Hi guys, bought my G37S a month ago and glad to be a part of this club.
Newby question:

I bought a set of winter steel wheels and they dont fit on the front right/left positions because the front calipers on the Sport are too big. I ready tried 2 sets of wheels, one of which was recommended by Costco and Canadian tire (Canadian auto superstore).
The calipers contact the wheels, and I have decided to use spacers on the front wheels to give it a bit of extra room for the caliper. Is this a bad idea? What will I lose? Keep in mind the rears go on just fine without needing spacers and this is only for winter driving. Im not planning to race/drift with that setup.

Thanks

 

Congrats and welcome.

The only difference with that setup might be a little more under-steer.

If you are just using them to go from point A to B, you should be fine.

 

Thanks Kahboom. Thats all it is. Point A->B.
I guess Ill go for it then.

 

you took auto advice from canadian tire??
...AND COSTCO!?!?!?

yikes. now that you know to look here for answers, come here first next time you have a question. TONS of knowledgeable folks here. i've never had a question about my car that i couldn't find the answer to on this board!

 

Well, yeah I know.. Big mistake. I wasted about a week's of my time with them. This site is my G37S Wikipedia now!

 

I would return the steelies and get sum cheap rims....

 

Umm understeer ? Spacers put stress on the lugs AS WELL AS THE WHEEL BEARINGS...so not only do you risk ruining your wheelbearings but you also risk snapping those lugs (depending on how thick the spacers are)

 

I think I have come to the same conclusion! I dont feel comfortable doing that. I am going to put my wheels and tires on kijiji and grab non steel, 18" rims that fit these huge god damn calipers.

Thanks for the help guys.

 

Yes anytime you width to the front track it will increase the characteristic of understeer. Washer spacers will certainly place a lot of load on the lugs and are not recommended. However I assume the OP is getting bolt on spacers. Any weight that you add to your wheel is going to add additional stress to your suspension that's a given (or maybe not) this includes wider rims tires etc... But for use 3 months out of the year... as long as they are properly installed and good quality, his lugs shouldn't snap off. They should be re-torqued every few thousand miles though.

There are people who have been running wheel spacers for years with no issues.

Rims are a better option though

 

I didn't challenge the fact that there will be increased under steer because that is a con accompanied wheel-spacers along with the more serious ones i listed. You're right for 3 months out of the year the lugs "shouldn't" snap BUT do you really wanna take that chance ? I know i sure as hell dont with such an expensive car...You need to remember that metal becomes more brittle in cooler temperatures hence the chance of the lugs snapping becomes more likely as the temps drop...I know people run them for years but thats a game of chance i would not play nor would i advise others to play.

Op, you need wheels with the correct offset, see what the factory offset of factory sport wheels are and get something identical to that or lower if you please...ie: if sport wheels are +38 (im guessing) then you can ONLY get +38 and below (for ex: +35) .

Goodluck.

 

I didn't say that you "challenged" it. But you did ask the question and in a way that at least implied you were challenging it, so I answered it.

I didn't "challenge" the fact that there would be additional risk.

Now the OP has enough opinions to weigh in the balance. That's why public forums are so great.

 

Agreed ^