Wheel spacers/adapters

[ACE-tC]

Hey guys i just bought 4 new drilled and slotted rotors and ceramic pads. problem is now my rims (tenzo type r 17") are hitting the callipers. i need some input on spacers or ideas on what i can do? i actually didnt put in the front ones in because the rim is literally in the calliper so i have to wait. someone had mentioned spacers/adapters and right now onws im looking at are about 100 a pair. any other suggestions on size/space as in 15mm or 20mm? or any other alternatives? thanks

[navylife59]

You need to research the brand that you are interested in. Quality is key here as broken wheel lugs are a bad day. If you go too far out with the spacers, you run the risk of the tire/wheel hitting the fender lip. Also, move the center of the wheel further out puts more load on the axle hubs/bearings. This can cause premature wear and failure on other vehicles. No real world data on this issue on the tC yet.

You need to find out exactly how much spacer that you need. You can make shims out of a material of known thickness like sheetmetal to fit onto the hubs. By doing so you can measure how many shims, thusly the thickness of shims, need to provide adequate clearance. To allow for flex in the wheel from hard cornering, you should alot a minimum of 2mm space between the wheel and caliper for a 17" wheel. A larger wheel will require more space.

[AlexZe]

just make life easier on your car and get some 18"x8" or 18"x8.5" wheels/rims
any larger diameter and youre adding weight even with graphite racing rims. you can go as big as a 22"x10" rim i'd say with magnesium racing rims and have the same weight as our stock 17"x7" ones but you'd look like a moron and your car would require mods (i.e. spedo correction and gearing issues as well as new half-shafts to handle the increased torque load.)

[ACE-tC]

just make life easier on your car and get some 18"x8" or 18"x8.5" wheels/rims
any larger diameter and youre adding weight even with graphite racing rims. you can go as big as a 22"x10" rim i'd say with magnesium racing rims and have the same weight as our stock 17"x7" ones but you'd look like a moron and your car would require mods (i.e. spedo correction and gearing issues as well as new half-shafts to handle the increased torque load.)

the reason why i dont want to go to 18's is cause ive spent a good amount of cash on tenzo type r 17's when i first got the car and i love them they look great alongside of my toyo tires. i ended up getting my spacers a month or 2 ago and have put them in as well as my slotted and drilled rotors so its all good.

[CadenceScion]

From past personal experience, you need to purchase the right size wheel/tire and offest. Being that we have a Scion tC, you'll want a (FWD) wheel. As navy said and I will say as well, running a spacer can ruin your threads which puts stress on them. If you talk to any wheel/tire manufacturer they will tell you the same as well. Drag racers will also tell you that wheel spacers are a bad idea. Your only adding insult to injury. I have seen some other tC's using a RWD offset wheel, not a good idea either. I have 18x7.5 wheels and I have no issues w/ my wheels/tires rubbing the inner fender or hitting the brake caliper. If you go w/ wheels, I'd go no bigger than a 18'', any bigger just doesn't look practical. There are a lot of people out there that have facts and actual answers, then there are people who think they know what works and what doesn't. A lot of people seem to follow what other people are doing, but don't do the proper research, then they find themselves breaking stuff and wasting money.

[ACE-tC]

From past personal experience, you need to purchase the right size wheel/tire and offest. Being that we have a Scion tC, you'll want a (FWD) wheel. As navy said and I will say as well, running a spacer can ruin your threads which puts stress on them. If you talk to any wheel/tire manufacturer they will tell you the same as well. Drag racers will also tell you that wheel spacers are a bad idea. Your only adding insult to injury. I have seen some other tC's using a RWD offset wheel, not a good idea either. I have 18x7.5 wheels and I have no issues w/ my wheels/tires rubbing the inner fender or hitting the brake caliper. If you go w/ wheels, I'd go no bigger than a 18'', any bigger just doesn't look practical. There are a lot of people out there that have facts and actual answers, then there are people who think they know what works and what doesn't. A lot of people seem to follow what other people are doing, but don't do the proper research, then they find themselves breaking stuff and wasting money.

the only reason why i got spacers was because when i got new rotors and pads they were alot thicker then the oem and the way my rims sit. without the spacers my rims because of the way they are designed they were sitting literally in the callipers. the wheel s had no way of moving whatsoever. thats the only reason why i got spacers. and just to clarify i dont race my tc or anything like that its an automatic (had to get it that way in case any of my family members needed to borrow my car... yea i know dumb) im basically just trying to make my car last me a long time with all the performance parts and looking good