I have had the car exactly 60 days and have just run into a problem with the wheel-well to tire clearance. I did a right hand 180 with a little speed and it sounded as though the tire scrapped in the wheel well. This was with a GXP and the 2.45 X 18 oem tires.

I analyzed the problem and here is what I found:

1. The drivers side tire to wheel well clearance was 3/8" less (radially) than the passenger side with the tires full front.

2. The round brake cooling duct on the drivers side protrudes into the wheel well approximately 1/4" further than on the passenger's side.

3. At close to lock in a right hand turn the brake cooling duct interferes with the tire.

4. The tire to wheel wheel clearance gets real tight (reduced) if you turn the wheel close to lock when at rest. This is exacerbated as the cars gets some G's due to the body rolling into the outside tire.

I am going to take it to the dealer and have them check the frame alignment and the wheel alignment.

Have them check the alignment of that brake cooling duct you talked about. That dosn't sound right.

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Own:
2004 Pontiac Sunfire (Rally Yellow) - less refined than a Solstice, but there's definately some family ties.
-Tein SS suspension, 1" sway bars, strut tower bars, upgraded rotors and pads, 17" wheels and Kumho tires

Dreaming of:
Pontiac Solstice GXP (Mean)

I can cut the duct myself, I am worried about the diff from the tire-to-well clearance.

Might just need to have the tire well moved a little. Should be easy for the dealer to do that.

Glad you mentioned this problem. When I pick up MARiSOL tomorrow or Tuesday, I'll check the wheel wells to see if they were reinstalled with proper clearance.



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Her name is MariSOL
VIN 6Y101319, delivered 10/15/05. 71,923 miles.

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