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[chrisgixer]

If the extra out board contact patch matches the inboard contact patch increase the bearing will be unaffected. So wider wheels with the correct et will work. There is little impact on steering geometry then too. As the contact patch is balance re the steering pivot point thin the hub. (Although from experience that makes little odds within the realm of sensible use of wheel spacers)

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Ahhh, thanks, followed every word of that 

No such word as can't as they say 

[Marks DTM Calib]

Spacers are a bodge and could be considered bloody dangerous on the front.

Most often used as a bodge method to set the offset of an alloy with .....the wrong offset!

Used to shove the wheels out a bit more alter......you guessed it, the offset.....which impacts handling in a bad way.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Ah ok.

So, generally, when we see these Mk 1 Golfs etc with stretched tyres (separate issue, but which I happen to think is bleeding stupid) with wide wheels, which are poking out from underneath the arches - what has been done there, normally? Presumably simply a widee wheel, with a different offset, which is going to impair dramatically the handling characteristics? (fully aware that like so much modding, it's done for show, not go) 

[Marks DTM Calib]

No, the offset is the distance between the mounting face and the centre line of the wheel.

So fit a wider wheel with the same offset and no massive impact, alter the offset and you screw the geo up.

So fitting  spacer to correct the offset may be consider a good thing....

[Diamond Black Geezer]

All being added to the grey matter 

Much appreciated 

[chrisgixer]

No, the offset is the distance between the mounting face and the centre line of the wheel.

So fit a wider wheel with the same offset and no massive impact, alter the offset and you screw the geo up.

So fitting  spacer to correct the offset may be consider a good thing....

To follow on from that....


Yep, although on omega coming from a standard 17 to 18 with either rt38 or et30 sport stars, there was no difference in handling given the et difference of 8mm. So with a 245 wide tyre you have 8mm between rubbing the shock upright at more than -1.15 camber and rubbing the wheel arch on the outer edge.

So on an omega there is no noticeable difference in handling across 8mm difference in et. A 4mm spacer would work nicely with vectra sport stars is my point. But that's an example of how spacers can work for you. Generally they are not used correctly causing more issue than they fix. Still, quite rightly, described as a bodge though.