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[SHEEDI]

Hello,
I am wondering to find out about Advantages & Disadvantages of using Wheel Spacers. can any one chime in please?

[Meeni]

There are no advantages. They are sometime necessary to fit some wheels or with some types of shocks.

[VMRWheels]

If your wheels fit without the spacers, it's pretty much a cosmetic thing. You can make your wheels appear more aggressive, since you're lowering the effective offset of your wheel and tire setup. Sometimes you need them to clear your brakes or your suspension.

As long as you buy the right spacers (hubcentric and wheel centric), and you are using the proper bolts, there's nothing to be afraid of. Some will argue that spacers put more stress on things like your wheel bearing, however, I don't know how valid this claim is. Personally, I've never heard of anyone's wheel bearings wearing out prematurely strictly due to spacers.

So, in short, the "advantages" are that you can make your wheels fit the car a bit better, and you can use them to clear things like your suspension or brakes. The "disadvantages" are that if you get the wrong hardware, you could run into issues with vibrations.

[SHEEDI]

Originally Posted by VMRWheels

If your wheels fit without the spacers, it's pretty much a cosmetic thing. You can make your wheels appear more aggressive, since you're lowering the effective offset of your wheel and tire setup. Sometimes you need them to clear your brakes or your suspension.

As long as you buy the right spacers (hubcentric and wheel centric), and you are using the proper bolts, there's nothing to be afraid of. Some will argue that spacers put more stress on things like your wheel bearing, however, I don't know how valid this claim is. Personally, I've never heard of anyone's wheel bearings wearing out prematurely strictly due to spacers.

So, in short, the "advantages" are that you can make your wheels fit the car a bit better, and you can use them to clear things like your suspension or brakes. The "disadvantages" are that if you get the wrong hardware, you could run into issues with vibrations.

what do you mean by "lowering the effective offset of your wheel and tire setup"

[MonacoBlueE90]

Originally Posted by VMRWheels

Some will argue that spacers put more stress on things like your wheel bearing, however, I don't know how valid this claim is. Personally, I've never heard of anyone's wheel bearings wearing out prematurely strictly due to spacers.

And at the same time they are using lower offset wheel, which is basically same as adding spacer.

Originally Posted by SHEEDI

what do you mean by "lowering the effective offset of your wheel and tire setup"

It means that if you have wheel setup that is 18x9.5 et30 and you put 10mm spacer the wheel offset will be 20.

[VMRWheels]

Originally Posted by SHEEDI

what do you mean by "lowering the effective offset of your wheel and tire setup"

The effective offset would be lower, meaning that your wheels would fit like they were actually a lower offset.

Originally Posted by MonacoBlueE90

And at the same time they are using lower offset wheel, which is basically same as adding spacer.

Yup. That's why I've found that the claim is bogus, personally. I've never had a wheel bearing go out on me with low offset and wide wheels.

[Meeni]

Maybe wobbling from improperly balanced/installed spacers can damage hubs?

But in terms of drawback, its more the extra weight and the risk of having a hard time balancing the wheels that's mattering. A proper offset wheel is generally a better option, if available.

[mbanks21]

I never understood why someone wouldnt just get a lower offset wheel to start (if they had the option). Why would you get an ET45 wheel and add a 15mm spacer instead of just getting an ~ET30 wheel?

[SHEEDI]

Originally Posted by mbanks21

I never understood why someone wouldnt just get a lower offset wheel to start (if they had the option). Why would you get an ET45 wheel and add a 15mm spacer instead of just getting an ~ET30 wheel?

caz bumpy roads in ny

[mbanks21]

Originally Posted by SHEEDI

caz bumpy roads in ny

Wouldn't lower offset wheels be more stable than higher offset wheels + spacers?

[SHEEDI]

Originally Posted by mbanks21

Wouldn't lower offset wheels be more stable than higher offset wheels + spacers?

bro, I have no idea about offset, I am new to wheels world, may be somebody can explain to me

Dude, you have over 1300 posts on this forum...surely you know how to use the search function. Asking someone to explain what "offset" is within this subforum is like asking "Where does the key go?" in the General section

[SHEEDI]

Originally Posted by FCobra94

Dude, you have over 1300 posts on this forum...surely you know how to use the search function. Asking someone to explain what "offset" is within this subforum is like asking "Where does the key go?" in the General section

can you please explain what the search function is?

[SHEEDI]

Originally Posted by FCobra94

Can you please help me to find Trolling button in my car?

[NGEE]

Look, I don't know if you're trolling or not. I can't tell anymore around here.. sigh.

I'm no expert, but here's what the offset is all about - basically curbside offset from center:



All other things being equal on a wheel, offset determines stance inside the wheel wells. The bigger the positive offset number, the more the wheel will be tucked inside the well. The smaller the positive offset, the more the wheel will be pushed out toward the fender lip.

I think of it as [big number pulls my wheel away from the curb], and [small number pushes it toward the curb].

I hear ppl saying "just get smaller offset". But that doesn't account for taste in wheels. You can't just say "I want this kind of wheel, with *that* offset". Wheel offsets are a function of wheel style. You can easily see that a deeper dish wheel will have a smaller offset. Therefore, it's all in taste.

Some manufacturers might make the same style wheel with different offsets (basically, different hubs - kind of like built-in spacers), but not all. When you pick out your wheels, see what the options are.

In an ideal world, you don't run spacers. But once you get the wheels you really want, sometimes you will need spacers to get the desired stance.

Tirerack has a decent explanation: http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/tech/...jsp?techid=101

Hope this helps.

On my car, I wanted staggered 359s. I really like them but I'm considering spacers to push the rears out toward the fender lip.

BTW... "et" means the same as "offset; it's just the German equivalent.

Also, search function sucks on this site. Here's a search DIY for this site - use google:

[search terms] site:e90post.com/forums

[SHEEDI]

Originally Posted by NGEE

Look, I don't know if you're trolling or not. I can't tell anymore around here.. sigh.

I'm no expert, but here's what the offset is all about - basically curbside offset from center:



All other things being equal on a wheel, offset determines stance inside the wheel wells. The bigger the positive offset number, the more the wheel will be tucked inside the well. The smaller the positive offset, the more the wheel will be pushed out toward the fender lip.

I think of it as [big number pulls my wheel away from the curb], and [small number pushes it toward the curb].

I hear ppl saying "just get smaller offset". But that doesn't account for taste in wheels. You can't just say "I want this kind of wheel, with *that* offset". Wheel offsets are a function of wheel style. You can easily see that a deeper dish wheel will have a smaller offset. Therefore, it's all in taste.

Some manufacturers might make the same style wheel with different offsets (basically, different hubs - kind of like built-in spacers), but not all. When you pick out your wheels, see what the options are.

In an ideal world, you don't run spacers. But once you get the wheels you really want, sometimes you will need spacers to get the desired stance.

Tirerack has a decent explanation: http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/tech/...jsp?techid=101

Hope this helps.

On my car, I wanted staggered 359s. I really like them but I'm considering spacers to push the rears out toward the fender lip.

BTW... "et" means the same as "offset; it's just the German equivalent.

Also, search function sucks on this site. Here's a search DIY for this site - use google:

[search terms] site:e90post.com/forums

Thanks Bro,
as i said earlier in my thread that i am new to wheels world, again thanks for all info, really appreciate

[shadow191]

Certain wheels only come in certain offsets. If you're ordering custom multi-piece wheels, you can get just about any offset you want. But if you're ordering 1 piece wheels, you only get limited offsets. A given wheel width is only going to come in 2, maybe 3 offsets.

Originally Posted by mbanks21

I never understood why someone wouldnt just get a lower offset wheel to start (if they had the option). Why would you get an ET45 wheel and add a 15mm spacer instead of just getting an ~ET30 wheel?

[mbanks21]

Originally Posted by shadow191

Certain wheels only come in certain offsets. If you're ordering custom multi-piece wheels, you can get just about any offset you want. But if you're ordering 1 piece wheels, you only get limited offsets. A given wheel width is only going to come in 2, maybe 3 offsets.

Yeah I understand that. It's when people are looking at new wheels and they are offered in 3-4 differant offsets and people start asking about spacers right away. For instance, VMR wheels. Most come in ~45, ~35, ~22, etc. Instead of getting the 45ET and a 10ET spacer, why not get the 35?

[mbanks21]

Does anyone know how much space there is between the stock wheel and the stock sport strut/shocks? PreLci...

[yEBMW]

Originally Posted by mbanks21

Does anyone know how much space there is between the stock wheel and the stock sport strut/shocks? PreLci...

No you have to measure with a yard stick and a ruler that has mm measurement. Where ever you measurement is the shortest then that is the size spacer you need.

[wdeerfield]

i had to install spacers because my wheels came from my e46 with an et40. they were millimeters from the front strut. I also wanted a more flush full look without lowering. I've achieved both and got to keep my CSL reps.