are wheel spacers safe?
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 239
Likes: 30
From: Columbus, GA
If you get good wheel spacers the only issue you'll run into is wheel bearing wear but spacers aren't absolutely detrimental to your bearings sure they cause a little more wear but nothing too excessive. Be sure to go with a good brand for your spacers and enjoy the new wheels brother!
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 239
Likes: 30
From: Columbus, GA
I guess I should ask but will you be getting welds to put sticky tires on and drive the car hard or will it just be for looks? If you're going to be launching your car I wouldn't but if you're going to be like most of the people on Instagram and get them simply for the looks then sure
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,273
Likes: 205
From: Kansas City MO
Assuming the rear wheels are factory offset you'll need to go wider than 1" spacers if you want them flush.
I ran 1.5" spacers for a couple weeks after I did my wide body until I got the correct sized wheels in.
I ran 1.5" spacers for a couple weeks after I did my wide body until I got the correct sized wheels in.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 792
Likes: 127
From: Dallas Texas
Make sure that:
1) You have quality spacers (the better the material, and the more surface contact the material has connecting wheel and hub, the better off you'll be; avoid those spider web and hollow looking spacers, those are for looks only and have a short lifespan with often hazardous deaths)
2) You have quality wheel studs (think ARP)
3) You have enough thread engagement to properly secure the wheel. This is often where extended studs and open ended lugs can come in handy.
There's a ton of info about spacers online, and some of it can even be found in our own "Autocrossing & Road Racing" as well as "Drag Racing" and "Wheels & Tires* section of these forums in the General Topics section.
Good luck!
Last edited by R_W; Oct 25, 2017 at 01:53 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,273
Likes: 205
From: Kansas City MO
I also want to mention what you've already thought of.
Having gone from base wheels with spacers to true wide wheels and tires the difference in traction is dramatic.
Not sure what kind of power you're putting down, but I can't imagine going backwards in that regard.
Having gone from base wheels with spacers to true wide wheels and tires the difference in traction is dramatic.
Not sure what kind of power you're putting down, but I can't imagine going backwards in that regard.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 768
Likes: 30
From: Olive Branch MS
The wheel setup will be for launching on the track. The size of tire would not change from the zo6 welds to the base model welds. They are only .5 inch difference in width. I would still probably run the 28/11.50/17 et r. If 1 inch won't be enough I'll just go with new correct wheels. This setup would have just saved me about a grand but I don't want to chance safety or reliability.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,497
Likes: 261
From: Miami Florida
When using spacers I install longer wheel studs and and use solid spacers and you don't have to worry about nothing.
I have em drill 5 - 1" holes between studs to lighten them up then use Muteki light weight spline nuts to farther offset extra weight they are steel and very light weight like 24 grams each and very strong they also act as a theft deterrent as well cause you can't remove em without the spline drive.
I have em drill 5 - 1" holes between studs to lighten them up then use Muteki light weight spline nuts to farther offset extra weight they are steel and very light weight like 24 grams each and very strong they also act as a theft deterrent as well cause you can't remove em without the spline drive.
