ZPOST
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read


Go Back   ZPOST > BMW Z4 Technical Talk > Wheels and Tires
  TireRack

SUPPORT ZPOST BY DOING YOUR TIRERACK SHOPPING FROM THIS BANNER, THANKS!
Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      11-13-2009, 04:09 PM   #1
imom
First Lieutenant
28
Rep
313
Posts

Drives: Subaru BRZ ....... Z4MR (SOLD)
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Los Angeles

iTrader: (3)

pros and cons of wheel spacers

Hi, I'm deciding to get larger wheels or using OEM M roadster wheels with spacers to give it the flush look. So I see the difference between the stock wheels vs. what others are running 275/285 in the rear and 235/245 in the front vs stock size isn't that much.

I'm not a wheel/tire person so I'm trying to learn...did the search thing and didn't get the info I needed on this forum. What's the downside of having a 10/20 mm spacer up front and 20 to 30 mm spacer in the back? I'm not tracking the car, so is it really worth it to spend $2K plus more for a little size increase? This is more aesthetics, but I don't have the knowledge of the downsides of spacers and how that will affect alignment and handling?

Be nice if someone can share some more information. So any experienced tire/wheel person can comment please. Thanks!
Appreciate 0
      11-14-2009, 05:55 AM   #2
nmulax
Brigadier General
nmulax's Avatar
United_States
374
Rep
4,320
Posts

Drives: '07 Z4 M Coupe
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Metro-Detroit

iTrader: (5)

Garage List
2007 Z4M Coupé  [7.66]
It could lead to vibration, and you'll obviously you need longer bolts when doing spacers. Otherwise I think the general consensus is that the larger the spacer, the riskier it is to run. Spacers are a band-aid, a temporary fix till you can get wheels that fit the car correctly.
__________________
Appreciate 0
      11-14-2009, 06:22 AM   #3
JCz04Bimmer
Captain
JCz04Bimmer's Avatar
30
Rep
606
Posts

Drives: 06 Z4MC
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: New York City

iTrader: (2)

If spacers are installed correctly, they'll be issue-free. Many race folks run spacers to get that wider stance/track and tweak wheel fitment so I wouldn't be scared off from using them. But you MUST make sure that they are mated up to a clean hub face on the wheel and rotor side. If the spacer is installed with a gunked up surface on the hub or wheel, you'll get vibration.

Running a big spacer versus a small spacer shouldn't introduce any additional troubles so long as they're hubcentric and mated to a clean hub face, as mentioned.

I've run spacers on my 3er and my Z without issue. I've always run a stud/nut kit with studs long enough for the spacers to be run which makes getting everything lined up a lot easier...
__________________
|www.onehotlap.com|Real People|Real Cars|
Appreciate 0
      11-14-2009, 09:11 PM   #4
Z4MCJJ
Lieutenant
Z4MCJJ's Avatar
4
Rep
448
Posts

Drives: Z4MC
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Z4MC

iTrader: (0)

I use 5mm spacers with my track wheels. They have been issue-free. I recommend replacing your tire OEM bolts with studs and nuts.
Appreciate 0
      11-15-2009, 02:08 AM   #5
laidback
Lieutenant Colonel
134
Rep
1,709
Posts

Drives: M's
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: SoCal

iTrader: (0)

I've used spacers 10 mm Macht Schnell from EAS and no issues at all...
__________________
Live as if you will die tomorrow, but learn as if you will live forever." M.G
<img src=http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg289/l8dback/2012/ff8d7019.png border=0 alt= />
Appreciate 0
      11-15-2009, 02:30 PM   #6
3002 tii
Lieutenant General
3002 tii's Avatar
United_States
2257
Rep
12,546
Posts

Drives: Z4 M, 550i, X3
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: CT

iTrader: (99)

Garage List
the only negative i see is added unsprung weight and the need to buy longer bolts which isn't cheap. i was in the same boat as you got just found wheels with a more aggressive offset. this gave the flush look w/o the need to run spacers.
__________________
Follow for latest mods
Appreciate 0
      11-18-2009, 09:12 PM   #7
fitchesbass
Captain
38
Rep
969
Posts

Drives: BMW
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Fairfax, VA

iTrader: (2)

Quote:
Originally Posted by nmulax View Post
It could lead to vibration, and you'll obviously you need longer bolts when doing spacers. Otherwise I think the general consensus is that the larger the spacer, the riskier it is to run. Spacers are a band-aid, a temporary fix till you can get wheels that fit the car correctly.
Certainly don't agree with this.

Plenty of track cars run spacers for wider stances or to accommodate large rubber.
__________________
911 Carrera project car
Previous:
E92 M3 ZHP - Sold
E86 Z4M - Sold
E36 M3 - Sold
Appreciate 0
      11-18-2009, 09:13 PM   #8
fitchesbass
Captain
38
Rep
969
Posts

Drives: BMW
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Fairfax, VA

iTrader: (2)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dubbedown View Post
the only negative i see is added unsprung weight and the need to buy longer bolts which isn't cheap. i was in the same boat as you got just found wheels with a more aggressive offset. this gave the flush look w/o the need to run spacers.
a 5mm spacer probably weighs very little. But I guess that is a 'negative'.
__________________
911 Carrera project car
Previous:
E92 M3 ZHP - Sold
E86 Z4M - Sold
E36 M3 - Sold
Appreciate 0
      11-18-2009, 09:48 PM   #9
O-cha
Brigadier General
O-cha's Avatar
215
Rep
4,726
Posts

Drives: Mcoupe
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: In front of you

iTrader: (2)

Unsprung weight thing is moot, you would add the weight with the change in offset anyway.

Quote:
Originally Posted by fitchesbass View Post
Certainly don't agree with this.

Plenty of track cars run spacers for wider stances or to accommodate large rubber.

I think he more meant you should have the proper offset wheel instead of the spacers, which ultimately you should, less fumbling about.


But if you're trying to fit something big under your fender it makes more sense to go with a higher numbered offset and space it out with a spacer instead.
__________________
Appreciate 0
      11-25-2009, 06:47 PM   #10
AWM3
BMW Fan
AWM3's Avatar
11
Rep
553
Posts

Drives: 2012 E92 M3, Alpine White
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Georgia, USA

iTrader: (0)

If you want to widen the track of your Z4 M roadster using the stock wheels and original tire sizes (225 front and 255 rear) you will get best results with 12 mm spacers in the back and 15mm spacers in the front. You will need correspondingly longer wheel bolts. The most common problem is corrosion of the spacer to the wheel hub, making it difficult to remove. So be sure and coat the contact surface between the wheel hub and the spacer with some anti seize compound. If your are not using stock tire sizes, these spacer sizes will not be correct.
Appreciate 0
      11-25-2009, 07:08 PM   #11
imom
First Lieutenant
28
Rep
313
Posts

Drives: Subaru BRZ ....... Z4MR (SOLD)
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Los Angeles

iTrader: (3)

Car62,

How did you come up with number for the wheel space size? Something you have tried? I kinda like the OEM fish hook wheels in the matte black or gun metal... so I thought it might be a nice solution to use spacers. Would any larger spacer cause problems in your experience? Why 15mm in front and why only 12mm in back? Thanks for answering.
Appreciate 0
      11-26-2009, 04:35 AM   #12
AWM3
BMW Fan
AWM3's Avatar
11
Rep
553
Posts

Drives: 2012 E92 M3, Alpine White
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Georgia, USA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by imom View Post
Car62,

How did you come up with number for the wheel space size? Something you have tried? I kinda like the OEM fish hook wheels in the matte black or gun metal... so I thought it might be a nice solution to use spacers. Would any larger spacer cause problems in your experience? Why 15mm in front and why only 12mm in back? Thanks for answering.
Yes, I tried 15mm spacers on the back with OEM wheels and tires, in my opinion the tire was too close to the fender lip. Someone else might have a different opinion. If you put wider tires on the stock wheels, or lowered the car, I'm pretty sure there would be rubbing.
Appreciate 0
      11-28-2009, 04:12 AM   #13
imom
First Lieutenant
28
Rep
313
Posts

Drives: Subaru BRZ ....... Z4MR (SOLD)
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Los Angeles

iTrader: (3)

Hi Car62,
On the front 15mm wheel spacer doesn't cause any rubbing at all even with steering wheel lock to lock?
Appreciate 0
      11-28-2009, 07:20 PM   #14
AWM3
BMW Fan
AWM3's Avatar
11
Rep
553
Posts

Drives: 2012 E92 M3, Alpine White
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Georgia, USA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by imom View Post
Hi Car62,
On the front 15mm wheel spacer doesn't cause any rubbing at all even with steering wheel lock to lock?
None that I noticed.
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:08 AM.




zpost
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST