Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Aesthetics Wheel Spacers?

Has anyone tried useing wheel spacers on their tour's? H&R has them on the list of products that will fit Contours but i've never heard of anyone doing it and i'm kinda skeptical. I think that extending the wheels out to the edge of the body rather than haveing them slightly inset would look really nice. Any thoughts?

BigmanZ,
You are right to be skeptical of wheel spacers.
They are generally installed by clueless or unscrupulous wheel/tire dealers who cannot or will not take the time & effort to locate a wheel that actually "fits" the particular vehicle in question.
If the wheel has the proper offset & backspacing, then spacers are obviously not required to "fit."
Unfortunately, too many dealers use spacers to compensate for a wheel &/or tire that simply does not belong on a vehicle in the first place.
On the other hand, spacers are occasionally used for legitimate purposes on competition vehicles to increase track.
But for a street driven car, spacers are a major faux pas.

Where are these wheel spacers? I would love to install a set to race one, does it say how it thick they are?


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David Z.
Silver E1 #4808 w/stuff
http://daplace.spedia.net

As a Ford engineer, I wouldn't touch them on my Tour. You are changing suspension loads, wheel travel, suspension geometry, braking performance, chassis balance, and making your car do painful things it was not designed to do. Stay clear, let someone else ruin their cars.

Wheel spacers are not a bad thing... But let me first address a few points: if you are buying a brand new set of wheels, do not get wheel spacers - your paying for a set of wheels supposedly designed fit your car, make sure they fit right. And as far as "ruining your car" goes, there should be changes in suspension geometry and chassis balance - both of which are improved with wheel spacers, particularly on stock wheels. But changes in suspension loads, wheel travel, braking performance, and my favorite "making your car do painful things it was not designed to do" should be non-existent with the right wheel spacers (you know, so long as the wheels don't stick out of the wheel wells like a low rider on wire mesh wheels...).

Wheel spacers, especially on stock wheels, help improve handling - and generally make the wheel look a lot better in the wheel well. The GS400 is a good example of a car that is improved dramatically with wheel spacers, in both looks and handling...

And if you're going to use a set of stock wheels to race (track events) - David, a set of wheel spacers should offer improved handling.