Wheel spacer advice

[Blue62]

Considering fitting spacers to my next car, only 5mm per corner just to set it off. I had them as a manufacturer option on my last car, but concerned that as an aftermarket I may have issues with warranty and insurance, but at only 5mm will it be a problem? Before anyone comments why bother, I only want to make a subtle difference.

[HertsBiker]

If it's that subtle, is it worth it? I had 25mm spacers on a shogun, £165 the set. Sent them back wheel balance was awful. Insurance was a problem. 5mm will only be measurable in percent and possibly not worth doing. Sorry to be negative.

[JackReacher]

Wheel spacers are hateful things. I was wary of putting them on my 350z but everyone on the owners club said they made no difference to the way it drives. So went ahead with 20mm front and 25mm rear. Made a big improvement to the look but oh dear, the drive was ruined. More tramlinng and dulled the steering feel. They came off soon after. I understand they put more stress on wheel bearings as well.

I don't see any benefit in 5mm, surely not enough to make much difference to the look?

[TooMany2cvs]

JackReacher said:

I understand they put more stress on wheel bearings as well.

Yep, offset isn't just a random thing. If the centreline of the wheel is moved significantly relative to the wheel bearing, the bearing will lose the will to live in short order.

JackReacher said:

I don't see any benefit in 5mm, surely not enough to make much difference to the look?

Fortunately, nor to the bearing.

[Blue62]

TooMany2cvs said:

Fortunately, nor to the bearing.

That's my question really, will 5mm have no adverse effect on bearings and steering? As stated, I only want to make a subtle difference, had em as a manufacturer option on a 991 and it just looked a little more poised, looking to achieve the same on my next car but as an aftermarket, hence the questions.

[R6VED]

I used to sell loads of spacers and never had any problems with them. I would recommend H&R over FK due to the quality of the screw threads.

I had 25mm front and 20mm rear on my TT roadster with staggered wheels (hence the wider at the front) and it made a radical difference to the looks, but had 0 impact on anything in a negative fashion.

You can pick up 5mm dirt cheap and often don't need longer bolts, but this needs checking rather than assuming.