Rear Wheel Spacer Question for ya

98 Nick · Feb 16, 2012

Hey guys,
I need your advice. My 98 GT has Y2k Cobra R's wrapped with 275/35/18 all the way around. The front looks fine, but the rear wheels don't come out to the fender far enough. The car is lowered 1.5". How big of a wheel spacer should I use to bring out the wheels a bit? If I use a spacer, will it make it look weird like skinny tires coming out too far? Should I leave it the way it is...
I'd like your thoughts
Nick

AZmustang98 · Feb 17, 2012

I would say some 1/2 inch spacers to 3/4 inch. Sweet car

98 Nick · Feb 17, 2012

Hey thanks so much! That's a big help.
Nick

bbayne35 · Feb 17, 2012

I have a 2000 GT with the same wheels and same size tires. Before I put mine on, I checked the clearances with my stock wheels with the wheels at the limits of their travel (the entrance to my driveway requires a lot of suspension travel). My car is lowered, and the outside of the rear tires came pretty close to the wheel well. I did not install any spacers on the rear because it would have caused rubbing. I actually had to put 1/4" spacers on the FRONT to ensure clearance from my suspension. I think mine looks fine (and it looks very similar to yours). My advice is to check your inner and outer clearances from your tire without the spacers with the rear wheel at (or near) the top of its travel. If you have room, get the spacers. If not, they still look great.

98 Nick · Feb 17, 2012

bbayne35 said:
I have a 2000 GT with the same wheels and same size tires. Before I put mine on, I checked the clearances with my stock wheels with the wheels at the limits of their travel (the entrance to my driveway requires a lot of suspension travel). My car is lowered, and the outside of the rear tires came pretty close to the wheel well. I did not install any spacers on the rear because it would have caused rubbing. I actually had to put 1/4" spacers on the FRONT to ensure clearance from my suspension. I think mine looks fine (and it looks very similar to yours). My advice is to check your inner and outer clearances from your tire without the spacers with the rear wheel at (or near) the top of its travel. If you have room, get the spacers. If not, they still look great.

That is GREAT advice. Thanks for taking the time to explain all of that. My Uncle is a mechanic so I'll get this girl over there and we'll check it out. Thanks for saying it looks fine the way it is. I got a slam from some dude saying it's not aggressive enough with the wheels so far in. It kind of got to me.
You guys on this forum are the best. So glad I found it!!
Nick

GDawg · Feb 17, 2012

I run 315s on 10.5" FR500 wheels in the summer and in the winter I use 25mm spacers with my stock wheels and winter tires. In your case 15mm would be perfect and I don't think it would make anything look odd. The car looks great as it is but if you really need to put spacers in, use hub-centric.

MustangMatt21 · Feb 17, 2012

I ran 1inch spacers on the back with my 17x9 cobra r's and 275's , fit nicely and was perfectly flush with the body. And it did make it look better, many people even thought I had a staggered setup. Looks good though. Don't let other people get to you though. It's YOUR car and you should make it how you want. It's cool to get advice or an opinion but don't let it phase you too much. Even on here I've found people can be a little cruel and disrespectful IMO but I love my car and enjoy driving it and that's all that matters.

98 Nick · Feb 17, 2012

MustangMatt21 said:
I ran 1inch spacers on the back with my 17x9 cobra r's and 275's , fit nicely and was perfectly flush with the body. And it did make it look better, many people even thought I had a staggered setup. Looks good though. Don't let other people get to you though. It's YOUR car and you should make it how you want. It's cool to get advice or an opinion but don't let it phase you too much. Even on here I've found people can be a little cruel and disrespectful IMO but I love my car and enjoy driving it and that's all that matters.

Thanks dude. I also belong to a few Horror Movie boards because I collect Movie Memorabilia as well and some of the people over there can be pretty cruel too. I just have to remember to not take it to heart.
GDawg...thanks bro. These are all great ideas. I measured today and still have about 1-1.5" to spare. I figure they are easy enough to take off if I don't like the way they look.
Thanks again guys!!
Nick

bbayne35 · Feb 18, 2012

1-1.5" seems like a lot, even by looking at your pictures. For the rears, make sure you are measuring from the top outside of the tire to the inner lip of the wheel well when the rear wheel is near the top of its travel. That lip is sharp and could probably do some damage if you go over a speed bump or something.

98 Nick · Feb 18, 2012

bbayne35 said:
1-1.5" seems like a lot, even by looking at your pictures. For the rears, make sure you are measuring from the top outside of the tire to the inner lip of the wheel well when the rear wheel is near the top of its travel. That lip is sharp and could probably do some damage if you go over a speed bump or something.

Yeah I that's how I measured it, I'll do it again just to be sure that I did it correctly, but they are tucked under there pretty good. I won't get spacers anywhere near 1-1.5" though. If anything the 3/4 is the most I will go.
Thanks again for looking out
Nick

GDawg · Feb 18, 2012

15mm is around 5/8", right between 1/2" and 3/4"...

98 Nick · Feb 18, 2012

GDawg said:
15mm is around 5/8", right between 1/2" and 3/4"...

lol....thanks. I appreciate that. I suck at that stuff

Want2GoFaster · Feb 20, 2012

I have the same wheels and have been running a 1" spacer out back and I think it looks great. I did have a problem when running 275-35-18s out back. They would rub on the inside of the fenderwell lip when I hit a bump on the freeway or took my driveway at an angle. I'm running 265-35-18s all around now and no issues. I am lowered at around 1.5" on Sportlines. I plan on going a little lower when install a set of SVE springs I just got. I don't anticipate any problems with the 265s

98 Nick · Feb 20, 2012

Wow....she's a beauty! Nice job!!

Want2GoFaster said:
I have the same wheels and have been running a 1" spacer out back and I think it looks great. I did have a problem when running 275-35-18s out back. They would rub on the inside of the fenderwell lip when I hit a bump on the freeway or took my driveway at an angle. I'm running 265-35-18s all around now and no issues. I am lowered at around 1.5" on Sportlines. I plan on going a little lower when install a set of SVE springs I just got. I don't anticipate any problems with the 265s

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