question on offset, spacers, and wheel bearings

cr445671

Forum Member
Joined
Jul 20, 2018
Messages
66
Location
florida
Car Year
2002
Car Model
forester
Transmission
auto
I feel like I've read about folks worrying how a reduced offset may negatively affect wheel bearings, but I'm curious as to why that is, wouldn't a 0 offset theoretically produce the least strain as far as the bearings are concerned?

asking since I'm wondering if a set of wheel spacers may be worth it to me to fit a bigger set of tires.
 
cr445671 said:
wouldn't a 0 offset theoretically produce the least strain
Click to expand...

Probably. It depends on the wheel and mounting surface of the wheel, e.g. if the mounting surface was directly around the bearing and the wheel weight was evenly distributed on either side then theoretically a zero offset would be easier on bearings. But zero offset in our case produces more strain as it moves the wheel further outwards from the suspension and bearing. This is a useful tool: https://tiresize.com/wheel-offset-calculator/
 
Kevin said:
Probably. It depends on the wheel and mounting surface of the wheel, e.g. if the mounting surface was directly around the bearing and the wheel weight was evenly distributed on either side then theoretically a zero offset would be easier on bearings. But zero offset in our case produces more strain as it moves the wheel further outwards from the suspension and bearing. This is a useful tool: https://tiresize.com/wheel-offset-calculator/
Click to expand...
that's a good point, didn't think about the bearings being farther back in there.

any of y'all ever run +15 wheels with 25mm spacers to fit 235's? or is that allowed in oz?
 
spacers are fine ... depeends how hardcore maybe you banging on those wheels ... but i didnt noticed anything like worse there. changed bearings one time and thats it .. for now t hey fine....its more about how lift affects on CV or on steering rack then bearings for me. and they pretty cheap and simple to change anyway...
if you go sink them into deep waters... you will change them faster still doesnt matter spacers or not. but spacer to fit larger wheels .. well no , for me its just saved me some in rear as tire was too close to spring ... didint changed anything about fitting larger tire. but thats for OBK
 
cr445671 said:
any of y'all ever run +15 wheels with 25mm spacers to fit 235's? or is that allowed in oz?
Click to expand...
I run 15's 21575R15, I "think" 22570R15 would also fit; spacers are illegal here.
 
lots things are kinda illegal, but here noone will check your car like in middle of road .. just on MOT checks.
 
There are many aspects of vehicle modification that are heavily regulated in Australia - most of the time IF you get caught (worst is in a car crash that a or several mods contributed to).

Spacers are a flat out no over here. Track widths are an easy give away for anyone that’s clued into this sort of thing and tyres hanging out the guards are simply cop bait, moreso if not covered with flares.

You’ll probably find you’ll wear out bearings quicker with tyres that are moved further away from the wheel bearings. You could experience changes in the vehicle’s handling, especially under heavy braking. But they’re all “coulds”.

Cheers
 
I have a '97 Forester and the rear wheel bearings gave up pretty quickly (twice) since I changed to 16x7 ET30 wheels. I then found out that Legacy bearings were not ball type but barrel type bearings of the exact same size and since the swap in '10, I've had no more problems.
 
Man, I hate how little y'all are trusted with stuff down there; it's not like they aren't safe, nascar's used 'em for a while, 1.5" is pretty standard on jeeps, hell baja trucks have been going full 'send it' @60mph with wheel spacers for a while.

anyhow though, been thinking about it more and I don't think spacers are the way to go, I underestimated what I'd need, prob closer to 30-35mm not 25, and I was already hesitant about that. If I'm really going to try to get bigger than the 215/75 15's on there now the best way'd probably be to add strut bottom's and subframe spacers, which is what I think I'm going to try and find a way to do, at what'd be 4.5-front 5-rear I might be able to fit 30x9.5's on there.
 
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