I put my RX-8 wheels on a few weeks ago and I just noticed this...




This is the rear driver wheel well and the fender is bent towards the wheels?? Idk how this happened and I am positive it was fine before the wheels. If it was from the wheels rubbing, how would it be bent towards the wheel? Also, I have not heard any rubbing noises at all, not to mention I am extremely careful when it comes to driveways and bumps lol.

If this is from the wheels rubbing, then I need to roll my fenders. Luckily, I already plan to do this because I want to lower my car about 1"-1.5". Anyone experienced with this?

don't have a speed 3 but i can tell you that i had to roll my fenders on my 6. It doesn't really happen too much on bumps, but it's from turns. The reason why it's facing wheels is because your suspension compresses and when it un-compresses, your tire is the last thing (only thing for that matter) your fender grabs. You could rent a fender roller or if you have an old wooden baseball bat. Ted (who did mine) used the Rawlings Method

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Make sure you have a heat gun and patience regardless of what method you use. you should be able to find grooves in the tire from where that happened.

+1 on the heat gun, although if you can get the car out in the (direct) sun on a 90+ degree day for a while, you might be okay without it. Dan and I both used a baseball bat (I did use the roller tool, but I needed to touch up parts of mine and borrowed Dan's bat).

That can definitely happen from rubbing that metal feels like it is pretty strong, and it is, but if the rubber catches it, it will get pulled out.

That makes sense. I don't have any old bats, nor do I even want to attempt rolling my fenders without any prior experience. Haha

I looked at my fenders and I am pretty sure the fronts are rolled from the factory. Would I still have to roll them? Also, I see a lot of plastic. Would I have to cut some of it out?

The odd part is it appears to be on the front side of the wheel well at the bottom. The suspension doesn't move that much in order to hit at that point. I could see 60 degrees both ways off the centerline of the wheel at the top, but not in the front like that. Especially if there are no other spots where it pulled the lip away from the quarter panel like that...

my 6 and Miquel's 6 did it in the same exact spot as Evan's. Mebbe it's a Non-sports car Mazda thing?

Correct me if I'm wrong Brian, I don't remember having any rubbing when I used your shinka wheels/tires. I did have rubbing with the aftermarket wheels and ad07's from the 8, but those were different sizes...

i also think brian had the stock tire size. Evan has slightly wider

Evan has 225's on there. So, stock for an RX8.

When Megan had my stock Shinka wheels on her MS3 she ran them no problem. This included a track day at Nelson Ledges. Tire size was 225 45 18, same as stock and the same as Evans. The only problem she had was when she ran my aftermarket wheels with a +40 offset and a 225 45 18 tire. And even then it only hit at the top and not the spot where he is hitting.

Just sayin....

I have had my rx8 wheels on for a few months now and have not had any tire rub even with the car loaded with 4 people. my tire size is 225/45-18

Ya the tires on my RX8 wheels are stock 225/45. I'm still stumped as to what or how that happened. I've only heard the wheels rub once with 4 people. I hit a big bump (screw Ohio roads!), but the only sound I heard was from the opposite side.

I got me some a set of 235/45/18 on my rx8 wheels and they are rubbing. Only place I found in the NE Ohio that does it is Koala motorsports and they want $150 to do all 4.

Give Brian a Bud Light and a child size aluminum baseball bat

Haha I am trying to avoid the bat method or the rubber mallet method. I don't trust my self yet.

...and he'll toss the beer and beat you with the bad.

louisville slugger + black velvet = the way to go.

The bat worked fine for me.

I believe Brian used a bat on my ms3 ... just enough to fit the 8 wheels on there too lol