Member Since: 02 Nov 2016
Location: Surrey
Posts: 1047
Wheel Spacers - what are the benefits?
As per the title, do spacers add anything to the driving feel of a Discovery? I understand the improved appearance but is there anything else to consider?Just 'cause you got the power... that don't mean you got the right.
20th Jan 2023 7:01 am
RSRowe
Member Since: 27 Oct 2022
Location: Stoke on Trent
Posts: 10
Spacers generally negatively affect driving/handling characteristics. The pros of them looking better, outweigh that for some people.
20th Jan 2023 7:11 am
al cope
Member Since: 08 Nov 2005
Location: Oldbury, WM
Posts: 10351
A couple of points, they can add extra strain in wheel bearings, and It’s also classed as a “modification” so can affect your insurance.
AlVolvo XC90 B5 Plus Dark
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Older - D3 TDV6 XS Auto - Lugano Teal with Almond Leather, 20" Stormers, Shiny Tailpipes, DVD/TV - and obligatory D3 sticker
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20th Jan 2023 9:34 am
Moo D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 14383
Don't they reduce the turning circle?New Defender L663 110 SE (known as Noddy!)
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20th Jan 2023 10:02 am
HairyFool
Member Since: 04 Jan 2023
Location: North Essex
Posts: 672
The turning circle is defined by the maximum steering angle to the centre line of the vehicle and the distance to the furthest rear wheel. Neither of these should measurably change due to spacers so other than affecting the full lock range it shouldn't affect turning circle.
Obviously if you went full "Carlos Fandango" apart from being completely illegal the lock would inevitably be affected.A visitor from the dark side, my other vehicle is an is still an EV. Strictly speaking its SWMBO.
20th Jan 2023 12:21 pm
ClassikFan
Member Since: 02 Nov 2016
Location: Surrey
Posts: 1047
Christian from LR Time says they make a driving improvement but I’ve not heard him explain in what way.Just 'cause you got the power... that don't mean you got the right.
20th Jan 2023 5:53 pm
DN D3 Decade
Member Since: 23 Jun 2006
Location: W.London.
Posts: 2344
As Al mentions above…….The extra stress on the wheel bearings ( which are far from being long lived anyway) would immediately put me off………especially the rear ones, which are a PITA to replace Touching wood, mine ( both front and rear) at 97k, aren’t shot yet.D3 owned from new, P017 brake recall, BAS FBHIC, new FBH, LR013487 oil pump, new water pump. RRS front lower suspension arms. New suspension compressor/ relay. New Denso alternator. CuNifer rear brake pipes. New GKN rear propshaft. New HPFP belt & tensioner. New A/C Condenser.NO WARRANTY for many many years.
20th Jan 2023 6:03 pm
Flatlander
Member Since: 20 Jul 2015
Location: Here
Posts: 575
The only benefit I've found is extra clearance for snow chains - other than that, none.
The extra offset will also cause the front tyres to scrub more due to the change in geometry. I think it's more to do with 'feeling better' rather than any measurable benefit, a bit like 'performance' air filters.
No doubt there will be someone on facetube with all sorts of claims and videos, my real-world experience of driving a variety of vehicles with wheel spacers fitted is 'meh'.
20th Jan 2023 6:56 pm
Motolab
Member Since: 18 Oct 2019
Location: Sleen
Posts: 1820
ClassikFan wrote:
Christian from LR Time says
Exploitation of a youtube channel does not make the channel owner a specialist by default/automatically, although some think it works that way.. (Note: i do not know him, so i don’t know if he really knows or not)
a claim has to be backed up by evidence otherwise it is “hear say” / 🦜 talkBest regards
Harold
Always looking for Pre '55's & Pre war British Motorcycles! knowing or having one for sale? PM please. I visit the UK 6 times a year
Ps. I edit my texts quite often, english is not my native language, so I will edit My “typo’s” etc.
20th Jan 2023 7:06 pm
M3DPO
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8223
The only “improved appearance” IMHO is more mud splattered up the side of the car 21” wheels are bad enough at this time of year.It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't.
20th Jan 2023 7:22 pm
HairyFool
Member Since: 04 Jan 2023
Location: North Essex
Posts: 672
When you consider the number of hours in development time that goes into a vehicle it is hard to comprehend why just increasing the track by an inch (old school engineering) is going to improve anything. True any design of something so complicated has to be a compromise to some degree considering the variations in use, doing a rock crawl has different needs to tanking down the motorway any change will need more than a wider track.
During my apprenticeship I would see mates rock up with the latest K&N filter or “tuned” exhaust with no thought of rejetting or ignition adjustments.A visitor from the dark side, my other vehicle is an is still an EV. Strictly speaking its SWMBO.
20th Jan 2023 8:44 pm
DIY Ace
Member Since: 06 Feb 2019
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 971
I've bought a set of 30mm Terrafirma spacers at the Peterborough show as they looked shiny, I'm a bit of a magpie and they werent expensive. I haven't yet had the bother to try them though. Might give it a go this weekend and report back after a few weeks.
I'm hoping for less roll around the corners, maybe a more 'planted' feel. And a more aggressive look.
I'm expecting sod all difference except greater wear though.2022 BMW i4 M50. Bought Oct 2022. 10,200 miles and counting...
2014 BMW 435d convertible. Bought July 2021. 58,000 miles and counting...
2005 Discovery 3 HSE Auto. Bought Feb 2019. 169,000 miles and counting...
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Member Since: 18 Sep 2019
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 188
I fitted some D3 wheels to the wifes FL2 using hub adapters/spacers and they have added nothing to the balance/feel of the car and although she does not drive far or often I know they will have a detrimental effect in long term usage namely wheel bearings and tyre wear hence why they will be removed once I get her replacement wheels powder coated (this will be set number 4 )D4 GS let the retro fit begin
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275 45 20 GG AT3s
quarter of a D3
20th Jan 2023 10:14 pm
Motolab
Member Since: 18 Oct 2019
Location: Sleen
Posts: 1820
@ DIY ace , I am sure you will experience most of those those “improvement’s” as improvements
That is how the mind works, especially with shiny bits who costs money…and have a great muscular look
Best regards
Harold
Always looking for Pre '55's & Pre war British Motorcycles! knowing or having one for sale? PM please. I visit the UK 6 times a year
Ps. I edit my texts quite often, english is not my native language, so I will edit My “typo’s” etc.
I fitted a set of 20mm spacers to my truck. I wasn’t fussed about the extra stress on bearings as figured that it wouldn’t make so much of a difference that it would be a regular thing. When the bearings go ( and they will) then just need to get them changed. Anyway, I took them back off after about 1000 miles so figured I’d offer a few comments:
Pros
- make the truck look much better!
- stance much improved.
- better road holding and less body roll, particularly on fast corners.
- a good way to correct scrub radius changes when going up a few sizes in wheel diameter, e.g. if fitting 32” tyres
- more wheel arch clearance for bigger wheels/tyres.
Cons
- increased bearing wear (if you care)
- insurance implications.
- changes scrub radius beyond normal parameters unless fitting much larger wheels (see pros).
Scrub radius is a really niche subject and lots of webpages and YouTube videos on the subject. I found that the spacers caused my front wheels to lose traction much more easily on tight turns in the wet. It was weird as I’d turn into lower speed corners and the front would want to wash out. On fast corners the car felt more planted, but when increasing the amount of steering the wheels would then lose traction. I could only put this down to the change in scrub radius as being well beyond the geometry as set by the manufacturer.
Anyway, bottom line is that I’ve taken mine off as didn’t like the traction implications as it made me lose confidence in cornering ability in the wet. If I was going up to a 275/55/20 (or similar 20”) tyre then a modest spacer would bring the scrub radius back to where it likely should be for ‘factory geometry’. However, spacers on standard wheels, or larger wheels with no spacers would throw this out by enough to notice and I would not recommend from direct experience!
I can’t say a clear yes or no to recommending spacers as more considerations depending on circumstances. However, I would say definitely familiarise yourself with scrub radius and effect on geometry before you take the plunge!!
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Touching wood, mine ( both front and rear) at 97k, aren’t shot yet.
(Note: i do not know him, so i don’t know if he really knows or not)
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