Abstract: A protective arrangement on a motor vehicle shell wheel housing has a crumple zone, in particular a front crumple zone. Two longitudinal members extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and along the inside of the associated lateral wheel housing. A wheel is held by wheel guide members within the assigned wheel housing. A front wall limits the wheel housing on its side remote from the crumple zone, relative to the passenger compartment. Protection against excessive penetration of the front wall by the wheel moving towards the front wall in the event of a crash is arranged between the tread circumference of the wheel and the front wall. A tension strut with a fixing section is fixed to the associated longitudinal member as the protection of the front wall against excessive penetration and has a lateral intercepting section which projects outwards laterally and transversely to the longitudinal member.