# Wheel Spacers

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/wheel-spacers/20335>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** cooper, wheels\
**Created:** [October 4, 2008, 3:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wheel-spacers/20335 "2008-10-04T15:42:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Bill\_Hart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c0e974/32.png) [@Bill\_Hart](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Bill_Hart)\
**Post date:** [October 4, 2008, 3:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wheel-spacers/20335/1 "2008-10-04T15:42:07Z")

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I am having to go to wheel spacers to avoid touching new and larger calipers on my 2003 Mini Cooper S.  
  
  
  
  
  
 I have decided to use H&R spacers and extension bolts. The choices are 5mm, 15mm and then it continues on up after that; but the 15mm should be more than enough extra space on the front axle where the Big calipers are; the rear I am using the OEM calipers new rotors.  
  
  
  
 Both front and rear have new slotted rotors, and they are the OEM size.  
  
  
  
 My question is why would H&R not include 10mm as a choice when offering their spacer sizes for the Cooper S ?  
  
  
  
 Next question. Is there any factor that makes spacers un-safe when used in this way from a respectable supply source such as H&R. They seem to be a standard in the industry.  
  
  
  
 The wheels being used are 16" Minilite.  
  
  
  
 These are not the S Lite wheels that came with the car in 03 and used with run flat tires.  
  
  
  
 These are the origal Minilites wheels used for racing back in the 60’s-70’s but new.  
  
  
  
 These wheels would not fit over the calipers (Rotora) which that dealer claimed they would… I honestly thought that the supplier did not realize that the Minilite wheels I have, were not the Lite S wheels  
  
 that came with the car.  
  
  
  
 So using that logic I tried my old wheels 17" lite S with the run flat tires.  
  
  
  
 They did not fit either, thus the spacers.  
  
  
  
 Any insight into this would be appreciated, as well as advice.  
  
 Thanks,  
  
 Bill

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**Author:** ![CapriRacer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/capriracer/32/22_2.png) [@CapriRacer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/CapriRacer)\
**Post date:** [October 4, 2008, 8:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wheel-spacers/20335/2 "2008-10-04T20:03:42Z")

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There are lots of stories on the internet about problems with spacers. The concensus is to avoid them - so I suggest you do, too.

Try changing the wheels.

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**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\
**Post date:** [October 4, 2008, 9:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wheel-spacers/20335/3 "2008-10-04T21:12:58Z")

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One reason for those problems is that spacers change the offset of the wheel, changing the geometry and the leverage on the bearings, etc.