Wheel with spacers on a road course

[CB762]

It is rainy summer here, I may need to use wheels with spacers on the track.
Does anyone have a personal experience?
I've already searched on Google ... seems to be OK if properly mounted and torqued between sessions.

Thanks!

[mav1178]

while it may be okay, most track hosts will not allow you to run with bolt-on spacers.

Sandwich in general are better.

-alex

[sirbobbinhood]

I ran on Oregon Raceway Park with bolt on spacers on my car. I'm mostly stock so I wasn't doing anything too crazy but they were fine. But like mav1178 said you should check and see if they allow them at your track.

[Fish Eagle]

Spacer failure at Zwartkops Raceway South Africa about 2 weeks ago.
He was lucky to escape with such minor damage.

[boredom.is.me]

Is there a reason for using spacers on the track?

[churchx]

On track people might use them not for some flush looks, but simply to be able to clear their brakes with wheels they use (if it's some smaller one for less weight, that won't fit with brake kit used, unless spacers are used).
That pic intrigued me. First time seeing some failure because of spacers. Most of a time i've heard opinions that their usage is safe enough.

[CB762]

Originally Posted by churchx

On track people might use them not for some flush looks, but simply to be able to clear their brakes with wheels they use (if it's some smaller one for less weight, that won't fit with brake kit used, unless spacers are used).
That pic intrigued me. First time seeing some failure because of spacers. Most of a time i've heard opinions that their usage is safe enough.

Precisely my case. OEM wheels with street tires won't clear AP racing brakes, don't have room for two sets (dry/rain) of track-only wheels inside. 100 miles to track, will use street tires if rains to standing water.

[gramicci101]

Originally Posted by CB762

Precisely my case. OEM wheels with street tires won't clear AP racing brakes, don't have room for two sets (dry/rain) of track-only wheels inside. 100 miles to track, will use street tires if rains to standing water.

What size spacers do you need to clear your brakes?

[wheelhaus]

Originally Posted by Fish Eagle

Spacer failure at Zwartkops Raceway South Africa about 2 weeks ago.
He was lucky to escape with such minor damage.

This seems relatively rare. Looks like the spacer itself is OK? Have any more pics or info? Has he had any offtrack incidents that could have overstressed some studs? Could have been an overtorqued or undertorqued stud, etc. I'd need more info before I point a finger at a specific component.

If someone wants to run bolt-on spacers (and your track allows it), I'd recommend sticking with 20mm or more to ensure there's substantial material under the spacer bolts, and only from a reputable brand that uses strong treated aluminum, not cheap, soft untreated stuff. If you need 15mm or less, I'd recommend longer studs and sandwich spacers. I tracked with 20/25mm spacers on the stock tires and didn't worry about it, especially because they get such little grip there's no way I could overstress anything. However with wide, grippy tires, that could be a different story, more heat, more strain...

Longer studs and sandwich spacers are the way to go for a good permanent, guaranteed safe solution with the fewest points of failure.

[Fish Eagle]

Originally Posted by wheelhaus

This seems relatively rare. Looks like the spacer itself is OK? Have any more pics or info? Has he had any offtrack incidents that could have overstressed some studs? Could have been an overtorqued or undertorqued stud, etc. I'd need more info before I point a finger at a specific component.

If someone wants to run bolt-on spacers (and your track allows it), I'd recommend sticking with 20mm or more to ensure there's substantial material under the spacer bolts, and only from a reputable brand that uses strong treated aluminum, not cheap, soft untreated stuff. If you need 15mm or less, I'd recommend longer studs and sandwich spacers. I tracked with 20/25mm spacers on the stock tires and didn't worry about it, especially because they get such little grip there's no way I could overstress anything. However with wide, grippy tires, that could be a different story, more heat, more strain...

Longer studs and sandwich spacers are the way to go for a good permanent, guaranteed safe solution with the fewest points of failure.

Yeah, I could get a lot more info because I know him quite well, but I'm not going to because I don't want to in any way support the thought that "spacers might be OK if..."

IMO, anybody going onto a racetrack with spacers (any spacers, under any circumstances) must have rocks in the head. QED.

YMMV

[wheelhaus]

Originally Posted by Fish Eagle

Yeah, I could get a lot more info because I know him quite well, but I'm not going to because I don't want to in any way support the thought that "spacers might be OK if..."

IMO, anybody going onto a racetrack with spacers (any spacers, under any circumstances) must have rocks in the head. QED.

YMMV

At the same time I don't want to spread unnecessary FUD because a few people have seen spacers break. Anything can break.

[Fish Eagle]

Originally Posted by wheelhaus

At the same time I don't want to spread unnecessary FUD because a few people have seen spacers break. Anything can break.

Who knows - somewhere between our different points of view lies the truth.

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by CB762

Precisely my case. OEM wheels with street tires won't clear AP racing brakes, don't have room for two sets (dry/rain) of track-only wheels inside. 100 miles to track, will use street tires if rains to standing water.

You should invest in longer studs to solve your problem.

I have this problem w/ running large brakes and no spare tire that will clear the caliper. I always keep one of my H&R 15mm spacers in my car so that in case I get a flat, I can put a spare on the front of the car without issue as I have ARP studs.

-alex

[CB762]

Originally Posted by mav1178

You should invest in longer studs to solve your problem.

I have this problem w/ running large brakes and no spare tire that will clear the caliper. I always keep one of my H&R 15mm spacers in my car so that in case I get a flat, I can put a spare on the front of the car without issue as I have ARP studs.

-alex

I already have longer studs and quality steel long open end lug nuts.
Specer is 10mm sandwich type, Eibach brand. Another factor: if it rains then I won't be as aggressive as on slicks.

Thanks!