Seen that quite a few of people have spacers on their vrs and wondering if for at particular reason or just for looks?

Its for moving the wheel closer to the fender, looks much better.

 

The better alternative is to use wheels with an lower offset, but quality spacers fitted properly with the right bolts is a good way to use OEM wheels and get the right stance. 

So pretty much just atheistic purposes then.

Pretty much yes. 

 

However in theory you will get a car with better traction and cornering abilities. 

2 hours ago, Chris245 said:

So pretty much just atheistic purposes then.

40mm of extra track, more track = better stability

No one has mentioned any downsides... So I will; Increases unsprung weight, increases wear on your suspension, makes your steering heavier. 

 

The bigger the spacer the worse these effects. 

14 hours ago, Chris245 said:

So pretty much just atheistic purposes then.

 

So much so that Skoda fitted spacers on cars used for press events, and put ratchet straps on the coils to lower the car. They even widened the track on the rear of the new vRS so people would not feel the need.

 

6 hours ago, ian_feel_keepin_it_reel said:

No one has mentioned any downsides... So I will; Increases unsprung weight, increases wear on your suspension, makes your steering heavier. 

The bigger the spacer the worse these effects. 

 

A lot of people say it will wear the wheel bearings more, although that is true, in theory it is no more than most VW's which run less offset on the wheels some of which have smaller wheel bearings than the Skoda but have wheels that easily fill the arches on an Octavia. The wear on the suspension will be no more than said VWs. The unsprung weight increase will be minimal, as will the effect. Steering is power assisted so you are unlikely to feel it.

 

The reason I do not use spacers but would have no problem using higher offset wheels is you are increasing the distance between the bolting face of the wheel and the thread of the hub. That gives the wheel a lot of extra lever on the wheel bolt. I have seen more than a few wheel bolts shear through fatigue using spacers. Hubcentric spacers improve it but do not eliminate it completely.

So for those who are thinking about it, could those who have done it recommend:

 

1. Reputable Brand/Manufacturer

 

2. Sizes for Hatchback & Estate models

 

TIA.

15 hours ago, Chris245 said:

So pretty much just atheistic purposes then.

 

I think you mean aesthetic!

 

Atheistic is something completely different! 

42 minutes ago, TheWanderer said:

 

I think you mean aesthetic!

 

Atheistic is something completely different! 

Yeah that 

If you go for 4-pot brakes (or anything bigger) you will need a spacer for most OEM Skoda wheels to clear the caliper.

Is there a reason Skoda don't (or didn't) have their cars leave with the wheels filling the wheel well that bit more.

I quite often think what does a multinational company and a zillion pound R&D team know that I'm not privy to.

There are other potential effects - turning circle changes, aerodynamic drag changes (which could cost them on NEDC/WLTP tests), can increase tyre wear, easier to curb the wheels.

Hi Chris one person has mentioned the greater track of the 245 compared to the 220/230/TDi Vrs models I have NOT fitted spacers because of some of the reasons mentioned above, plus taking my car on track defo not a good idea as the wheel bolts may shear under the extra strain. This is why during the summer months I fit slightly heavier 8.5J x 19" alloys with 235/35YR19 tyres which really do fill the arches nicely and have the added bonus of increasing front/rear tracks by a further 50mm vastly improving stability and grip/traction.

Edited 6 January, 20197 yr by shyVRS245
missing word

On 06/01/2019 at 02:49, JohnnyType2 said:

40mm of extra track, more track = better stability

 

Chasis less prone to torsional movement on uneven road, seems turned my car into more comfortable vehicle. Could be placebo, but actually can be explained technically. Hopefully you understand what I've meant, on my English.

 

40mm in the back is actually a lot. 

 

Car should also become more prone to understeering, but I was thinking if O3FL is 38mm wider, probably they've figured out themselves that it is better. For the race track I have 30mm ET some wheels from Audi, and for them I have to remove the spacers in the back. The car is always a bit understeering, so I guess additional understeering is not welcome. Not very much important for a normal road commuting.

20 hours ago, flybynite said:

Steering is power assisted so you are unlikely to feel it.

 

The driver might not feel it, but it's added load on the power steering unit.

56 minutes ago, ian_feel_keepin_it_reel said:

 

The driver might not feel it, but it's added load on the power steering unit.

 

Yes, but as I say, no more than the standard VAG group cars that have wheels that run an offset that fills the Octavia arches, often with lesser mechanicals behind them. If you stay within the available standard VAG wheel offset distances, the mechanicals are made for it.

 

My argument is a bit of fractional wear is a bit academic if your wheel falls off through the bolts shearing.

 

 

 

 

Interesting read all of this, some of the pros and cons. 

 

Personally not not thinking about actually doing this really just for the looks. I can’t imag that the handling will change that much or be that noticeable....could be wrong....but certainly not just sat on the motorway.

looks awesome.. trust me

Edited 8 January, 20197 yr by JohnnyType2

.

 

Edited 8 January, 20197 yr by JohnnyType2

The sides of your car may get dirtier as well.

I'd a well customized 1963  850cc Mini in the mid 1970s. It came with 5" wide Firestone alloy wheels,no wheel spacers, but still the  standard size 145/10 tyres, and lowered suspension (rubber suspension). The sidewalls, but NOT the tread protruded beyond the wheel arch lip. Looked great imho. The twin pipe Peco exhaust made it faster than a Cooper S.

Later on I owned a 1974 1000cc Mini with standard 4" wide ? wheels, also standard rubber suspension, it handled just fine and gripped well on Michelin radials.

Both wore out their wheel bearings on a regular basis.

Ah, the good old days.

Edited 8 January, 20197 yr by gregoir

2 hours ago, gregoir said:

Later on I owned a 1974 1000cc Mini with standard 4" wide ? wheels, also standard rubber suspension, it handled just fine and gripped well on Michelin radials.

Sorry I was never into Minis, engine pointed the wrong way and drove the wrong wheels. Escorts, however, were proper cars 

 

We did the same as Skoda have done with the new vRS by putting a Capri back axle on them  and re-welding the spring mounts...no spacers there either

 

Back got dirty from going, sides got dirty from steering 

Conclusion yes or no? Because how much I get info, plus is only looks, handling can be only worse. 

The PFL mk3 looks odd with the rear wheels positioned so far into the arch. It looks like wheels with the wrong offset have been fitted, so I don't blame owners fitting them for aesthetics reasons alone.

 

I'm thinking spacers could increase stability whilst towing. It's by no means bad currently, but when towing a relatively big caravan, I'll take any slight improvement!

I have the fl version with rear multilink, so it has wider rear wheel track so the rear looks ok but the front looks too much in arches.But I wonder why skoda engineers made it like this?