Tire Fitment Woes

[Rooney42]

So two of my roommates work at our local firestone and they clued me in on a black friday "buy one get one free tire deal" and suggested that I get a set of 225 Bridgestone RE-11s for the set of 16 inch Kosei K1s i picked up. Unfortunately I did not follow up on the exact size of the tire i was buying and later(past the point of being able to return the tires) found out that RE-11s don't come in 225/45/16 only 225/50/16. So I currently have major rubbing issues in the front. My roommate who installed them thought it was just the plastic fender lining, but it turns out the wheel is actually making contact with the wheel well at full lock. The back wheels seem to fit fine. The question now is do i buy a set of 215/45/16 or 205/45/16 and run a staggered setup with the RE-11s or do I sell my tires, cut my losses and buy a different type of tire in 225/45/16.
-Tim

[giantkeeper]

Adapt, I didnt see that option.

I ran 225/50 16's on mine for a while. I had rolled fenders and was lowered on IE3's. I just knew not to turn the wheel too sharply when when backing out of parking spots...etc.

[Rooney42]

No need to be rude. The way it currently sits it is entirely unusable, there is no room for adaptation(nor these tires).It makes minor contact with the fender well with even very slight turns, so much so that when completing a turn onto a multi lane road i find myself making the widest turn into the very furthest lane. I'm aware this sounds like i'm exaggerating and perhaps i provided a stupid example. I will follow up with some picture to elaborate. The car is currently sitting on some Vogtland springs the PO installed and i'm not sure of the amount of drop they provide.

[giantkeeper]

No need to be rude. The way it currently sits it is entirely unusable, there is no room for adaptation(nor these tires).It makes minor contact with the fender well with even very slight turns, so much so that when completing a turn onto a multi lane road i find myself making the widest turn into the very furthest lane. I'm aware this sounds like i'm exaggerating and perhaps i provided a stupid example. I will follow up with some picture to elaborate. The car is currently sitting on some Vogtland springs the PO installed and i'm not sure of the amount of drop they provide.

What are your wheel specs, and yes pictures will definitely help.

[MR 325]

I would definitely sell the current tires and get the correct size. 205/50/16 or 225/45/16 would be ideal but a 215/45/16 is a good option that's only slightly undersized if they do in fact make your tire in that size.

[Slow4Door]

Did Firestone do the install? It so, go raise hell that they put the wrong size tire on!