Am considering going to 3inch wheel spacers keeping the original tire size and wheel size. Would appreciate if someone who has done this before could let me know how this worked out. Front and back wheel spacers i'm planning on. Good motoring...

 

sounds like it would be perfect on a trolls car

 

what are you trying to achieve?

 

Was thinking for more stability. Wider stance. Reading some of the post on here regarding wheel spacers I'm beginning to wonder if thats such a good idea.

 

wheel spacers are usuaaly done if putting vette wheels on because of there backspacing. 3 inch spacer would be illegal unless you have fender flares that cover the wheel (thats how it is in rhode island) plus im sure you would rub real bad on all 4 tires just from driving. 3 inch spacers on a 3rd gen rim is an EPIC FAIL

 

there is a lot more to stability that just pushing the wheels out further.

i would leave them alone

 

Thanks for the reply. Being new to this I don't know all I should,that's where it is valuable to have a forum like this to get answers from those who know Thanks again, I thinl I'll stick to the stock wheels and tires.

 

Thanks for the info,this why this forum is so valuable for getting info from those that know,saved me from a lot of grief..

 

Why are they bad? I was gonna get a set for some 4th gen rims I have and I know nothing about this stuff...

 

For fourth gen rims they're not bad (other than the fact that they're a pain to install and uninstall). They're actually needed if you're running fourth gen, Corvette, BMW or other such rims with incorrect offset/backspacing, to properly space the wheels. It seems like the OP wanted to install spacers "just because," though, to make wheels that otherwise fit stick out a little further.

Perhaps not as drastically as the "bowlegger" look that some low riders adopt (see attached), but I think that was the gist of it. That is the idea people were trying to dissuade him from.

 

I had asked on this board if wheel spacers on a 3rd gen would be ok. Most replies were negative. Ex: tire rub,state law may require flares to cover the tires, also the extra weight,axle stress and so on. I'm considering yet but not sure if I will attempt that. Best advice is to take seriously those who know from experience.

 

Installing wheel spacers simply to move the tire/wheel outward is a big no no. It puts great stress on bearings & axles. Besides it looks like $#!^. When correcting a wheel offset issue, it's perfectally acceptable. In this case your not moving the tires out any farther than the stock dimension, only the mounting point, so the stress (leverage point) doesn't change. Example, I have C5 vette wheels on my 3rd gen, which requires spacers to get the wheels/tires back to the origional location. I hope this helps, Dean

 

im not convinced the spacers put a ridiculous amount of extra stress on the bearings. They bolt to the wheel, effectively making the hub on the wheel thicker, thats it. No massive extra load aside form the extra weight.

the issue is all the extra lug nuts. You have to properly torque the spacers lug nuts, they re-torque them regularly to be safe, if they come loose, you can shear studs and loose a wheel. Thats the problem with them. If you install them properly and torque they properly and keep after them, you will be fine.

the tires cannot be sticking out from the side of the car, its illegal in most if not all states.

 

There will be no extra stress if the spacers do not move the wheels from the origional location. The OP wanted to use the spacers to move the wheels outward, that means added stress. Bad idea, because of a number of things that everyone stated. Dean

 

what the OP wanted to do, move the wheels out 3", is a bad idea and will cause issues, but the use of spacers in general to properly fit 4th gen/vette rims for instance is fine

 

i recently bought 8.5 by 18 vette rims. what size spacer is needed? i was thinking 1 inch?

 

i recently bought 8.5 by 18 inch vette rims and dont kno what size spacers i need. i was thinking 1 inch?

 

My C5 vette thin spoke wheels needed 2" spacers. They were 8.5 X 17, with 56 mm offset.

 

Until we know WHICH Vette wheels, it is a guessing game. 2" is pretty common to make a Vette wheel fit, but going thicker or thinner can be better.

Measure the backspacing & we can be more certain.

Personally? I say sell the Vette wheels & use that $ + what you were spend, on wheels that fit, without the extra weight of spacers, the extra 20 lug nuts AND the 20 extra lug studs.

 

How big are the tires that you run with your 17 x 8.5s? There is a set of C6 ZR1 near where I live for pretty cheap without tires. I was thinkin NEXEN N3000 ZR17 INCH TIRES 275/40R17. That shouldnt have to much rubbing should it? Give or take a little hamering possibly?

 

The 17x8.5 wheels are on the front. The tire size is 245/45 17. The rears are 18x9.5 and the tires are 275/40 18 and they do not rub at all.

 

Crikey. How do I post a video link in here... ill show you what I'm sitting at right now when someone says how to post a video! But my tires are the 16in aluminium z28 wheels from a 91-92. So im running 245s federal Super Steels 595s on all corners. (I just put the whole name in there, idk what 595 stands for) And the video will show how close i am on both sides. The back tires will be fine, but front ones will definitely need some massaging. i'm assuming that the guy before me has put lowering springs in it since there are some warranty warning about lowered vehicles from Les Schwabs (tire place) that shouldn't affect it to much really? Just wheel height in general? And I attempted to put my mechanics teachers BBS's on (for S***s and giggles) just tried one on the drivers back tire, and I didnt get to set it down to the different stud spacing and offset of course, but they were 17 in BBS's with some nice good 235s. My point being. I wanna get the bang for my buck, and try and run the same size tire all around and wheel. I could get billet wheel spacers with the new wheels studs for the offset's for what ever wheel i really wanted, but it comes down to what are the best. The 98-02 SS wheels are gorgeous, but I also love the ZR1 reps. Suggestions. I'm just testing the water to find out for sure, This combo wont be fu-filled till probably near the end of this summer... Throw some information back at meh!!