I need some help!! I have a ford fiesta Zetec S with 20mm spacers (bought it modified) I need some recommendations for front tyres mid range to premium ideally. The last ones were tracmax which I don't want again. Issue being I tried some recently and they're causing issues when we go over small bumps it's just smacking the arch and causing damage to my alloys. Please help 🙂

Welcome!
Can the spacers be removed (likely to cause early wheel bearing failure?)?
Otherwise my comments would be the same as here and likewise, the suggestions from others?

 

You obviously have some clearance issues which need sorting out, I doubt a different tyre brand will help on its own.

Spacers are the first thing I'd suspect, but are there other mods? Suspension lowered? What size wheels and tyres are on the car at present?

Standard size for the Zetec S was 195/45x16 with 205/40x17 as a factory option.

Generally you won't go far wrong with any decent brand - Michelin, Continental, etc.

And - we always mention this - assume the wet belts have been done at 10 years, or earlier?

The spacers aren't coming off, it's been modded for years and everything is all healthy, working well ect. The tyres I had previously were tracmax 17inch 205/40 they worked completely fine and never had issues. It was the second I changed to sailuns last month she nice then it's been so annoying. IV been looking at the falcon eco run or just get the tyres I had previously I just didn't want budget. 

4 hours ago, AYoung said:

I need some help!! I have a ford fiesta Zetec S with 20mm spacers (bought it modified) I need some recommendations for front tyres mid range to premium ideally. The last ones were tracmax which I don't want again. Issue being I tried some recently and they're causing issues when we go over small bumps it's just smacking the arch and causing damage to my alloys. Please help 🙂

 

6 minutes ago, AYoung said:

The spacers aren't coming off, it's been modded for years and everything is all healthy, working well ect. The tyres I had previously were tracmax 17inch 205/40 they worked completely fine and never had issues. It was the second I changed to sailuns last month she nice then it's been so annoying. IV been looking at the falcon eco run or just get the tyres I had previously I just didn't want budget. 

You've been running around on budget ditch finders, not even mid range tyres. 🙄  

Clearly, unless you're Ray Charles, everything isn't healthy and working well if the tyre is clouting the arch.  It would suggest a suspension issue, the wheel spacers won't be helping either.

Thats hilarious 😂 I bought the car in December so clearly your just being rude instead of helpful. The car is in healthy working order- your not driving it so not quite sure how you've worked that out. I literally got these tyres last month and has been rubbing since so chill out. Unless your giving me suggestions I'm not interested in your petty response 

12 hours ago, mickywrx said:

  It would suggest a suspension issue, the wheel spacers won't be helping either.

I've literally told you where I believe your issue lies.  Should you choose to think otherwise, that is your prerogative.

To reiterate, I'd personally start by looking at the suspension.

4 hours ago, mickywrx said:

I've literally told you where I believe your issue lies. 

You should know better than to try and argue with an AI Bot 🤣

Now stand back and watch as it now explodes and claims to real 😂

Black and round ones I find the best! 😛

But seriously, my advice would be buy the best you can afford. Remember tyres are the only things that have contact with the road. Have a look at Tyre Reviews.com which has lots of (independent) tests of tyres, as well as user reviews. It's best to look at tests using the same (or similar) tyre sizes. 

As for good mid-range makes, I'm sure a Hankook did very well one of the tests, possibly Auto Express. I have used Uniroyal in the past and found them superb in the wet, they are named the rain tyre, however the last ones I tried only lasted the summer (6 or so months!), I'd hope they have improved the life by now. 

On 6/26/2025 at 8:47 PM, AYoung said:

Thats hilarious 😂 I bought the car in December so clearly your just being rude instead of helpful. The car is in healthy working order- your not driving it so not quite sure how you've worked that out. I literally got these tyres last month and has been rubbing since so chill out. Unless your giving me suggestions I'm not interested in your petty response 

I suggest you get over yourself.

Either you've bought the wrong sized-tyres, or something is wrong and always has been wrong with the modifications.

Tyre profile and sidewall shape only vary a tiny amount between manufacturers - some tyres can be slightly more 'square shouldered' and therefore very slightly wider at the contact point.

If your new tyres are rubbing, and your old worn-out tyres did not (and we can only assume you bought the same size) then it could easily be the extra 5mm of new tread depth that's causing the issue.

But why you come onto a forum for advice, and then diss someone who clearly understands the subject is beyond me.  Good luck.

Were the previous tyres XL rated?