Wheel spacers ?

[Simon H]

Hi Chaps,
Does anyone here feel that fitting 15mm spacers can have a negative effect on how the car feels ?. Ive had my spacers on, then off, then back on again. I feel the steering is slightly slower, and not as quick with them fitted. I also feel there is the smallest feeling of stickiness when turning the steering wheel from dead center. Im wondering if im imagining this, but to me the car feels better with them off, and as standard. I love the look with them fitted, but im not interested in them, if they detract from the cars handling. I took a blasting on our local forum with this, but i feel the car is better with them off. They were also fitted to perfection, regards, SIMON.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by Simon H

Hi Chaps,
Does anyone here feel that fitting 15mm spacers can have a negative effect on how the car feels ?. Ive had my spacers on, then off, then back on again. I feel the steering is slightly slower, and not as quick with them fitted. I also feel there is the smallest feeling of stickiness when turning the steering wheel from dead center. Im wondering if im imagining this, but to me the car feels better with them off, and as standard. I love the look with them fitted, but im not interested in them, if they detract from the cars handling. I took a blasting on our local forum with this, but i feel the car is better with them off. They were also fitted to perfection, regards, SIMON.

I have posted this many times before. Changing the offset (which putting spacers on stock wheels does) will alter the suspension geometry. In the front, changing the offset also alters the scrub radius and the required Ackerman angle when the wheels are steered. This will invariably affect steering feel and feedback. The effect is more negligible in the rear, but keep in mind that changing the front-rear track width ratio will alter the overall handling balance of the car.

I tried 12mm spacers in the front on my E92, hated how it killed steering feel and promptly took them off.