Wheel Spacers ... pros and cons

[GotStinger?]

Happy Friday ... I have a 2023 Stinger GT2 RWD with 13,500 miles on it and I am thinking about putting wheel spacers on to 'pop' the wheels out just a hair to get it to be closer to the wheel well lip. Any thoughts on pros / cons of doing this? Thanks in advance.

 

[socalvn]

All Cons don't do it never a safe idea

 

[Snicklefritz]

Longer studs, then it can be a "pro". Otherwise, why risk it? I think that flush also risks fender contact under extreme cornering. The car was designed for clearance under harsh cornering situations. And I have pushed it as far as I ever will by going 9.5 in the rear and 8.5 in the front with OEM sized tires.

 

[GotStinger?]

Makes sense ... thanks for the input, I appreciate it.

 

[Thomby]

I've been running 20mm spacers for maybe a year and a half, with no issue. Assuming they are attached properly, they're no different than having the same wheel with a lower offset (mounting surface closer to the inside of the wheel). So your 19x8.5 +46.5 rear becomes a +26.5, and your 19x8 +34 front becomes a +14.

I use this as a reference point when people ask about different wheel combinations, because it puts them flush with the fenders but still has plenty of clearance through the suspension travel and steering angle.

I put a bit of anti-seize on the faces of the spacer (inside against the hub, and outside against the wheel) to avoid having them corrosion-weld themselves on after a few years. I've had the wheels off a few times since with no issue, but have not removed the spacers themselves.

 

[BIG-D]

If you want to do it then go for it...

 

[NS_Stinger]

I've been running 20mm spacers in the back for 3 or more years with zero issues. Buy good quality ones and you're fine.

 

[GotStinger?]

I've been running 20mm spacers in the back for 3 or more years with zero issues. Buy good quality ones and you're fine.

only the back? not the front, too?

 

[GotStinger?]

If you want to do it then go for it...

View attachment 90219

View attachment 90220

that looks so good ... wow.

 

[NS_Stinger]

only the back? not the front, too?

Yup, Ive had 20mm front and back but didnt like how much that moved the front tires out but its perfect out back so ai just kept them on the back.

 

[Thomby]

Yup, Ive had 20mm front and back but didnt like how much that moved the front tires out but its perfect out back so ai just kept them on the back.

I'm not one of those sticklers who insists on everything matching to the mm, but 20 seems like a pretty big difference. Have you tried a 15mm up front?

 

[NS_Stinger]

Im pretty sure 15mm would require removing the factory wheel studs and installing extended ones, or trimming the length on the factory ones.

 

[Thomby]

Im pretty sure 15mm would require removing the factory wheel studs and installing extended ones, or trimming the length on the factory ones.

For slip-on ones yes, and I believe you even need longer studs for 10mm spacers. Or are you saying you think bolt-on ones will let the stud poke too far through? (Even with the holes in the mounting face of the wheel)

 

[Volfy]

Any plate-type spacers greater than 5mm would require extended studs. Good rule of thumb is you need at least 1x the stud diameter worth of thread engagement. So for 12x1.5mm, that is about 8 thread MINIMUM.

I myself am not a fan of the thicker spacers with integral extended studs. I occasionally run track and would not trust those things at or near max lateral acceleration. Now if you only drive street, you might get away with it. We're individually responsible for our own risk management. Your call.

As to whether to run space with OEM wheels... all depends on what you're trying to achieve. If you just like the looks... again, your call. Just know that there is little to no handling benefit when you simply push the wheels further out from stock offset. If you veer too far, you'd be changing the suspension geometry beyond what it was intended. I would strong encourage you to educate yourself on the implications of doing so. Google search on "scrub radius" is a good start.

That said, folks do run spacers with stock wheels. Just like there are lots of folks with big ass brodozers sporting freakishly large wheels/tires. Obviously has popular appeal. All depends on whether you're okay following what is popular without understanding what it actually does to your car.

 

[NS_Stinger]

For slip-on ones yes, and I believe you even need longer studs for 10mm spacers. Or are you saying you think bolt-on ones will let the stud poke too far through? (Even with the holes in the mounting face of the wheel)

Correct, I believe 20mm is the sweet spot for the bolt ons with integrated studs that allows the factory studs to fit behind the oem wheels without trimming. Anything 15mm and below requires either trimming oem studs if you use spacers with their own studs or installing extended studs for spacers without the integrated studs.

 

[NS_Stinger]

I can tell you with utmost certainty that with 20mm spacers the car feels significantly more planted in corners, especially when I had them front and back.

 

[GT Elite]

I’m surprised that noone has mentioned the impact spacers have on wheel bearings. By moving the wheel outwards some of the load is transferred from the inner racec to the outer race of the bearing. A load it is not really designed to carry. This can lead to shorter bearing life.

 

[D.J.]

I’m surprised that noone has mentioned the impact spacers have on wheel bearings. By moving the wheel outwards some of the load is transferred from the inner racec to the outer race of the bearing. A load it is not really designed to carry. This can lead to shorter bearing life.

How short are you expecting? Like 200,000 km or so?

 

[D.J.]

Correct, I believe 20mm is the sweet spot for the bolt ons with integrated studs that allows the factory studs to fit behind the oem wheels without trimming. Anything 15mm and below requires either trimming oem studs if you use spacers with their own studs or installing extended studs for spacers without the integrated studs.

Confirmed - this is with 20mm spacers.

 

[NS_Stinger]

I’m surprised that noone has mentioned the impact spacers have on wheel bearings. By moving the wheel outwards some of the load is transferred from the inner racec to the outer race of the bearing. A load it is not really designed to carry. This can lead to shorter bearing life.

Who really cares though, do people run around worrying about their struts after they install springs? Or sway bar endlinks when they upgrade their sway bars? Typically mods aren't extending the lifs of your OEM parts, it's not why people typically modify their cars.