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How safe are wheel spacers? ***Now with pics***

J

jtvang125

Diamond Member
I always thought the offset on my wheels were a little too conservative from the factory. Now that my car is lowered it's even worst. I want to give it a little more aggresive stance by pushing the wheels alittle farther out with some wheel spacers. Nothing too extreme, maybe with the wheels almost flush with the wheel well. My wheels are hub centric so as long as I get hub centric spacers I should be ok, right?

How it looks on my car.
http://www.clublexus.com/galle...2&cat=500&ppuser=33208
http://www.clublexus.com/galle...3&cat=500&ppuser=33208


Here is someone with 25mm spacers on the rear of his car. (Scroll 1/4 way down)
http://www.clublexus.com/forum...720-front-spacers.html
 
Are your wheels wider than stock? If so, that shouldn't be a big problem, in fact spacers might help somewhat. If stock wheels or stock wheel width, I don't recommend, as you're going to be putting more torsional stress on your suspension and braking system (IE; more pressure on them from an angle).
 
That should be fine. Just make sure you get good spacers, with the correct pcd and centerbore, and you get the right sized extended bolts (or studs).
 
What car is it going on?

I have 8mm spacers on the front of my A6, simply because the spokes on the rims couldn't clear the S4 calipers (2.7t). I wouldn't go more than 10mm anywhere, it puts too much strain on the wheel bearings. Don't forget that you'll need longer lug nuts!
 
Originally posted by: jtvang125
I always thought the offset on my wheels were a little too conservative from the factory. Now that my car is lowered it's even worst. I want to give it a little more aggresive stance by pushing the wheels alittle farther out with some wheel spacers. Nothing too extreme, maybe with the wheels almost flush with the wheel well. My wheels are hub centric so as long as I get hub centric spacers I should be ok, right?
Click to expand...

Are you sure you need spacers that wide? Have you done the string trick yet (tie a washer to a piece of string, hold string to top of wheelwell, and allow washer to hang to center of wheel, measure distance between wheel and washer)?
 
They will have a significant effect on your wheel bearings over time, they will prematurely wear out and you will end up spending some money in the long rung to fix em.
 
Originally posted by: jtvang125Nothing too extreme, maybe with the wheels almost flush with the wheel well.
Click to expand...

Keep in mind your fenders will need to clear the wheel with the steering at a 45+ degree angle and the suspension fully compressed.

If it doesn't you'll be in for a nasty surprise when you're turning a corner and hit a bump.
 
Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
Originally posted by: SJP0tato
Originally posted by: jtvang125Nothing too extreme, maybe with the wheels almost flush with the wheel well.
Click to expand...

Keep in mind your fenders will need to clear the wheel with the steering at a 45+ degree angle and the suspension fully compressed.

If it doesn't you'll be in for a nasty surprise when you're turning a corner and hit a bump.
Click to expand...

Japan already has a solution.
Click to expand...

Attack of the bumble bee's (sound)Funny, funny funny, though they just copied what we were doing to VW Bug's back in the 70's, but somehow made them look shittier, and sound like people farting in cans.
 
Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
Originally posted by: SJP0tato
Originally posted by: jtvang125Nothing too extreme, maybe with the wheels almost flush with the wheel well.
Click to expand...

Keep in mind your fenders will need to clear the wheel with the steering at a 45+ degree angle and the suspension fully compressed.

If it doesn't you'll be in for a nasty surprise when you're turning a corner and hit a bump.
Click to expand...

Japan already has a solution.
Click to expand...
Hold me. Make the pain go away.

 
Originally posted by: Gillbot
Wheel spacers are prohibited in all sanctioned motorsport events for a reason.
Click to expand...

To answer the nay-sayers that are too cowardice to post publically that wheel spacers are allowed:

Tell that to my local SCCA, IHRA and NHRA inspectors then. They will fail your car if you run spacers. I know first hand.
 
Originally posted by: Gillbot
Originally posted by: Gillbot
Wheel spacers are prohibited in all sanctioned motorsport events for a reason.
Click to expand...

To answer the nay-sayers that are too cowardice to post publically that wheel spacers are allowed:

Tell that to my local SCCA, IHRA and NHRA inspectors then. They will fail your car if you run spacers. I know first hand.
Click to expand...

Tell your local SCCA inspector to check their rule books. Spacers are allowed depending on the classification.

For instance, they're fine for SCCA Spec Miata (9.1.8.6.d). They're fine for Touring category (9.1.3). They're fine for Production Category (9.1.5.8.a). They're fine for Sedan Category (9.1.6.3).

They should have the rulebooks, but in case they lost theirs, they can find it here:

1009 SCCA Club Racing General Competion Rules and Regulations

The 2009 NHRA rulebook says:

Wheel spacer permitted. Spacer to be either hub-centric or lug-centirc and must fit with minimal clearance to retain concentricity. The wheel spacer must not reduce the minimun permitted thread engagement below the limits established by fastener diameter. No stacking of wheel spacers allowed.
Click to expand...

2009 NHRA RuleBook

Your local inspectors really need to pick up the rule books. They're not doing their jobs competently.
 
Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
Originally posted by: SJP0tato
Originally posted by: jtvang125Nothing too extreme, maybe with the wheels almost flush with the wheel well.
Click to expand...

Keep in mind your fenders will need to clear the wheel with the steering at a 45+ degree angle and the suspension fully compressed.

If it doesn't you'll be in for a nasty surprise when you're turning a corner and hit a bump.
Click to expand...

Japan already has a solution.
Click to expand...

Now that's rice.
 
Wait, you're having a problem with wheel rubbing due to running wider-than-stock tires? The correct solution to that is to buy wheels with a higher offset which match the new tires.
 
Originally posted by: jtvang125
I always thought the offset on my wheels were a little too conservative from the factory. Now that my car is lowered it's even worst. I want to give it a little more aggresive stance by pushing the wheels alittle farther out with some wheel spacers. Nothing too extreme, maybe with the wheels almost flush with the wheel well. My wheels are hub centric so as long as I get hub centric spacers I should be ok, right?

How it looks on my car.
http://www.clublexus.com/galle...2&cat=500&ppuser=33208
http://www.clublexus.com/galle...3&cat=500&ppuser=33208


Here is someone with 25mm spacers on the rear of his car. (Scroll 1/4 way down)
http://www.clublexus.com/forum...720-front-spacers.html
Click to expand...

Wow, those wheels really are very far in. Weird, I don't think I've seen many modern vehicles with the wheels so far inset.

Anyhow, as before, make sure you get hubcentric spacers with the right center bore.

I personally wouldn't go over 25mm. Once you get over 1" the changes to the scrub radius tends to make your bump steer do weird things.

Get the correct length studs/bolts too.
 
Originally posted by: Apex
Originally posted by: Gillbot
Originally posted by: Gillbot
Wheel spacers are prohibited in all sanctioned motorsport events for a reason.
Click to expand...

To answer the nay-sayers that are too cowardice to post publically that wheel spacers are allowed:

Tell that to my local SCCA, IHRA and NHRA inspectors then. They will fail your car if you run spacers. I know first hand.
Click to expand...

Tell your local SCCA inspector to check their rule books. Spacers are allowed depending on the classification.

For instance, they're fine for SCCA Spec Miata (9.1.8.6.d). They're fine for Touring category (9.1.3). They're fine for Production Category (9.1.5.8.a). They're fine for Sedan Category (9.1.6.3).

They should have the rulebooks, but in case they lost theirs, they can find it here:

1009 SCCA Club Racing General Competion Rules and Regulations

The 2009 NHRA rulebook says:

Wheel spacer permitted. Spacer to be either hub-centric or lug-centirc and must fit with minimal clearance to retain concentricity. The wheel spacer must not reduce the minimun permitted thread engagement below the limits established by fastener diameter. No stacking of wheel spacers allowed.
Click to expand...

2009 NHRA RuleBook

Your local inspectors really need to pick up the rule books. They're not doing their jobs competently.
Click to expand...

There's also wording in the front and back of all rule books that place the decision at the discretion of the inspector so quoting the rule book is pointless. I've tried. 🙁

The primary issue is backspacing. My car runs a 7-7.5" backspace and they do not make racing wheels deep enough. The only solution is spacers and they typical 6.5" backspace wheel.
 
Originally posted by: Gillbot
Originally posted by: Apex
Originally posted by: Gillbot
Originally posted by: Gillbot
Wheel spacers are prohibited in all sanctioned motorsport events for a reason.
Click to expand...

To answer the nay-sayers that are too cowardice to post publically that wheel spacers are allowed:

Tell that to my local SCCA, IHRA and NHRA inspectors then. They will fail your car if you run spacers. I know first hand.
Click to expand...

Tell your local SCCA inspector to check their rule books. Spacers are allowed depending on the classification.

For instance, they're fine for SCCA Spec Miata (9.1.8.6.d). They're fine for Touring category (9.1.3). They're fine for Production Category (9.1.5.8.a). They're fine for Sedan Category (9.1.6.3).

They should have the rulebooks, but in case they lost theirs, they can find it here:

1009 SCCA Club Racing General Competion Rules and Regulations

The 2009 NHRA rulebook says:

Wheel spacer permitted. Spacer to be either hub-centric or lug-centirc and must fit with minimal clearance to retain concentricity. The wheel spacer must not reduce the minimun permitted thread engagement below the limits established by fastener diameter. No stacking of wheel spacers allowed.
Click to expand...

2009 NHRA RuleBook

Your local inspectors really need to pick up the rule books. They're not doing their jobs competently.
Click to expand...

There's also wording in the front and back of all rule books that place the decision at the discretion of the inspector so quoting the rule book is pointless. I've tried. 🙁

The primary issue is backspacing. My car runs a 7-7.5" backspace and they do not make racing wheels deep enough. The only solution is spacers and they typical 6.5" backspace wheel.
Click to expand...

Man, that sucks, they're really jacking you. 🙁

That's quite an unusual amount of backspacing. Have you tried just going with a custom wheel like CCW? It really bites having to pay the $$$ premium for unusual sized wheels, but sometimes there's really no good way around it. I'm trying to do much the same thing. No one makes an 18 x 11" wheel with the backspacing I need in a 4 x 108 PCB.
 
Originally posted by: Apex
Originally posted by: Gillbot
Originally posted by: Apex
Originally posted by: Gillbot
Originally posted by: Gillbot
Wheel spacers are prohibited in all sanctioned motorsport events for a reason.
Click to expand...

To answer the nay-sayers that are too cowardice to post publically that wheel spacers are allowed:

Tell that to my local SCCA, IHRA and NHRA inspectors then. They will fail your car if you run spacers. I know first hand.
Click to expand...

Tell your local SCCA inspector to check their rule books. Spacers are allowed depending on the classification.

For instance, they're fine for SCCA Spec Miata (9.1.8.6.d). They're fine for Touring category (9.1.3). They're fine for Production Category (9.1.5.8.a). They're fine for Sedan Category (9.1.6.3).

They should have the rulebooks, but in case they lost theirs, they can find it here:

1009 SCCA Club Racing General Competion Rules and Regulations

The 2009 NHRA rulebook says:

Wheel spacer permitted. Spacer to be either hub-centric or lug-centirc and must fit with minimal clearance to retain concentricity. The wheel spacer must not reduce the minimun permitted thread engagement below the limits established by fastener diameter. No stacking of wheel spacers allowed.
Click to expand...

2009 NHRA RuleBook

Your local inspectors really need to pick up the rule books. They're not doing their jobs competently.
Click to expand...

There's also wording in the front and back of all rule books that place the decision at the discretion of the inspector so quoting the rule book is pointless. I've tried. 🙁

The primary issue is backspacing. My car runs a 7-7.5" backspace and they do not make racing wheels deep enough. The only solution is spacers and they typical 6.5" backspace wheel.
Click to expand...

Man, that sucks, they're really jacking you. 🙁

That's quite an unusual amount of backspacing. Have you tried just going with a custom wheel like CCW? It really bites having to pay the $$$ premium for unusual sized wheels, but sometimes there's really no good way around it. I'm trying to do much the same thing. No one makes an 18 x 11" wheel with the backspacing I need in a 4 x 108 PCB.
Click to expand...

I refuse to shell out the bucks for special wheels for a weekend driver. I'm cheap like that.

Also, I just reviewed my copies of the local chapter's rule book and it states simply, "No wheel spacers allowed". Drag and AutoCross both.
 
Originally posted by: Gillbot
Originally posted by: Apex
Originally posted by: Gillbot
Originally posted by: Apex
Originally posted by: Gillbot
Originally posted by: Gillbot
Wheel spacers are prohibited in all sanctioned motorsport events for a reason.
Click to expand...

To answer the nay-sayers that are too cowardice to post publically that wheel spacers are allowed:

Tell that to my local SCCA, IHRA and NHRA inspectors then. They will fail your car if you run spacers. I know first hand.
Click to expand...

Tell your local SCCA inspector to check their rule books. Spacers are allowed depending on the classification.

For instance, they're fine for SCCA Spec Miata (9.1.8.6.d). They're fine for Touring category (9.1.3). They're fine for Production Category (9.1.5.8.a). They're fine for Sedan Category (9.1.6.3).

They should have the rulebooks, but in case they lost theirs, they can find it here:

1009 SCCA Club Racing General Competion Rules and Regulations

The 2009 NHRA rulebook says:

Wheel spacer permitted. Spacer to be either hub-centric or lug-centirc and must fit with minimal clearance to retain concentricity. The wheel spacer must not reduce the minimun permitted thread engagement below the limits established by fastener diameter. No stacking of wheel spacers allowed.
Click to expand...

2009 NHRA RuleBook

Your local inspectors really need to pick up the rule books. They're not doing their jobs competently.
Click to expand...

There's also wording in the front and back of all rule books that place the decision at the discretion of the inspector so quoting the rule book is pointless. I've tried. 🙁

The primary issue is backspacing. My car runs a 7-7.5" backspace and they do not make racing wheels deep enough. The only solution is spacers and they typical 6.5" backspace wheel.
Click to expand...

Man, that sucks, they're really jacking you. 🙁

That's quite an unusual amount of backspacing. Have you tried just going with a custom wheel like CCW? It really bites having to pay the $$$ premium for unusual sized wheels, but sometimes there's really no good way around it. I'm trying to do much the same thing. No one makes an 18 x 11" wheel with the backspacing I need in a 4 x 108 PCB.
Click to expand...

I refuse to shell out the bucks for special wheels for a weekend driver. I'm cheap like that.

Also, I just reviewed my copies of the local chapter's rule book and it states simply, "No wheel spacers allowed". Drag and AutoCross both.
Click to expand...

Wow, yeah. Your local chapter is really the issue.
 
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