting to know the exact measurement of your tires diameter. If you could measure the diameter, horizontally when the tire is on the vehicle and the vehicle is on the ground. All tires vary some from the specs and sometimes that means a larger diameter. Anything over 29.5” is potentially problematic. There is some dimension between 29.5” and 30” where it becomes a problem.

Just as a note, a lift kit does not change anything about this rubbing issue. If there were lift kits that were more like 6” then that rub might be less of an issue, but really even then it could be a problem in some circumstances.

 

[Cobrablues]

Maybe it is the 18 inch wheels. Those tires worked perfectly in 245/65R/17 and never rubbed on my 2023 Sport BB. I did have the 1.5 inch "lift".

 

[Escape2Bronco]

Maybe it is the 18 inch wheels. Those tires worked perfectly in 245/65R/17 and never rubbed on my 2023 Sport BB. I did have the 1.5 inch "lift".

They are very similar in size. Both in the 29.5ish range. 60’s are typically wider than 65’s but both have a section width of 245 but that is the size range not the exact width.

 

[RSH]

On the BF Goodrich site the 245/60R 18 Trail Terrain diameter is listed at 29.6".​

My Badlands with 245/65R 17 Falkens with a 29.5''diameter will just kiss the front wheel well liners in certain situations.​

It's obviously possible the extra 1/10 inch in diameter of the Trail Terrains has made enough of a difference to cause more consistant rubbing.​

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[NMhunter]

If you haven't put too many miles on them, you may be able to take them back. My friend was able to do that with some tires that didn't suit him. Worth a phone call.

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