New 1/4" wheel spacers fitted

[Morr]

As my Surf failed its test due to the 33" tyres fouling a front wishbone, I figured a set of wheel spacers would do the trick. The 32mm ones from trackstore would push my tyres too far our past the arches, causing a test failure so something slimmer was required.

I went with a set of 1/4" (6mm) ones which I got on eBay from this seller, cheaper than any UK sourced ones I could find, plus a tad thicker as they tend to supply 3mm or 5mm ones.

The threads on the front studs of the 3rd Gen will accommodate this thickness of spacer using original nuts with at least 7 full turns of thread still available, even more on the rear. A margin I'm quite happy with.

Best of all, having purchased them last Monday, they arrived this morning, not bad considering yesterday was a public holiday, all for the princely sum of US$30.99 inc P&P for a set of 4.

All fitted and no more clearance problems, now if the test centre would just answer their phone so I can book my re-test .........

(I would take piccies, but its not really a noticaable difference to the eye)

[Delboy]

As my Surf failed its test due to the 33" tyres fouling a front wishbone, I figured a set of wheel spacers would do the trick. The 32mm ones from trackstore would push my tyres too far our past the arches, causing a test failure so something slimmer was required.

I went with a set of 1/4" (6mm) ones which I got on eBay from this seller, cheaper than any UK sourced ones I could find, plus a tad thicker as they tend to supply 3mm or 5mm ones.

The threads on the front studs of the 3rd Gen will accommodate this thickness of spacer using original nuts with at least 7 full turns of thread still available, even more on the rear. A margin I'm quite happy with.

Best of all, having purchased them last Monday, they arrived this morning, not bad considering yesterday was a public holiday, all for the princely sum of US$30.99 inc P&P for a set of 4.

All fitted and no more clearance problems, now if the test centre would just answer their phone so I can book my re-test .........

(I would take piccies, but its not really a noticaable difference to the eye)

Good stuff Mo! Nice when you get a bit of a bargain like that!

[TheWolfCub]

Hi Morr.

Was wondering, please, if you could list out the advantages and disadvantages that you had found with the larger tyres, in terms of: road handling, off road if that applies, acceleration and fuel consumption? Also, do the 33" tyres fit on the standard rims?

I would have thought that you should get greater mpg given that the circumference of the tyre is now greater. According to my calculations by just over 6" per revolution. However, I'm guessing that acceleration will be slower given that more tork is needed to drive the bigger wheels - also the need for more tork may well negate the mpg gains due to the bigger circumference wheels (at least during acceleration).

I have no idea how it affects road handling, it at all.

Would welcome your personal findings on this m8.

Cheers,

Rob

[Linda]

We've got a 2nd hand set of these 1/4" spacers for sale for a 2nd gen if anyone wants them...

[Morr]

Hi Morr.

Was wondering, please, if you could list out the advantages and disadvantages that you had found with the larger tyres, in terms of: road handling, off road if that applies, acceleration and fuel consumption? Also, do the 33" tyres fit on the standard rims?

I would have thought that you should get greater mpg given that the circumference of the tyre is now greater. According to my calculations by just over 6" per revolution. However, I'm guessing that acceleration will be slower given that more tork is needed to drive the bigger wheels - also the need for more tork may well negate the mpg gains due to the bigger circumference wheels (at least during acceleration).

I have no idea how it affects road handling, it at all.

Would welcome your personal findings on this m8.

Cheers,

Rob

First off they will fit on the standard 3rd Gen rims, very nicely too. However you will need lift to clear them, with my 2.5" lift I had rubbing on the lower corners of the front valance, removed it, problem solved Also some adjustment to the pinch weld in the front arches will probably be called for before off-roading, going by the experiences of our US opposites. I've not been offroad since fitting the lift etc, so can't comment on the situation there.

Advantages: They look good! Increased ground clearance (A whole inch extra) Coupled with the lift we can now see over more high walls than ever before Feels more stable on the road (altough that's probably just the improvement brought about by new V's old tyres)

Disadvantages: Other mods required for successful use. Slightly decreased braking power, sometimes need to push just a tad harder. Slightly reduced acceleration (only slight, stopped noticing anymore after only a few days)

Few economy appears pretty much the same, I've not been keeping highly accurate figures, but was getting between 440 & 500Km's per tank, still seem to be getting around the same, maybe 10 Kms or so less, but as the odo is now reading just over 7% less, that equals a marginal drop in ecomomy.

[Morr]

We've got a 2nd hand set of these 1/4" spacers for sale for a 2nd gen if anyone wants them...

I would imagine these would suit a 3rd Gen too, same bolt pattern etc.

[TheWolfCub]

First off they will fit on the standard 3rd Gen rims, very nicely too. However you will need lift to clear them, with my 2.5" lift I had rubbing on the lower corners of the front valance, removed it, problem solved Also some adjustment to the pinch weld in the front arches will probably be called for before off-roading, going by the experiences of our US opposites. I've not been offroad since fitting the lift etc, so can't comment on the situation there.

Advantages: They look good! Increased ground clearance (A whole inch extra) Coupled with the lift we can now see over more high walls than ever before Feels more stable on the road (altough that's probably just the improvement brought about by new V's old tyres)

Disadvantages: Other mods required for successful use. Slightly decreased braking power, sometimes need to push just a tad harder. Slightly reduced acceleration (only slight, stopped noticing anymore after only a few days)

Few economy appears pretty much the same, I've not been keeping highly accurate figures, but was getting between 440 & 500Km's per tank, still seem to be getting around the same, maybe 10 Kms or so less, but as the odo is now reading just over 7% less, that equals a marginal drop in ecomomy.

Thanks for the info Morr, sounds like a project for the future.