Wheel Spacers?

Hello everyone,

Here is my dilemma. When I got my car in 2010 i noticed that the guy who had it before me had the wrong size tires on, 235/55/17. To me it didnt seem like a big deal maybe he just wanted a different feel. So while I am doing research on some rims i notice that the majority of the 99-04's wheels stick out a bit more, and also that my bullitts are stock and silver, and i cannot find silver for 99-04 in a deep dish form. This lead me to look up the SN 197 rims, and sure enough, i have 17X8 SN 197 rims on my car, it all makes sense as to the appearance too since the offset for those are 45mm and 99-04 are 25mm. I have two options, i can either get new rims, or spacers. My logic is this, if my car uses a 25mm offset, then getting a 20mm spacer will return the car to its stock stance. I have heard of horror story's with spacers, but given my application, would throwing a 20mm spacer on do the trick? or am i better off saving up for a new set of rims and selling these?
 
I don't really do metric but I remember puting a set of S197 on my friend's Couger. We were told it was the same as a SN95 car which as you know isn't true. The difference was 1/2 an inch. You can use a wheel spacer with longer studs but I'm not a fan. I like adapters but I don't think you will be able to find 1/2" adapters. I would get yourself a set of 17" Bullitt replica wheels in the size you want and be done with it.
 
the offset is set in metric, thats the only reason why i mentioned it lol, its about .78 inches just over 3/4. longer studs is where im not sure they would be needed. In theory, if my car is suppose to have 25mm offset, and i have 45mm offset rims, a 20mm spacer will bring the car back to stock spec, and new studs technically would not be needed. That is the theory however i need to have proven before i go and buy spacers.
 
I sold my 1" (25mm) Maximum Motorsports wheel adaptors to someone installing S197 wheels on his SN95 and they seemed to work for him...I think he had 1" on the fronts and 1 1/4" on the rears...before I sold them I put on tens of thousands of miles with on them on the rear of my car.
If you get good, high quality spacers (not eBay knock-offs!!!) and torque them correctly you won't have any problems...

(BTW my 1000th post; that's about 100 a year for me)