Could any frame builders out there tell me what is an acceptable tolerance for a steel hardtail frame? I have dropped 3 different wheels into my frame and all show less clearance on the driveside than non driveside. To definately asertain whether the frame is out or the wheels i have taken my rear wheel to have the dishing checked if this is not conclusive then I think I will have the the frame checked. The frame is suffering from paint rubbing off the chainstay from the tyre when muddy on one side only.
Use the same wheel, take the tyre off and measure the gap both ways round. Halve the difference and there's your tolerance. Asssuming it's supposedly symmetrical.
Shold be spot on, I wouldn't be happy with more than 1mm out at the dropout. Your LBS should have a frame alignment gauge, ask them nicely.
Is your wheel straight / correctly tensioned?
ooh didn't see this one
and again
Is it a medium black Cotic soul? Some of them have a small blob of paint in the non driveside dropout that stops the wheel going in fully. Mine had exactly the same issue, ran a file through it and it was all sorted.
You could also try running a bit of string from one dropout around the head tube to the other. Measure the distance from the string to the seat tube on each side. This should help tell you see if the chainstays are in alignment with the front if the frame is (supposed to be) symmetrical.
With some bikes / wheels it is possible to put the wheel in backtofront / the wrong way round, this gives you a chance to see if the gap between tyre and chainstay is the same (at the same time checking the dish of the wheel) for both the right and the wrong way.
If it is then the frame might be out of alignment.