355 - Wheel Spacer Opinion | FerrariChat

355 Wheel Spacer Opinion

Discussion in '348/355' started by watkinsgt, May 17, 2022.

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  1. watkinsgt

    watkinsgt Karting

    Feb 4, 2008
    215
    I installed H&R 15mm wheel spacers front and rear on my 355 with stock wheels. Imho the fronts turned out great giving the car a wider stance and squatter appearance without calling attention to themselves or looking modified. To my eye they look stock - just better. Measuring from TDC of the fender arch lip, the wheel and tire remain inboard of the fender about 8mm. The rears however are a different story. They jump out as noticeably wider and to my eye jarringly modified. Defiantly not stock. Measuring from TDC of the fender arch lip, the wheel and tire are flush with the lip. Despite this there is no tire / fender interference or rubbing. Zero. Were I to do it over - and I might if I don't get used to the rears - I would order both 11mm and 15mm spacers from Hill Engineering (H&R doesn't offer 11mm) and mix and match to your preference. The car now handles slightly but noticeably flatter on turn-in. I like it. Sadly, as you might expect, the wider tires eject more road debris up along the car's flanks. I'm working on wider splash guards.
     
  2. Tarek307

    Tarek307 Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 26, 2018
    1,348
    Long Beach, CA & Alexandria,Egypt.
    Full Name:
    Tarek Salah
    recommended is 11mm front 15mm rear, i think 15 all around is fine as long as you're not lowering the car from stock. The 355 wheels are so ingressed they look ridiculous without spacers
     
    GWARREND and GatedF355GTB like this.
  3. Targatime

    Targatime Formula 3

    Feb 22, 2014
    1,449
    Los Angeles
    Spacers create more leverage on the suspension by moving the wheels farther away from the shocks and springs. Your car has more body roll now, not less. It'll be imperceptible, but this is basic physics.
     
    308 GTB and MAD828 like this.
  4. Tarek307

    Tarek307 Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 26, 2018
    1,348
    Long Beach, CA & Alexandria,Egypt.
    Full Name:
    Tarek Salah
    Stop being so technical man hahaha...spacers are a MUST ;)
     
    Targatime likes this.
  5. kenneyd

    kenneyd Formula 3

    Sep 30, 2014
    2,018
    NE FL
    Full Name:
    Ken
    Always find it interesting that we have the same car, but everybody kind of has different results lol.

    So I thought 15 was way too much for the front, was worried that I would catch a fender with the tire. I ran 10/11 Max up front. And then 15 looked perfect for the rear, they were nice and tucked with plenty of room between the fender and the tire.

    The only thing I can blame is the alignment specs. I run a lot of negative camber (which is surprisingly close to factory specs) that's probably why the rear on mine was not very close.
     
  6. 308 GTB

    308 GTB F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Feb 7, 2002
    11,718
    New Jersey
    Full Name:
    Barry Wolinsky
    Right. And spacers, of course, also widen the car's track which can affect oversteer and understeer.

    See this Racing Setup Guide:
     

    Attached Files:

  7. Jackie and bill

    Jackie and bill Formula Junior

    Nov 29, 2014
    795
    GB
    Full Name:
    William
    I had ran my 355 with Hills 15mm front and rear for 16 years. Along with rebuilt suspension including poly bushes. Perfect all round.
     
  8. ChoonHound

    ChoonHound Formula 3

    May 13, 2022
    2,223
    Saint Michaels, MD
    Full Name:
    Lucas
    Are all 348 wheels the same width/offset or are the 93+ wheels wider/lower offset?
     
  9. GWARREND

    GWARREND Formula Junior

    Sep 23, 2012
    547
    Ontario, Canada
    Full Name:
    Greg
  10. Mitch Alsup

    Mitch Alsup F1 Veteran

    Nov 4, 2003
    9,727
    If you investigate the drawings Ferrari supplies in your owners manual, you will find that the wheel bearings are 4mm outside of the center of the contact patch. So, I discount the trouble with wheel bearings.

    However you point of moving the contact patch outward, is (IS) going to add load to the (harder to service) steering rack. With the spacers, every braking event (up front) will cause the front tires to toe-out, whereas they toe-in (ever so slightly) with the factory setup.
     
    Ferrarium likes this.

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