goofballdeluxe

Recently, I read a thread where someone was talking about buying a certain wheel, but was hesitant because he'd have to run with wheel spacers to use them.

I'm wondering if there's any real downside to running a wheel with spacers? Any informed persons wanna share their wisdom? Thanks!

Van1

If you use studded spacers, aka, adapters, you will end up with 10 lug nuts per wheel. Also, you cannot conveniently check the torque of the lugs holding the adapter to the hub without removing the wheel itself. These were the most compelling arguments against adapters that I found when I researched the issue a few months back.

Cactus

You are running spacers correct?

Monique

Spacers = Bad ... in my opinion.

It moves out the stress point and increases the stresses on your suspension components.

I would never do it. But good luck if you do.

timothymoffat

I'd assume they'd add a little (unsprung) weight as well?

Leucadia

Opinions, conjectures, and speculation aside, I'm not aware of any scientific study which indicates the use of wheel spacers in the 7-14mm range causes undue harm to the suspension in any vehicle - let alone in a Porsche 911 If there is such a study, I'd sure like to see it.

viperbob

Depends on the size of the spacer. Yes you are putting some might be putting more stress on the hub. Might not. In general, a 5mm won't hurt. A 10mm is taking away a lot of threads in the lugnuts for safely securing the wheels. You may need to get longer studs for wide spacers.

NoSubEDU

Interesting to note that the GT3 has spacers on the rears.

grwoolf

Depends on the situation and the style of spacer. I'm pretty sure my car came stock with spacers because it is a wide body but the original wheels were 17" cups with NB offsets. It shows the spacers in the owners manual, so I think this type are generally safe. The original wheels have since been replaced with NB twists. I'd argue that the stress points and suspesion geometry is identical to a car that had wheels with WB offsets and no spacers. Point of failure is another matter. Any extra parts that could fail are a bad thing in my book, and I agree with the other posters about the difficulty checking lug torque. I'd like to swap my solid twists out some day for some hollow spokes with WB offset and ditch the spacers.

viperbob

Yep they do, and they also come with 5mm longer wheel bolts because of this...

goofballdeluxe

That I am.

race911

I've run too many 930 bodied cars with 2" rear spacers (and 100mm studs) to even remember. Didn't 930's come with 1" ones all around, or was it just the front?

Full Boost

Other than points mentioned - torque spec and length of threads - the other important thing is to ENSURE they are hub centric.

As Ken stated - 930's have been running them for years - STOCK.

And in theory they will move some stress points - but we all over maintain our cars here on this board right?

Simon.

cy7878

And correct me if I'm wrong, the offsets difference between a NB and WB (65 vs 40), already moves the "stress point" outward. Just instead of using spacers to achieve that, the wheels do it.

cobalt

My 928 GTS came with 1.25" spacers from the factory. I ran spacers on my 79 SC/74RS IROC clone for 10 years at the track and no issues. I run 7 or 15mm spacers depending on wheels in the rear of my 964 C2 again no issue.

You will need longer studs and if you offset the rear too much will change your handling slightly although it will not be much different than the track of a NB vs a WB car differences.

IMO just make sure whatever spacer you use is wheel centering hub centric. If you use a 15mm bolt on type with studs attached make sure you use steel lug bolts and you can tighten them down to 100 Ft lbs to be safe.