Spacers

[S8yot]

Reasonably happy with my standard S8 wheel / tyre combo (18"alloys with 245 tyres). However, I've wondered whether anyone has experience of adding spacers. Thinking that widening the track further would improve the appearance of the car.

[Conan_the_Librarian]

Several peeps on here have done it. A8_Tony, Ska and mkoneman amongst them. They'll be along soon I expect.

[Oli18]

Reasonably happy with my standard S8 wheel / tyre combo (18"alloys with 245 tyres). However, I've wondered whether anyone has experience of adding spacers. Thinking that widening the track further would improve the appearance of the car.

Hi S8yot - I was about to ask the exact same question.

Also, are there any negative side effects of using spacers? Does it wear the suspension quicker?

Any links to suitable spacers would also be appreciated.

Cheers,

Oli

[Ska]

I run an extra 30mm on the rear axle and 26mm on the front.
Upside are:
There's a defo. noticable improvement on hadling & easthetics.
Down side? You'll have to fork out for some longer or shorter bolts also if you get the wrong types (material, quality, shape & size) you could end up with a costly mistake.
For a car the size of the 8's you have to have hubcentric (centre collar 57.2 mm diameter to carry the wight of the car though the hub rather than through the wheel bolts!), spacers like H&R, certain FK or Bilstien which are popular. A no no as I have found through experience is not to allow the local tyre fitter to use his air gun when tightening the bolts back up especialy on Aluminium spacers as the threads will shear off - always torque tighten by hand!
Oh yeah when working out what thickness you need leave at least 5mm space between the arch body work and out side edge of the tyre.
Here's a good guide:
http://www.performancealloys.com/alloy_wheel_spacers.asp
http://www.venommotorsport.com/product_details.php?id=42&manufacturer=FK&category=Wheel

In the pics below both spacers are on:
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s37/Ska_pics/DSCF0519.jpg
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s37/Ska_pics/Photo-0079.jpg

Woops forgot to say I run 19x8J with ET35 offset wheels I remember this because the wheels are sitting in the utility room right now after a refurb; took the opportunity to clean up things underthe front arches:
From this:
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s37/Ska_pics/Photo-0090.jpg

To this:
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s37/Ska_pics/21022009333.jpg
I digress +++
The pic in the sig below has the rear spacers on but non on the front.

[Nigel888]

Ska,

I am assuming you 30mm rear is a 15mm spacer each side ?
What size tyres are you running?

I have found a wheel I like, it's 19" and it comes in 8" and 9.5", any thoughts on the best option/tire size as its only £5 difference per wheel.

http://www.performancealloys.com/details.asp?procedure=wheel&id_wheels='Radium'&id_wheels_manufacturers='Dotz'&id_wheels_sizes='19x8'&price='130'&permission=305253916

Thanks

[Oli18]

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s37/Ska_pics/21022009333.jpg

VERY tidy Ska - looks awesome! Would love to see the way it looks after the wheel is back on...i bet spot on! +++

-Oli

[Ska]

Ska,

I am assuming you 30mm rear is a 15mm spacer each side ?
What size tyres are you running?

I have found a wheel I like, it's 19" and it comes in 8" and 9.5", any thoughts on the best option/tire size as its only £5 difference per wheel.

http://www.performancealloys.com/details.asp?procedure=wheel&id_wheels='Radium'&id_wheels_manufacturers='Dotz'&id_wheels_sizes='19x8'&price='130'&permission=305253916

Thanks

Thats right 15mm on the rear each side. As for tyres I currently run 245/40 19 but will change to 255/40 19 soon I believe that is the max width you can put on an 8J rim. Not too sure about the 9.5inch width; what you'll proly find is that you won't need spacers for these going for a wider wheel is the better option than opting for spacers IMO but it depends on what they look like on the car & if they have the correct off set.+++

[Conan_the_Librarian]

Ska,

I am assuming you 30mm rear is a 15mm spacer each side ?
What size tyres are you running?

I have found a wheel I like, it's 19" and it comes in 8" and 9.5", any thoughts on the best option/tire size as its only £5 difference per wheel.

http://www.performancealloys.com/details.asp?procedure=wheel&id_wheels='Radium'&id_wheels_manufacturers='Dotz'&id_wheels_sizes='19x8'&price='130'&permission=305253916

Thanks

Thats right 15mm on the rear each side. As for tyres I currently run 245/40 19 but will change to 255/40 19 soon I believe that is the max width you can put on an 8J rim. Not too sure about the 9.5inch width; what you'll proly find is that you won't need spacers for these going for a wider wheel is the better option than opting for spacers IMO but it depends on what they look like on the car & if they have the correct off set.+++

Guys,

This (http://www.carbibles.com/tyre_bible.html)is a great site for wheel and tyre info. HiH
Remember, offset has a big part to ply in wheel fitting.
I am currently planning to fit 10.5" rears with a 40mm offset running 285/25-20 tyres. Wish I could find some 305/25-19 tyres but they don't seem to esist. :(

[Architex_mA8tey]

[Wish I could find some 305/25-19 tyres but they don't seem to exist. :(

You can get Dunlop 9000 sports in that size mike (N rated for porsches)
but they are a whopping £224 each! :eek:
see http://www.design911.co.uk/fu/prod1049/19--Dunlop-9000-Sport-Tyres-N-rated

You can also get Pirelli P-Zero Rosso Asimmetrico I believe in that size

Also take a look at ryoung's post on this thread
http://www.tyresmoke.net/forum/audi-a8-s8/27599-new-wheels-tyres-wrong-size-warning-2.html

Theres a pic of a D2 A8 with those tyres on the rear hehe +++ :love:

[Conan_the_Librarian]

Ooooooerrrrrrrr durty picture....
http://www.vw-audi-dreams.com/fahrzeuge/audi/a8/stutz/a8000_2000_3.jpg
http://forum.nitrous-advice.org/images/smilies/love4.gif

[Architex_mA8tey]

Yes extremely durtyyyyy :ROFL:
Why do I have the feeling yours will look like that shortly :D

[Conan_the_Librarian]

Interesting that 305/25-19 will do wonders for acceleration as when the speedo reads 70 you'll be doing 65!

Still want one! :)

[A8_Tony]

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=80&d=1235510605

Above is something which will give you an idea as to how your rims would look. Not perfect simulation, but the best you'll get without photoshopping it.

I run 10mm spacers all round, with ET35 rims, and find that they sit exactly where I want them to.

[Ska]

What width are your wheels Tony? They look a lot wider than 8"

[A8_Tony]

What width are your wheels Tony? They look a lot wider than 8"

I'd have to check fella. Believe they're only 8.5, but they might be 9" wide. The 255 tyre seems to have a little stretch on it in some pics :eek:

[IT]

If anyone wants any spacers, we've currently got a set of 10mm, 15mm and 20mm inc longer bolts etc - everything you need to get them on your A8 if you want that 'wider' look..... Email us enquiry@a8parts.co.uk if you're interested. +++

[Ska]

Two Q's Ian:
Are they Hubcentric?
And are the bolts tapered (aftermarket wheels) or spherical (OE wheels) seating?