Everyone has been talking about adding spacers when using the 9.5" rear rims for the fronts. Has anyone used spacers for the front while using the stock 8.5" rims? Won't this effectively move the rims further out to fill out the wheel wells?
Isn't that mainly what some people want to accomplish? Is this Possible? What size spacers would be ideal? Any improvement in handling since you are essentially widening the track in front?
The OEM wheels are 8" wide. The reason many are using OE 9.5" rear wheels and 275 tires up front is for handling performance. A 4000lb car being turned by a 245 tire on a measly 8" wide wheel is a bit insane, and it was part of BMW's game plan to ensure major understeer for the "typical" driver. Going to square setup all-around helps remove some of that understeer bias to the setup while at the same time allowing rotation front to rear which great increases tire life on the M5.
__________________ Current stable:
2001 M5 LeMans Blue/Silverstone
Dinan: springs, Konis, rear sway bar, monoball bushings, and exhaust
Ground Control camber plates
Stoptech front brake kit
Brake ducts opened
TC Design brackets
OE 9.5" rear wheels all around & 275/35-18 Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec for street
275/35-18 BFG R1 & Nitto NT-01 R-comps for track
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2006 330i sport 6MT Electric Red/Black
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Last edited by CSBM5; 20th September 2009 at 15:39.
I've got 275's up front and love it... you'll need 3mm spacers with OEM wheels, I picked up mine with my tires from tirerack.com. If you do a quick search you should be able to find a couple pics... there have been several discussions on the topic.
If your going for looks IMO, you can throw a spacer on, but putting the 9.5" on the front looks much better because of the added lip the rear wheels have in comparison to the fronts.
Its all personally preference, i wish i had of gone with a wider wheel in the front, but i got a damn good package deal so i not much i can do.
__________________
2000 Alpine White M5
Performance: Custom CAI, Tubi Exhaust, Open Brake Ducts, UUC Evo3 + DSSR
Exterior: Euro Mirrors, Black kidney grilles, MY01+ Updated, Mtec 3W AE, Altec retractable license plate
Interior: 16:9 Nav, MK3 Navigation, MY01+ dash, Silverstone Leather
Wheels: Volk CE28N Time attacks 19x10.5 275/30/19, 19x8.5 245/35/19 Pilot Sport PS2
Thanks for everyone's answers. I know the benefits of the 9.5's up front and the reasons everyone does the "mod". Just wanted to find out if anyone has kept the stock rims up front and used spacers to move the skinny wheels out further than normal.
vitiokas95, besides the looks, did you notice any handling improvement by using the spacers? Can you please post some pictures? I'd like to see how your ride looks with the spacers.
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