Installed 20mm H&R wheel spacers - not happy with performance

NismoNY · 05-01-2015, 10:10 AM

Hey,

Last night I installed my 20mm H&R DRM spacers (bolt-on) on my nismo rear wheels only, with plans to do the front later. It looks absolutely amazing and I do notice the car feels more planted - all positive things. The one thing that's killing my experience is the car's pick up. A lot of people say wheel spacers are such a small lightweight mod that they wouldn't noticeably slow a car down but it is added rotational weight and I swear it's not psychological. It might sound silly but I actually feel the car is a bit slower.

Does anyone else with 20mm spacers feel the same way?

I'm thinking of taking them off now and maybe going for something smaller like 10mm.

kenchan · 05-01-2015, 10:13 AM

nnnn... i really can't tell the difference especially if only a pair. when i put 4 on, i can tell the braking takes a little more effort, but dont notice much as far as acceleration.

is it warmer today than it was before you installed them? could be just from the warmer air. i forget if it was h&r or eibach, but one of those make a light weight version bolt-on spacer. stay away from ichiba and other ebay ones as they dont seem to use the same alloys as kics and others.

NismoNY · 05-01-2015, 10:23 AM

It's definitely not the weather. Immediately after putting them on I felt the (negative) difference and just before that, the car felt the way it always did.

kenchan · 05-01-2015, 10:28 AM

I c.. yah take them off. I dont run spacers on my Nismo wheels.

Push370zzz · 05-01-2015, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NismoNY

Hey,

Last night I installed my 20mm H&R DRM spacers (bolt-on) on my nismo rear wheels only, with plans to do the front later. It looks absolutely amazing and I do notice the car feels more planted - all positive things. The one thing that's killing my experience is the car's pick up. A lot of people say wheel spacers are such a small lightweight mod that they wouldn't noticeably slow a car down but it is added rotational weight and I swear it's not psychological. It might sound silly but I actually feel the car is a bit slower.

Does anyone else with 20mm spacers feel the same way?

I'm thinking of taking them off now and maybe going for something smaller like 10mm.

It is most certainly all in your head. The spacers weigh what...1lb or 2lbs? Unsprung weight, such as that from a heavy wheel/tire combo, is bad because the weight is concentrated 8-14" away from the center of the hub. The further away from the center of the hub, the greater the effect. Your spacer's weight is concentrated an inch or two away from the point of rotation. There is just no way that two spacers weighing that little are noticeable.

1st · 05-01-2015, 11:40 AM

I had 20mm spacers on all 4 wheels.. They were fine until I bought a set of wheels with perfect offsets to allow me to run no spacers and be flush WHAT A DIFFRENCE! More responsive and just felt better all around.

kenchan · 05-01-2015, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Push370zzz

It is most certainly all in your head. The spacers weigh what...1lb or 2lbs? Unsprung weight, such as that from a heavy wheel/tire combo, is bad because the weight is concentrated 8-14" away from the center of the hub. The further away from the center of the hub, the greater the effect. Your spacer's weight is concentrated an inch or two away from the point of rotation. There is just no way that two spacers weighing that little are noticeable.

wow, ur spacers must be made out of carbon fiber or something..

Push370zzz · 05-01-2015, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

wow, ur spacers must be made out of carbon fiber or something..

Okay so how much do they weigh? I looked up specs and it says 5lb for a pair and that includes packaging and they round up weight. At most 2.5lb.......

NismoNY · 05-01-2015, 01:28 PM

I think I'm taking these off. Who wants to buy a set of H&R DRM 20mm spacers with only 20 miles on them? Or, I might trade for 10mm if someone has

wanker · 05-01-2015, 02:33 PM

Wheel spacers are pure aesthetics. Any claimed change of handling or performance is purely imagined.

Push370zzz · 05-01-2015, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NismoNY

I think I'm taking these off. Who wants to buy a set of H&R DRM 20mm spacers with only 20 miles on them? Or, I might trade for 10mm if someone has

Please tell me you aren't taking these off because you think it makes your car noticeably slower.

Zero dark · 05-01-2015, 03:01 PM

I had the same hr 20mm bolt ons put on a few months ago and i honestly dont notice the difference in handling or pick up. Not that t got worse or better

NismoNY · 05-01-2015, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Push370zzz

Please tell me you aren't taking these off because you think it makes your car noticeably slower.

It's not about "thinking" it made my car slower, I genuinely feel it did and I drive my car enough to notice a before/after kind of effect.

BC416 · 05-01-2015, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NismoNY

It's not about "thinking" it made my car slower, I genuinely feel it did and I drive my car enough to notice a before/after kind of effect.

Your butt dyno isn't calibrated that good - do you have the A\C on or something? Lot's of people on here have installed spacers and I've never seen anyone mention them making their car any slower.

NismoNY · 05-01-2015, 03:21 PM

Ok, I'll admit something...

Right before putting these on, and I mean during the same install, I got 2 new rear tires put on. They are a different brand that the OEM Potenzas - I got the Kumho Ecsta's. Maybe these tires are a tad bit heavier than the Potenzas and that's what I'm feeling? Now I'm tempted to look into how much these weigh compared to the OEMs

I should have noted that earlier.

05-01-2015, 10:10 AM	#1 (permalink)
NismoNY Base Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NYC Posts: 112 Drives: 2014 Nismo Rep Power: 10	Installed 20mm H&R wheel spacers - not happy with performance Hey, Last night I installed my 20mm H&R DRM spacers (bolt-on) on my nismo rear wheels only, with plans to do the front later. It looks absolutely amazing and I do notice the car feels more planted - all positive things. The one thing that's killing my experience is the car's pick up. A lot of people say wheel spacers are such a small lightweight mod that they wouldn't noticeably slow a car down but it is added rotational weight and I swear it's not psychological. It might sound silly but I actually feel the car is a bit slower. Does anyone else with 20mm spacers feel the same way? I'm thinking of taking them off now and maybe going for something smaller like 10mm. carlitos_370z likes this.

05-01-2015, 10:28 AM	#4 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	I c.. yah take them off. I dont run spacers on my Nismo wheels. onzedge likes this.

05-01-2015, 02:33 PM	#10 (permalink)
wanker Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: San Diego Posts: 443 Drives: 2011 370Z S/T A7 Rep Power: 2901	Wheel spacers are pure aesthetics. Any claimed change of handling or performance is purely imagined. IDZRVIT, LMBmikeZ and OTW Z-Boy like this.

05-01-2015, 03:01 PM	#12 (permalink)
Zero dark Enthusiast Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Baltimore Posts: 379 Drives: 15 PW Nismo 6 SPD Rep Power: 10	I had the same hr 20mm bolt ons put on a few months ago and i honestly dont notice the difference in handling or pick up. Not that t got worse or better UNKNOWN_370 likes this.

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05-01-2015, 10:13 AM	#2 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	nnnn... i really can't tell the difference especially if only a pair. when i put 4 on, i can tell the braking takes a little more effort, but dont notice much as far as acceleration. is it warmer today than it was before you installed them? could be just from the warmer air. i forget if it was h&r or eibach, but one of those make a light weight version bolt-on spacer. stay away from ichiba and other ebay ones as they dont seem to use the same alloys as kics and others.

05-01-2015, 10:23 AM	#3 (permalink)
NismoNY Base Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NYC Posts: 112 Drives: 2014 Nismo Rep Power: 10	It's definitely not the weather. Immediately after putting them on I felt the (negative) difference and just before that, the car felt the way it always did.

05-01-2015, 11:40 AM	#6 (permalink)
1st A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: I 80 Biz U.S. 50 Posts: 1,708 Drives: Platinum Z Rep Power: 1616	I had 20mm spacers on all 4 wheels.. They were fine until I bought a set of wheels with perfect offsets to allow me to run no spacers and be flush WHAT A DIFFRENCE! More responsive and just felt better all around.

05-01-2015, 01:28 PM	#9 (permalink)
NismoNY Base Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NYC Posts: 112 Drives: 2014 Nismo Rep Power: 10	I think I'm taking these off. Who wants to buy a set of H&R DRM 20mm spacers with only 20 miles on them? Or, I might trade for 10mm if someone has

05-01-2015, 03:21 PM	#15 (permalink)
NismoNY Base Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NYC Posts: 112 Drives: 2014 Nismo Rep Power: 10	Ok, I'll admit something... Right before putting these on, and I mean during the same install, I got 2 new rear tires put on. They are a different brand that the OEM Potenzas - I got the Kumho Ecsta's. Maybe these tires are a tad bit heavier than the Potenzas and that's what I'm feeling? Now I'm tempted to look into how much these weigh compared to the OEMs I should have noted that earlier.