Hey, what’s up guys? Today I want to tell you about the time I mounted 1 inch Maserati Ghibli wheel spacers for my car. You know, the Ghibli is a sweet ride, but I always felt like something was missing. The wheels looked too small and tucked in for such a sleek and sporty car. I wanted to give it a more aggressive and badass look, so I decided to get some wheel spacers to push the wheels out and fill the fenders better.
But what are wheel spacers and why did I choose them? Well, let me tell you.
What are Maserati Ghibli wheel spacers?
Wheel spacers are devices that are installed between the wheel and the hub of a vehicle to change the bolt pattern and/or the offset of the wheel. They are usually made of aluminum or steel and come in different thicknesses and sizes.
Bolt pattern is the arrangement of the lug holes on the wheel and the hub. It determines which wheels can fit on which vehicles. For example, my Ghibli has a 5×114.3 bolt pattern, which means it has five lug holes arranged in a circle with a diameter of 114.3 mm. If I want to mount a wheel with a different bolt pattern, such as 5×120, I need a wheel adapter that can convert the bolt pattern from 5×114.3 to 5×120.
Offset is the distance between the centerline of the wheel and the mounting surface of the hub. It affects how the wheel sits on the vehicle and how it interacts with other components. For example, my Ghibli has a positive offset of 40 mm, which means the mounting surface of the hub is closer to the outside (or face) of the wheel. This means that the wheel is positioned inwards towards the vehicle. If I want to move the wheel outwards away from the vehicle, I need a wheel adapter that can reduce the offset by adding some thickness between the wheel and the hub.
Why did I choose BONOSS Maserati Ghibli wheel spacers?
I chose BONOSS Maserati Ghibli wheel spacers for three main reasons: appearance, performance, and safety.
Appearance-wise: I wanted to give my Ghibli a more aggressive and badass look by pushing the wheels out and filling the fenders better. I think this makes the car look more muscular and powerful, and also more unique and customized. I also wanted to have more options for choosing wheels with different bolt patterns and styles. BONOSS Maserati Ghibli wheel spacers are customized and range from different thicknesses and blot patterns. I can freely choose what I want.
Performance-wise: I wanted to improve my Ghibli’s stability and handling by increasing the track width and reducing the scrub radius. Track width is the distance between the left and right wheels on an axle. By increasing it, I can increase the grip and traction of each wheel and make the car more stable and balanced. Besides, I like lighter unsprung weights, which give me a light sense when running on the road. BONOSS Maserati Ghibli wheel spacers are forged billet aluminum and there are also hollows that can decrease the weight. They are the lightest wheel spacers I can find.
Safety-wise: I heard that some cheap wheel spacers can break and cause vibration. So quality wheel spacers are quite important. BONOSS Maserati Ghibli wheel spacers have been verified by SGS and TUV. They are forged aluminum alloy made from aerospace grade 6061-T6 or 7075-T6. The wear resistance, impact resistance, and high-temperature resistance can ensure high material strength. In addition, they independently measured and mapped to provide precise wheel spacers that can fit my wheels better,
How did I choose and install Maserati Ghibli wheel spacers?
Choosing and installing wheel spacers was not a difficult task, but it required some careful measurements and calculations. I had to consider how much I wanted to change my bolt pattern and offset, and how it would affect my clearance, scrub radius, load transfer, and fitment.
Clearance is the amount of space between the wheel and other parts of the vehicle, such as brakes, suspension, fenders, and body panels. If the offset is too high or too low, it can cause interference or rubbing issues with these parts, which can damage them or affect their performance. Therefore, I had to choose an offset that provided enough clearance for my vehicle.
Scrub radius is the distance between the center of the tire contact patch and the steering axis. It affects how much steering effort is required and how much feedback is transmitted to the driver. If the offset is too high or too low, it can change the scrub radius and alter the steering feel and response. Therefore, I had to choose an offset that matched my vehicle’s original scrub radius or adjust my alignment accordingly.
Load transfer is the distribution of weight and force among the wheels during acceleration, braking, and cornering. It affects how much grip and traction each wheel has and how stable and balanced the vehicle is. If the offset is too high or too low, it can change the load transfer and affect the handling and performance of your vehicle. Therefore, I had to choose an offset that did not compromise my vehicle’s dynamics or safety.
Fitment is how well the wheel fits on the vehicle and how it looks from different angles. If the offset is too high or too low, it can make the wheel look too sunken in or too poked out from the fender. Therefore, I had to choose an offset that suited my personal taste and preference.
To do this, I measured my current offset and clearance, determined how much I wanted to change them, and selected a wheel adapter that matched my desired specifications. I also made sure that my wheel adapter was compatible with my bolt pattern, hub bore size, lug nuts or bolts, and center cap design.
I also used online calculators or tools to help me choose a suitable wheel adapter, such as https://www.willtheyfit.com/ or https://www.1010tires.com/Tools/Wheel-Offset-Calculator.
Alternatively, I could have consulted a professional installer or mechanic who could have advised me on the best wheel adapter for my vehicle and installed it properly and safely for me.
Installing wheel spacers was a simple process that involved removing the wheels, cleaning the hub surface, placing the wheel adapter on the hub, securing it with lug nuts or bolts, placing the wheel on the wheel adapter, securing it with lug nuts or bolts, torquing them to specification, checking for clearance and fitment issues, lowering the vehicle, driving it for a few miles, re-torquing them to specification, and enjoying my new look and feel.
Wheel spacers are a fun and easy way to change the bolt pattern and/or offset of your wheels and customize the look and feel of your vehicle. However, they also have an impact on your clearance, scrub radius, load transfer, and fitment, which can affect your safety and performance. Therefore, you need to choose a wheel adapter that suits your goals and preferences and install it correctly and securely.
I hope this post can help you and inspire you to try wheel spacers for your own vehicle. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. Thanks for reading!
