Wheel spacers: For looks, for handling or both?
 

I'm seriously considering getting 15mm front, 20mm rear wheel spacers but I've got some questions. My Z is a daily-driver, it has the sport package and I will not be dropping the car or changing the wheels.

I know that in theory the wider track provided by the spacers should improve handling but was any actual improvement noted or is it strictly an appearance mod?

The 15/20 combo seems popular although some folks have gone beyond that to 20/20 or 20/25. I'm a more-is-better kind of guy but I don't want the wheels hanging out in the breeze plus I am considering 275/35 front tires and 305/30 rear tires when the time comes for new tires so I wouldn't want spacers that are so wide that the tires are hitting the fenders. Any thoughts?.

Do 15 on the rear. 20 and higher its going to hang out too much at stock height. I know cause I already tried several sizes.

Gonna disagree here. I love my 15f/20r setup at stock height.

Good to know. Did you notice any change in the handling?

Oh I hope you're wrong. I have 20's on order for the rear right now.
Of course, I have been lowered a little bit.

Spearfish25 how tight was the fender clearance, any contact, any room for wider tires in the future?

There's not going to be any changes in the handling department with spacers.

No issues at all with clearance and 285 width tires.

And the widened track width would definitely have a small improvement in cornering performance.

Is that because the increase in track is, on a percentage basis, quite small?

Any change in feel?

Those 285's are on the rear correct?

Yea, it's pretty small. Nothing really that amounts to anything. So far as feel. I can tell when I have had spacer on/ off. But quickly forget there there after a trip down the road.

So the improvement may be real but it is small and you acclimate to it so quickly that it you almost don't realize that it's there? So from your perspective this is mostly an appearance mod correct?

I'm looking at Z1 Motorsports spacers (the kind that require the longer studs), any thoughts on these spacers?

Just get H&R spacers. They're tried and true performers.

Here is my car before and after adding the 20mm spacers (tried to match the angle as best I could, but you can still see the difference). Rear tires were 275 in the photos, but I have tried 285s that worked fine as well.

Nice fit!

I have 20mm front 25mm rear coming in tomorrow. Will be installing them Saturday. Have Swift springs on order- I think after the drop the camber will get them fitting perfectly on in there.

We shall see.

Increasing track is going to make an unnoticeable change in handling, especially given the other components on the car.

Yea I would say for appearance. As red zed stated, it unnoticed due to the other commoners on the car. I don't know much about the Z1's spacers. But knowing them there probably good quality. Mostly I would ask questions about the studs. You want good quality studs. I have ARP studs with my spacers.

gonna disagree. i dont like your setup. :icon17: ;) jk

15 fr and 20 r is the best stock setup IMHO

:icon17: hahaha. ok. :D

my current setup is similar to that... ET33 front, ET15 but with 10.5" running 275. :)

Can somebody please chime in as to where you ordered your H&R spacers. Feel free to PM as well!

same, thanks !!

Link to Stillen H&R Spacers


Bam! That just happened...

you're a sausage :nutswinger:

:)

i lol'ed. :tup:

Shake & Bake!

steak & snake

Rattle & roll

Just finished putting mine on.

For non-lowered cars, 15mm front and 20mm rear will make the top of the tire even with the fender.

For my car, which will be lowered when my swifts get here, the 20mm front and 25mm rear are perfect. The camber coming in will make them perfectly flush.

Anyway, yeah.

Looking forward to getting my summer tires back on and seeing the fitment with 265 front/ 285 rear. The RE-11s are just gnarly looking. That tread pattern makes them look like they're doing 150mph while standing still.

Sounds like fun. :D finally got my black lugs yesterday. Hopefully by next weekend salt washes away I can install my latest setup and start motoring my z. :p ET33 19x9 245/40/19 conti ext dw, ET15 19x10.5 275/35/19 conti ext dw. :)

Does anybody know who has the H&R's in stock and at a good price?
I have an order in with Stillen, but my estimated delivery date just changed from the beginning of march (now) to mid-april. :(

What I'm looking for:
H&R TRAK+ Wheel Spacers (HR4065663)
20mm

Thanks

I have to disagree on that, especially if you stagger the rear.
With 20mm spacers in the rear and the front wheels with no spacers, my car is more prone to understeer.

Are you dead set on DRM's? We should have the DRS ready to ship.

We've had the DRM's on order FOREVER.. months and months.. :/

Good point Josh, but yes, at the moment I really want the DRM's.

this is true. playing with offset is like the icing on the cake for suspension setup.

Very true but I don't think he was talking about a setup with such an extreme between the front and rear.

http://www.the370z.com/attachment.ph...1&d=1368893622

Old thread, but pretty useful. Has anyone ever tried wider in the front, like 20F/15R for reducing understeer? Since it sounds like the standard 15/20 or 20/25 would increase understeer. Or perhaps 20/20?

I have been running the 15/20 combination for about two years now. No noticeable changes, think of this as an inexpensive appearance mod.

If you are trying to fine tune the oversteer/understeer situation, I am a big fan of Stillens adjustable sway bars.

I recently installed 15MM in the front and 20MM in the rear. My Z is lowered on the Eibach Pro kit and the fitment is perfect.

Check it out here.

Stino