WyattsRide

Mine before the S4 wheels and additional spacer. Hard to tell from this picture. But, there was a lot more space between the tire and fender lip.

928NOOBIE

Hi everyone
Resurrecting this thread. 1986 S3.

I got some 275/40 (17" X 9" rim) put on today but there isn't enough room between the tire and fender. I've read a number of posts where people are fitting these with no issues. Below are pics of the spacers that came with the car and a shot showing the tire is too wide.

I'm thinking of trying say a 15 mm spacer and trying to find some lug nuts to take up the vacated space from the narrower spacer so I can still use the standard lug nuts. I think I read someone doing this or got a suggestion to.

Was wondering if anyone has tried this and if yes how were your results? Any other suggestions welcome and appreciated.

Darklands

255/40 R17 9 *17 ET55 21 mm Spacer

I would use a 10 mm spacer, your tire is 20 mm wider.

928NOOBIE

Hey Darklands
Thanks for the recommendation. I currently have the 21 mm spacers also...I think on '86 you could get them from factory so my lugs are extra long. So I'm thinking if I go with a 10mm spacer that would give me 11mm more lug bolt to do something with...do you think it makes sense to just put an open end lug nut on then follow it with my closed end? I'd like to use the closed end ones for cosmetic reasons...or is there a better solution you could think of to take up that space?

Thanks
Matt

Darklands

There is no free lunch! I would paint the tips from the bolts black and use open lugs!

Interesting tire , Michelin Pilot Sport all season, don´t know it in Germany.

928NOOBIE

Its a great tire. I put a set on my WRX and was so impressed with their ability to get through snow I put them on the 928. Michelin's sidewalls made a big difference ..both on the WRX and the 928. When they give way its very gradually and completely predictable and manageable..no affiliation..just honest feedback. They have a 540 treadwear rating too so they'll last as long as you aren't doing too much power sliding

www.tirerack.com

Nice idea about painting the bolts...I think that's going to be our answer...thanks !

Matt

icsamerica

If this is a long term solution then you could trim the wheel studs with an angle grinder and a cut off wheel. A good way to do this is to install an open steel lug nut and a washer stack to use as a setup guide, then trim and repeat 9 more times. When you back off the open nut it will clean up the threads, then dress the sharp edges a file.

If you prefer not to cut then you can run a 15mm spacer with deeper wheel nuts. There are readily available closed conical 14/1.5 wheel nuts that can accommodate up to 50 mm of thread length.

What ever spacer you get 10mm, 15mm etc, make sure it's hub-centric.

928NOOBIE

Hey icsamerica thanks for the recommendation. I would like to keep the larger tires, they give a better ride.