Wheel spacers: For looks, for handling or both?

Guard Dad · 03-03-2011, 07:49 PM

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?.

kenchan · 03-03-2011, 08:01 PM

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.

spearfish25 · 03-03-2011, 08:10 PM

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

Guard Dad · 03-03-2011, 08:11 PM

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

VaGntlmn · 03-03-2011, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

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.

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.

Guard Dad · 03-03-2011, 08:14 PM

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

SPOHN · 03-03-2011, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guard Dad

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

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

spearfish25 · 03-03-2011, 08:30 PM

No issues at all with clearance and 285 width tires.

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

Guard Dad · 03-03-2011, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPOHN

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

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

Any change in feel?

Guard Dad · 03-03-2011, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spearfish25

No issues at all with clearance and 285 width tires.

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

Those 285's are on the rear correct?

SPOHN · 03-03-2011, 08:47 PM

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.

Guard Dad · 03-03-2011, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPOHN

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?

spearfish25 · 03-03-2011, 09:16 PM

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.

Guard Dad · 03-03-2011, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spearfish25

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!

cheshirecat · 03-03-2011, 09:37 PM

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.

03-03-2011, 07:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
Guard Dad Enthusiast Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: South Orange County, CA Posts: 422 Drives: 2010 370Z Silver A7 Rep Power: 14	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?.

03-03-2011, 08:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	Gonna disagree here. I love my 15f/20r setup at stock height. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

03-03-2011, 08:30 PM	#8 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	No issues at all with clearance and 285 width tires. And the widened track width would definitely have a small improvement in cornering performance. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

03-03-2011, 08:47 PM	#11 (permalink)
SPOHN A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Covington, GA Age: 45 Posts: 14,844 Drives: Waiting on next Z Rep Power: 221	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. __________________

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03-03-2011, 08:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141520	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.

03-03-2011, 08:11 PM	#4 (permalink)
Guard Dad Enthusiast Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: South Orange County, CA Posts: 422 Drives: 2010 370Z Silver A7 Rep Power: 14	Good to know. Did you notice any change in the handling?

03-03-2011, 08:14 PM	#6 (permalink)
Guard Dad Enthusiast Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: South Orange County, CA Posts: 422 Drives: 2010 370Z Silver A7 Rep Power: 14	Spearfish25 how tight was the fender clearance, any contact, any room for wider tires in the future?

03-03-2011, 09:37 PM	#15 (permalink)
cheshirecat A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 1,428 Drives: N54 135i Rep Power: 292	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.