wheel spacers with 18x8s?

[mn011890]

i just got my wheels in today and they came with a universal install kit that comes with wheel spacers but it says they are "not required for all applications" do i need to use them for the wheels to fit properly? thanks

[toyota_dood2]

I think you use them to make your wheels flush with your fender.
But I am under the impression using wheel spacers are a bad thing for your car. It's what I heard, but I have no idea.
Something about distributive weight problems....

[moky-tron]

it depends on whether you are applying spacers to all four corners, what your wheels' offsets are and what the measurement on the spacers are.

if you are applying to just the rear, then you would be mimicking a staggered setup because of the wider stance on the rear, thereby resulting to a bit more understeer and would seem like you are dragging the rear of the car.

if your spacers are 10mm at the least, either they are spacers with lug adapters, or you would need to re-lug your car to longer studs to be able to accept the wheel and the spacer.

[Tobeit]

Originally Posted by mn011890

i just got my wheels in today and they came with a universal install kit that comes with wheel spacers but it says they are "not required for all applications" do i need to use them for the wheels to fit properly? thanks

Depends on the offset of your wheels. If somewhere between +35 and +42 for 18x8 you do not need them. If the offset is larger (unlikely), you should use them (but look at their thickness). If the offset is much smaller, your wheels will not fit and spacers don't help.

[Mistabullet]

Are you sure they didn't send you hub centric rings?
I've never heard of wheel companies sending spacers before (they usually send hub centric rings specific to your car).

[MCeatalot]

Tobeit, you seem to know your stuff here. So I got a question. My wheels are 18x7.5 with a 48 offset. If I wanted them to sit flush, what kind of spacers should I be looking into? Will there be possible damages in the long run? What if I just apply the spacers in the rear? Thanks in advance.

Originally Posted by Tobeit

Depends on the offset of your wheels. If somewhere between +35 and +42 for 18x8 you do not need them. If the offset is larger (unlikely), you should use them (but look at their thickness). If the offset is much smaller, your wheels will not fit and spacers don't help.

[Tobeit]

Originally Posted by MCeatalot

Tobeit, you seem to know your stuff here. So I got a question. My wheels are 18x7.5 with a 48 offset. If I wanted them to sit flush, what kind of spacers should I be looking into? Will there be possible damages in the long run? What if I just apply the spacers in the rear? Thanks in advance.

Moky is the real expert.

Larger offset means the wheel is more tucked in and closer to the suspension. I think in your case a good look would be with 10mm spacers all around to make it effectively a +38. If you use only spacers in the back you make it look like a staggered setup, back stick out more than front. I would not recommend that and do +10mm spacers all around.

[Mistabullet]

Best way to find out is to go look at the tire yourself.

If it seems like a good 10mm would push it out then you need 10mm .

Of course, pushing the wheels out will bring them closer to the wheel well and will increase your chances of rubbing.

[MCeatalot]

I read in old thread about spacers that wheel spacers can/will cause some sort of damage to the vehicle (not sure how). And I just want to figure out if this is urban legend or not. My rear wheels, with the 48 offset, is tucked in, and I'm afraid if I do a drop that it'll look further tucked in. A solution was proposed to apply wheel spacers, but then I referred back to the old thread and there were several people indicating the risks in applying wheel spacers. Can any experts confirm on that?

Originally Posted by Mistabullet

Best way to find out is to go look at the tire yourself.

If it seems like a good 10mm would push it out then you need 10mm .

[toyota_dood2]

Read this!

http://www.gotapex.com/automotive-an...-your-car.html

[lammydi]

Originally Posted by MCeatalot

Tobeit, you seem to know your stuff here. So I got a question. My wheels are 18x7.5 with a 48 offset. If I wanted them to sit flush, what kind of spacers should I be looking into? Will there be possible damages in the long run? What if I just apply the spacers in the rear? Thanks in advance.

Originally Posted by Tobeit

Moky is the real expert.

Larger offset means the wheel is more tucked in and closer to the suspension. I think in your case a good look would be with 10mm spacers all around to make it effectively a +38. If you use only spacers in the back you make it look like a staggered setup, back stick out more than front. I would not recommend that and do +10mm spacers all around.

+1 on Moky is the real expert. Also, Epsilon is also another expert.

I just want to coment that a +10mm spacers might not be flush enough since his rims is only 18x7.5 width. If it was 18x8 then a 10mm spacers should do the trick. However since he has 18x7.5 I would go with at least 15mm spacers for a more flush.

[moky-tron]

on 18x7.5? id prolly do the hub adapters/trak adapters from h&r and do 20mm! (considering he is a +48) but thats just me. a +35 will sit in tight with the front for flushness. hard to come by would be +32 or +33. for the rear, prolly +25 or +28...
geez.. im no expert..just doing my best to help out fellow tn'ers

[lammydi]

Originally Posted by MCeatalot

I read in old thread about spacers that wheel spacers can/will cause some sort of damage to the vehicle (not sure how). And I just want to figure out if this is urban legend or not. My rear wheels, with the 48 offset, is tucked in, and I'm afraid if I do a drop that it'll look further tucked in. A solution was proposed to apply wheel spacers, but then I referred back to the old thread and there were several people indicating the risks in applying wheel spacers. Can any experts confirm on that?

In general, when you change something from OEM to aftermarket wheels with a different specs (wider rims, larger offset, heavier weight, wheels spacers/adapters,lowering springs, etc...) they all are add stress to the wheels bearings and supspension related like shocks and struts...
If you do it correctly wheels spacers/adapter will still add stress to the wheels bearings but it doesn't mean it not safe.
My point is if you worry about some sort of damage then you might as well stay stocks because everything you changed from stock with a different specs is causing some sort of damage to the car.

[moky-tron]

Originally Posted by lammydi

In general, when you change something from OEM to aftermarket wheels with a different specs (wider rims, larger offset, heavier weight, wheels spacers/adapters,lowering springs, etc...) they all are add stress to the wheels bearings and supspension related like shocks and struts...
If you do it correctly wheels spacers/adapter will still add stress to the wheels bearings but it doesn't mean it not safe.
My point is if you worry about some sort of damage then you might as well stay stocks because everything you changed from stock with a different specs is causing some sort of damage to the car.

well said lammy.

[MCeatalot]

Moky and Lammy, thanks for your input! I might just do get some wheel spacers to bring it at +35 or somewhere close.

Originally Posted by lammydi

In general, when you change something from OEM to aftermarket wheels with a different specs (wider rims, larger offset, heavier weight, wheels spacers/adapters,lowering springs, etc...) they all are add stress to the wheels bearings and supspension related like shocks and struts...
If you do it correctly wheels spacers/adapter will still add stress to the wheels bearings but it doesn't mean it not safe.
My point is if you worry about some sort of damage then you might as well stay stocks because everything you changed from stock with a different specs is causing some sort of damage to the car.