Wheel spacers/adapters?

[stollen]

So what is everyone's opinion on using spacers or adapters on your wheels? I have heard some things like they cause wheel bearings to go out faster etc. and am just generally paranoid. I found a set of nice wheels that would require spacers on the front to fit over my stock brakes. I passed on them for now, but keep going back to them thinking maybe....

[DSV]

FK makes spacers and adapters that are TUV approved. That means the TUV "authority" in Germany has approved them for road use. I wouldn't be worried as long as they come from a reputable company.

[Gee Tea Eye V]

ive heard mixed opinions on them but havent made a personal decision on them either way. i prolly would do it tho lol

[iadubber]

I have FK, but haven't had any first hand experience. I just got them. All the research has point to safe and doesn't affect the wheel bearing that much. I'm sure if you are running 25+MM that it will at some point.

[schwalm]

I have had two sets of ECS spaces and a set of H&R's. I have had no problems with either off them. Just get the bolts to accomedate them and you will be fine.

[Loccusst]

Are these also for makeing the wheels stick out further?

[iadubber]

Adapters = changing the bolt pattern and usually involve two sets of studs

Spacers = Spacing the wheels out farther usually with one set of longer lugs

[Loccusst]

Might look cool.....might.

[iadubber]

Might look cool.....might.

Spacers are the ****!!

:D :D :D :tu:

[John2.0T]

In my opinion spacers are great - they really clean up the look of a car.

[iadubber]

In my opinion spacers are great - they really clean up the look of a car.

It's just like closing the wheel gap when you get suspension. This closes the horizontal wheel gap.

[stollen]

Adapters = changing the bolt pattern and usually involve two sets of studs

Spacers = Spacing the wheels out farther usually with one set of longer lugs

Adapters generally are spacers as well as changing the bolt pattern.

I found some very nice looking custom staggered wheels with some lip on them but they require about a 5mm spacer up front to get them to clear R32 brakes. As long as that extra 5mm doesn't induce rubbing or anything like that I may just buy them :yippee:

[DSV]

do it! but first post pictures of the wheels. :D

[stollen]

Well, there are two wheels in the running, some SSR GT7's and some DTM Kreuz 7's. The DTM's are 18x8 up front and 18x9 out back and need new front tires. I can pick them up for around 1800 shipped at most and buy new front tires and spacers. Rear tires are good.

The SSR's are 18x8, don't require spacers, although they do have a short 1"-2" slight curb rash on them, most of which could probably be sanded out. Tires on them are good and I can pick them up for around 1250 shipped.

I may try to work the guy down on the DTM's a little more as I really like them... Anyway, I am out of town until tomorrow, so argue amongst yourselves :D

DTM's:
http://www.projektgerman.com/photopost562/data/500/dtm.jpg

SSR's:
http://www.projektgerman.com/photopost562/data/500/ssr.jpg

[turboA4]

i personally like the DTM's

[DSV]

^^ yeah i think i like the DTMs better.

[Head at JJperf]

if you can get a proper offset but if not use a spacer to get there I wouldnt run much past 1/4" that is when things start to get a little difficult on the suspension or the wheel bolts

[stollen]

So the guy is willing to take $1500 plus shipping on the DTM's without tires, which is perfect by me because I didn't want to be ghetto and run different tires front and rear. The existing rears that have some life in them are now discontinued... The guy with the SSR's hasn't gotten back to me on a final price.

Anyone got a hookup on tires? I would need 225/40/18's for the fronts and 245/35/18's for the rears. Summer only, looking for something high performance (Dunlop Sport Maxx, Eagle F1's, etc...)

[iowaboostin]

I'm a big fan of wheel spacers, H&R traks are my personal fave. I'm pretty sure once I start with suspension I'll go with an 8.5" wide wheel, +35mm offset with 8mm/12mm spacers :tu:

I like both of those wheels, usac, good choices

[DSV]

check out www.edgeracing.com, they always seem to have great prices on tires.

[Head at JJperf]

not a lot of options in that stagger but here we go

Continental sportcontact2 front 154 rear 192 each

Dunlop sport Maxx front 172 rear 206 each

Goodyear eagle F1 GS-D3 front 156 rear 204 each

Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 front 219 rear 276 each

Yokohama Advan Sport front 205 rear 242 each

BFG g-force T/A KDW2 front 147 rear 179 each

prices do not include shipping which would be about 40-60 for the set of four

[stollen]

Would you agree that those are the right sizes of tires for 18x8 and 18x9 wheels Jeff? I think the fronts are good, but I wonder if 255/35/18 might be a better choice for the rears.... I don't want the stretched look at all.

Originally my car came with 18x7.5 wheels and the tire sizes were 225/40/18 if you need a reference.

[Head at JJperf]

245 will work fine the 255 would need to be a 30 series to keep your speedo correct...but they dont make those...One of my cars has 225 on a 17x9 and it is only slightly streched so a 245 should be perfect

[John2.0T]

I would suggest a *slight* roll to your tire. If its too square you may have to run a bit more camber to prevent rubbing.

245's will be perfect - i'm running a 19"x 8 with a 235/35/19 and they work perfectly.

245/35/18 ContiSport Contact's + DTM's FTMFW!!!!

[Head at JJperf]

If necessary we can roll your fenders to keep the tires from rubbing...anyone want to go in on an eastwood fender roller?

[stollen]

Well, I won an ebay auction for the SSR's just a few minutes ago. I got the wheels with Firestone Wide Oval tires (not sure on them, but at least its something) with 5k miles on them for 1k plus shipping. Its actually pretty funny as I won the auction for less than what I offered him for them before he put them on ebay. I guess I will see if he honors the selling price....

[Gee Tea Eye V]

nice :tu: congrats

[stollen]

Yeah, I thought hard about going with the DTM's, but using spacers on custom wheels just seems stupid to me, and the SSR's were half the price. Basically getting me wheels, tires and most of a coilover setup (if not all) for the same price as getting the DTM's and tires. :cool:

[BROBS]

I run 10mm spacers in the back and 3mm up front.

never a problem with them.. well I guess the rears did make the hub nut come a little loose on the bearing but I re-torqued it and it's been fine ever since.

I have to run the 3mm in the front to clear my coils.. :mad:
I could stand to run a 5mm but then I'd worry about smokin' my fender over a dip.. (they're already rolled but lets just say my tire is too close for comfort)

whats the offset and size of the wheels you got?
is your bolt pattern 5x112 or 5x100?

[stollen]

I run 10mm spacers in the back and 3mm up front.

never a problem with them.. well I guess the rears did make the hub nut come a little loose on the bearing but I re-torqued it and it's been fine ever since.

I have to run the 3mm in the front to clear my coils.. :mad:
I could stand to run a 5mm but then I'd worry about smokin' my fender over a dip.. (they're already rolled but lets just say my tire is too close for comfort)

whats the offset and size of the wheels you got?
is your bolt pattern 5x112 or 5x100?

They are 5x100 with an offset of 32mm. They do have a very small curb rash (1-2 inches) on one wheel that I think I can sand/buff out. If nothing else these were so cheap that they may become my track wheels (since they are so light) with some real R compound rubber on them and I will get something more "showy" for daily summer driving. I don't plan on running any spacers with these as they will actually fit over my brakes without them.

The DTM's would have required spacers on the front though. The DTM's are still up in the Vortex classifieds though, for someone with smaller brakes than the R32 but still a 5x100 bolt pattern they may be a good buy....