What Is The Clearance Between The Tires On The Wheel Wells?

[Edward]

My wife's car has been in the shop and the loaner we had was a 2015 Hyundai Accent. Driving in today's snow I discovered that the gap between the tires and the wheel well really wasn't adequate. The two inches of space quickly filed up with snow and ice and it actually interfered with the wheels turning after a while. I got out and chipped it out at one point just to be able to keep going.
Is this going to be a problem with the Elio?

 

[Craig]

My wife's car has been in the shop and the loaner we had was a 2015 Hyundai Accent. Driving in today's snow I discovered that the gap between the tires and the wheel well really wasn't adequate. The two inches of space quickly filed up with snow and ice and it actually interfered with the wheels turning after a while. I got out and chipped it out at one point just to be able to keep going.
Is this going to be a problem with the Elio?

Not for the rest of us.
Sounds to me like you shouldn't get an Elio or just get one and move south. JMO

 

[Gas-Powered Awesome]

Yes, it's going to be a problem. But that's the same with any car, and maybe less so than the Hyundai as the wheel wells will turn with the wheels, so it won't interfere with turning.

Ultimately I think it comes down to smart decision-making: If the weather is so bad you have to worry about snow pack in the wheel wells, it's better not to go out. Neither the Elio nor the Hyundai are 4x4 trucks. (I have one of those for those 24" days. )

 

[Keith Stone]

My wife's car has been in the shop and the loaner we had was a 2015 Hyundai Accent. Driving in today's snow I discovered that the gap between the tires and the wheel well really wasn't adequate. The two inches of space quickly filed up with snow and ice and it actually interfered with the wheels turning after a while. I got out and chipped it out at one point just to be able to keep going.
Is this going to be a problem with the Elio?

Good point I have wondered the same thing luckily my ELIO will hide In the garage in the winter for the most part, but I wonder if a quick trip to the store in 2" of snow will clog them off, I have also heard the fenders will be easy to remove.

 

[JEBar]

in thinking about it, you guys living on the frozen tundra and other such areas, might find it better to have a set of P3 fenders for winter use .... they would be much easier to deal with in getting rid of accumulated snow and road salt .... thankfully, that shouldn't be a factor for us but one never knows

Jim

 

[Edward]

Yes, it's going to be a problem. But that's the same with any car, and maybe less so than the Hyundai as the wheel wells will turn with the wheels, so it won't interfere with turning.

Ultimately I think it comes down to smart decision-making: If the weather is so bad you have to worry about snow pack in the wheel wells, it's better not to go out. Neither the Elio nor the Hyundai are 4x4 trucks. (I have one of those for those 24" days. )

Snow pack in the wheel wells is a given for any car but I've never had this much of a problem with her Nissan Versa, my Chrysler Cirrus (largest car I've owned), the Prizm, Camry, Corolla, or Beetle. I've also never seen a tire with so little clearance. Even with the snow cleared out, I couldn't fit my hand in there!

 

[goofyone]

I know we have been asked this question before and this is definitely one question that we really have no good answer for at this point other than the stock fenders will likely be quite tight around the tire, I would guess about 1 inch of clearance, as this would be best for aerodynamics.

As has been said this would not affect steering in any way as in the Elio the steering is independent of the tire cover. The good news is that in the Elio if this is an issue you always have the possibility of running a more open fender design which would likely resolve the issue.

This does give me an idea for a product if this is an actual issue Elio owners face, heated fenders. As a motorcyclist I have seen many heated motorcycle accessories for cold weather and they do not generally draw too much power anymore. I am sure with a little adaptation some heating coils on some foil type materiel to distribute and maintain the heat could be fitted to the inside of the fender to keep any snow and ice from wanting to stick around.

 

[Chaz]

It would be easier just to take the fenders off before it snows.

 

[pistonboy]

I know we have been asked this question before and this is definitely one question that we really have no good answer for at this point other than the stock fenders will likely be quite tight around the tire, I would guess about 1 inch of clearance, as this would be best for aerodynamics.

As has been said this would not affect steering in any way as in the Elio the steering is independent of the tire. The good news is that in the Elio if this is an issue you always have the possibility of running a more open fender design which would likely resolve the issue.

This does give me an idea for a product if this is an actual issue Elio owners face, heated fenders. As a motorcyclist I have seen many heated motorcycle accessories for cold weather and they do not generally draw too much power anymore. I am sure with a little adaptation some heating coils on some foil type materiel to distribute and maintain the heat could be fitted to the inside of the fender to keep any snow and ice from wanting to stick around.

With a generator powerful enough to support and electric AC compressor (which won't be running in winter), there will probably be plenty of power.

Good idea.

 

[pistonboy]

I also hope the fenders are strengthened enough so the composite material of which they are made, does not crack from road vibration.