Wheel Spacers..??
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 740
Likes: 88
From: Brighton Tennessee
Wheel Spacers..??
OK from what I have read around Here..this may open up a can of worms..
But If I wanted to add say a 1/2 wheel spacer to the Rear..it seems one needs to add longer studs...Who Sells the best Wheel Spacer ...Only reason I am looking..is I added some c6 wheels to my car..and I would like them to come out a bit more..or is it best to just do the 5mm spacers and leave the stock studs in..???
Who Has The best and safest set up for one to buy...
But If I wanted to add say a 1/2 wheel spacer to the Rear..it seems one needs to add longer studs...Who Sells the best Wheel Spacer ...Only reason I am looking..is I added some c6 wheels to my car..and I would like them to come out a bit more..or is it best to just do the 5mm spacers and leave the stock studs in..???
Who Has The best and safest set up for one to buy...
Last edited by Pappy11; Jan 12, 2016 at 07:42 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,583
Likes: 5
From: Coast to Coast
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 740
Likes: 88
From: Brighton Tennessee
Guess I will Look at some 3mm if that does not do it I will look at some 5mm...don't want to go through the hassle of changing studs at this point..it's just the C6 wheels sit in a tad more then the C5's...3mm may be just fine...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,092
Likes: 120
From: orlando florida
St. Jude Donor '15
i use a 4mm non hubcentric spacer on my car. there is enough center hub protruding out for the wheel to still center. plus i use acorn lugs with a 5/16" shank to help.
Last edited by mrr23; Jan 12, 2016 at 09:24 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,092
Likes: 120
From: orlando florida
St. Jude Donor '15
if you are talking about the base c6 wheels, you will need about 3/4" (20mm) adapters to get them to sit flush with the fender like c5 wheels.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,402
Likes: 394
From: Virginia
St. Jude Donor '18
I would ONLY buy Wheel Adapters from Fred:
http://www.wheeladapter.com/corvette_wheel_spacers.php
He isn't the cheapest, but they are the best damn product on the market.
http://www.wheeladapter.com/corvette_wheel_spacers.php
He isn't the cheapest, but they are the best damn product on the market.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 740
Likes: 88
From: Brighton Tennessee
I installed these wheels...and I think I may be rubbing just a Touch..in the rear..I hear a Rumble noise sounds like road noise from the tires...but they are Pretty Close to New..only a Couple of K on them..I went by the tire store this afternoon to check on the install of my TMP sensors...he Looked at the Rear and Kinda Thinks the same thing...he said they are Close..So I ordered a set of 3mm to put on the rear..see how that does...Tire pressure is Good.....and don't think it's a Bearing...did not make the noise when I had the other wheels on there..So Must be rubbing a tad...
Last edited by Pappy11; Jan 13, 2016 at 09:18 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Racer
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 312
Likes: 28
From: Maryland
I installed these wheels...and I think I may be rubbing just a Touch..in the rear..I hear a Rumble noise sounds like road noise from the tires...but they are Pretty Close to New..only a Couple of K on them..I went by the tire store this afternoon to check on the install of my TMP sensors...he Looked at the Rear and Kinda Thinks the same thing...he said they are Close..So I ordered a set of 3mm to put on the rear..see how that does...Tire pressure is Good.....and don't think it's a Bearing...did not make the noise when I had the other wheels on there..So Must be rubbing a tad...
.......was curious on how all this went. Got some C6 Z06 replicas (that were actually made for a BASE C6) that I want to put on my C5.
Wondering how much spacer is needed in the back?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,080
Likes: 151
From: Toronto
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,804
Likes: 358
From: Northville, MI
Check the offsets but I believe the C6 11" rears have a+79 backspacing. Since the Z05 18x10.5 rears have a +65 spacing that would mean you are looking at (6.35mm) 1/4" inch more backspacing to center the wheel. That is why most suggest the 3 to 5 mm spacer. With either, the stock lugnut and studs should work. If you want to add an enclosed lugnut always use the stock lug first to make sure the lug is at least flush with the top of it. In racing we always used the rule of thumb--9 turns of the lug.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 133
Likes: 46
From: Florida
This is what I did for my C6 wheels. I used 25mm (1") adapters for the rear and 20mm (just over 3/4") adapters for the front. Depending on the reliefs on the back of the wheels you may or may not need to trim the studs. There's about 1/4" of stud with no threads that sticks past the adapter when they're mounted and might hit the back of the wheel. I trimmed them off of the rears and about 1 thread off of the fronts. No rubbing whatsoever even lowered quite a bit.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,938
Likes: 498
From: Fords, NJ
OK from what I have read around Here..this may open up a can of worms..
But If I wanted to add say a 1/2 wheel spacer to the Rear..it seems one needs to add longer studs...Who Sells the best Wheel Spacer ...Only reason I am looking..is I added some c6 wheels to my car..and I would like them to come out a bit more..or is it best to just do the 5mm spacers and leave the stock studs in..???
Who Has The best and safest set up for one to buy...
But If I wanted to add say a 1/2 wheel spacer to the Rear..it seems one needs to add longer studs...Who Sells the best Wheel Spacer ...Only reason I am looking..is I added some c6 wheels to my car..and I would like them to come out a bit more..or is it best to just do the 5mm spacers and leave the stock studs in..???
Who Has The best and safest set up for one to buy...
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...al-answer.html
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 9,296
Likes: 1,531
From: Oviedo Florida
2024 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2016 C5 of Year Finalist
Spacers? You better think about top quality studs , like ARP.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,294
Likes: 367
From: Iowa
I bought 25mm adapters from motorsport-tech.com. I have 2008 C6 wheels. The part without any threads on the stock bolts do stick out past the adapter but my C6 wheel has a gap where it doesn't hit so I didn't need to modify it. If you don't have that gap or if you went any smaller than a 25mm you may need to trim down the stud.
Last edited by Macleod52; Apr 7, 2017 at 12:59 PM.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 312
Likes: 28
From: Maryland
Up Front (on my base C5):
As I understand it, you CAN mount FRONT STOCK BASE C6 wheels ( with C6 offset ) onto the FRONT of a BASE C5 coupe with no spacers/adapters/issues. I'm thinking that my "new" wheels (up front) should work the same way since they came off the FRONT of a BASE C6, with no spacers etc. Even though they are C6 Z06 replicas AND 18 x 9.5 (stock front C6 are 18 x 8.5), they were made with the correct offset so as to work up front on a BASE C6, no spacers etc. Am I wrong in that assumption? Talk to me. I wanna know. I'm here to learn.
In Back ( on my base C5):
I "know" someone who used only 1/8" spacer (I'd prolly go 1/4" max.) to mount STOCK REAR BASE C6 wheels (with C6 offset) onto the rear of his BASE C5. They are 19 X 10 of course. My "new" rear wheels are also 19 X 10, and also came off of the rear of a BASE C6 with no spacers etc. So again, I'm assuming they would have the same fitment (and offset) as STOCK REAR BASE C6 wheels, and therefore only need 1/8"-1/4" spacer.
Talk to me..
Last edited by JayTee72; Apr 7, 2017 at 02:14 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,938
Likes: 498
From: Fords, NJ
IF the replica wheels have the same offsets as the OEM C6 base wheels then the fronts will mount and fit without spacers and look OK on a C5.
The rear wheel C6 base offset is way off from what a C5 needs. It is -79mm compared to the -58 that C5 Z06 wheels have. When talking changing wheels I use the C5 Z06 specs because that wheel fits nearly flush to the rear fender on a C5 which is the appearance that most people want. The -79mm means these rear wheels will be "sunk into" the the rear fender wells by about 21mm. If that is the look you like and want then mount them up and smile. The 1/8 or 1/4" spacer will prevent the wheel/tire from rubbing the inner fender wells on hard corners. Some C5's need this additional clearance and other do not. 1/4" is the max spacer you can use with OEM wheel studs and still have sufficient threads holding the wheel onto the car. That 1/4" spacer will move the wheel/tire towards the outer fender by about 6mm (1/4" is about 6mm).
Actual position of the wheel on the car is determined by both the wheel width and the wheel offset. Here is a link to a calculator that you can use:
http://www.1010tires.com/wheeloffsetcalculator.asp
I suggest using the C5 Z06 rear wheel specs for the current wheel in the calculator since as mentioned it fits nearly flush to the rear fenders where the coupe/vert wheels are sunk into the rear fenders. Here are the C5 and C6 OEM wheel specs to use with the calculator:
Backspace/offset dimensions are as follows:
C5 (coupe/vert):
Front 17x8.5", 58mm offset = 7.03" backspace
Rear 18x9.5" 65mm offset = 7.81" backspace
C5 Z06:
Front 17x9.5", 54mm offset = 7.38" backspace
Rear 18x10.5", 58mm offset = 8.03" backspace
C6 (coupe/vert):
Front 18x8.5", 56mm offset = 6.95" backspace
Rear 19x10", 79mm offset = 8.61" backspace
C6 Z06 and C6 GrandSport:
Front 18x9.5", 40mm offset = 7.22" backspace
Rear 19x12", 59mm offset = 8.82" backspace
C6 ZR1
Front 19x10 40mm offset = 7.22" backspace
Rear 20x12 59mm offset - 8.82" backspace
C5 and C6 wheel circle:
5 on 4.75" (120.65MM)
Center hub dia. 70.3mm
Results tell you where the inner and outer edges of the wheel will end up relative to the starting wheel.
The rear wheel C6 base offset is way off from what a C5 needs. It is -79mm compared to the -58 that C5 Z06 wheels have. When talking changing wheels I use the C5 Z06 specs because that wheel fits nearly flush to the rear fender on a C5 which is the appearance that most people want. The -79mm means these rear wheels will be "sunk into" the the rear fender wells by about 21mm. If that is the look you like and want then mount them up and smile. The 1/8 or 1/4" spacer will prevent the wheel/tire from rubbing the inner fender wells on hard corners. Some C5's need this additional clearance and other do not. 1/4" is the max spacer you can use with OEM wheel studs and still have sufficient threads holding the wheel onto the car. That 1/4" spacer will move the wheel/tire towards the outer fender by about 6mm (1/4" is about 6mm).
Actual position of the wheel on the car is determined by both the wheel width and the wheel offset. Here is a link to a calculator that you can use:
http://www.1010tires.com/wheeloffsetcalculator.asp
I suggest using the C5 Z06 rear wheel specs for the current wheel in the calculator since as mentioned it fits nearly flush to the rear fenders where the coupe/vert wheels are sunk into the rear fenders. Here are the C5 and C6 OEM wheel specs to use with the calculator:
Backspace/offset dimensions are as follows:
C5 (coupe/vert):
Front 17x8.5", 58mm offset = 7.03" backspace
Rear 18x9.5" 65mm offset = 7.81" backspace
C5 Z06:
Front 17x9.5", 54mm offset = 7.38" backspace
Rear 18x10.5", 58mm offset = 8.03" backspace
C6 (coupe/vert):
Front 18x8.5", 56mm offset = 6.95" backspace
Rear 19x10", 79mm offset = 8.61" backspace
C6 Z06 and C6 GrandSport:
Front 18x9.5", 40mm offset = 7.22" backspace
Rear 19x12", 59mm offset = 8.82" backspace
C6 ZR1
Front 19x10 40mm offset = 7.22" backspace
Rear 20x12 59mm offset - 8.82" backspace
C5 and C6 wheel circle:
5 on 4.75" (120.65MM)
Center hub dia. 70.3mm
Results tell you where the inner and outer edges of the wheel will end up relative to the starting wheel.
