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.

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.

spearfish25 · 03-03-2011, 08:10 PM

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

kenchan · 03-04-2011, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spearfish25

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

gonna disagree. i dont like your setup.

jk

spearfish25 · 03-04-2011, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

gonna disagree. i dont like your setup.

jk

you're a sausage

kenchan · 03-04-2011, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spearfish25

you're a sausage

i lol'ed.

Guard Dad · 03-03-2011, 08:11 PM

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

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.

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?

LunaZ · 03-07-2011, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPOHN

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

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.

kenchan · 03-08-2011, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LunaZ

With 20mm spacers in the rear and the front wheels with no spacers, my car is more prone to understeer.

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

370Zsteve · 05-18-2013, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LunaZ

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.

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

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?

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.

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: 15	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	#4 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1857	Gonna disagree here. I love my 15f/20r setup at stock height. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

03-03-2011, 08:30 PM	#15 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1857	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

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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: 141521	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	#8 (permalink)
Guard Dad Enthusiast Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: South Orange County, CA Posts: 422 Drives: 2010 370Z Silver A7 Rep Power: 15	Good to know. Did you notice any change in the handling?

03-03-2011, 08:14 PM	#14 (permalink)
Guard Dad Enthusiast Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: South Orange County, CA Posts: 422 Drives: 2010 370Z Silver A7 Rep Power: 15	Spearfish25 how tight was the fender clearance, any contact, any room for wider tires in the future?