Wheel Spacers installed with 19” Aero Wheels

[Cabonzhp]

Given my little experience on this forum, I suppose I should preface this post by saying that this is definitely not Lucid approved and this is done at your own risk. Though I have 5 figures of posting on several different forums throughout the years, I’ve never faced the kind of admin responses that I’ve seen here.

That being said, here is a wheel spacer setup I’ve been running on my Air Pure for about 4 months, 4k miles.

Since our wheel bolt pattern and hub diameter is the same as the Model S, I purchased several sets of wheel spacers meant for a Model S. The issue on our cars is the length of the wheel studs. They are too long to use the ‘bolt on with new stud’ type spacer as the factory studs will hit the wheel, but they are too short to be able to add any meaningful spacer and still engage the lugs.

My simple solution was 4 piece 15mm spacer set for Model S on Amazon (won’t post the link, but they’re 55.99) and a 20 piece set of Metric 14x1.5 1.75 inch length ET (extended thread) lug nuts (33.25 on Amazon). The ET lug nuts reach through the lug holes in the wheels to provide additional thread engagement. I was extremely skeptical for a while but this solution has been perfect for me and wheel fitment is nice and flush. Not a night and day difference, but addressed a small gripe I had.

Again, not an endorsement.

Before:

After:

 

[Leftlane]

Looks nice!

 

[Buffalo Bob]

Sorry. I'm being dense here. Is the objective to have the wheels extend a little further beyond the body?

 

[mikecronis]

I had put 1/2" spacers on my 1999 Pontiac SLP Firehawk for the rears because I couldn't fit 315 width. I find you'll get a little understeer but overall a better RWD experience and the car will be less twitchy. I'm curious how the dynamics change it! You could likely put a wider rear 19" tire.

 

[mxp]

Looks super amazing @Cabonzhp ; Do you mind to PM me the amazon links? Thanks in advance!

 

[Sid432]

Any significant effect on range? What’s your lifetime efficiency looks like?

 

[borski]

Though I have 5 figures of posting on several different forums throughout the years, I’ve never faced the kind of admin responses that I’ve seen here.

No idea what this means. There's nothing wrong with this post.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[mikecronis]

Any significant effect on range? What’s your lifetime efficiency looks like?

So because the wheels are more outward, there might be a need to perform a rear-alignment after a day or so. If you don't get wider rears, there will be very small amount of range change due to the axel being a combined 28mm longer for more rotational effort. Wider rears would be likely heavier unsprung weight so again, range loss.

There's some sassy math there I'm sure. I suspect less than 1% or 2% less range at-most if I'm going to "dead-reckon" it with one eye closed.. yeah, I'd say 1%.

Your lateral g-forces might improve by 0.02, but again there's rotational mass and weight there to calculate, but it will be noticeable by "the seat of your pants".

 

[mikecronis]

Sorry. I'm being dense here. Is the objective to have the wheels extend a little further beyond the body?

Better lateral-g forces in handling feel, creating a little less body-roll, and more straight-line feel with a bit more requirement to turn-in. Some 4-square tire setups have a little road-wander and this eliminates that and creates more oversteer effort but more rear-end stability. Wider tires also help this even more and would assist in better take-off launches as weight is transferred to the rear primarily in a launch. More width of rubber = more grip (at a cost of more unsprung weight).

Honestly, I haven't found my DE-P needs it, somehow; not any of this. It's dialed-in tight and correct, which is why I want to give Peter Rowlinson a Bugs Bunny 1940's kiss (almost).

 

[Buffalo Bob]

Thanks! I'm guessing that @Cabonzhp's Pure has standard width tires in the photos. How wide a tire do you think would be an improvement in this set-up, and would they only be in the rear?