Hi, I am thinking to put some wheel spacer on my 97 XK8, wondering anyone would have suggestion about what size of spacer that I should go with, and should I go for the same size for front and back, or go wider in the back?

 

I've thought about it, too, but it's pretty complicated. First, you don't really want to screw with the front geometry too much because it will affect handling, tire wear, etc. I was just going to put some spacers on the back because the real wheels just looked a little too narrow in the wheel wells. Then I found out that to get the wheel to fit over the spacers you need to have the wheel machined to leave room for the bolts which hold the spacers in place. Also, the cheap spacers apparently don't have the correct thread pitch. They are close, but the ones I saw that were advertised for XK8s actually had an English thread pitch while the Jag lug nuts are metric (or something like that. I forget the details, but it just wasn't the same).

I believe XKRacer sells some very nice spacers which I have been tempted to buy, but it still requires getting the wheels machined, so I haven't done it yet. Maybe when I buy my XKR coupe (after I buy my S-Type R) I'll get some of XKRacer's spacers.

 

Why would you want to 'downgrade' to an S-Type? These have a really old-man's-car image in Europe, even the R version.

 

I need something to use as a daily driver and to carry around customers. My XK8 doesn't present a good image around customers. It makes me look arrogant and flippant. I use my Expedition when visiting job sites, but it gets terrible gas mileage. Some of the work I do is 150 miles away, so a round trip costs $80 in gas. The S-Type R would still look professional while being fun to drive, comfortable, and get decent gas mileage. I keep looking for that "killer" deal, but I haven't found one. I'm looking for a 2004 or newer.

 

Whenever you are ready Sam


Just out of curiosity would you consider a XFR over an STR? Just my own preference but if I was ever in the market for a saloon car the XFR would be my first choice.


Getting back to topic.... You can go up to a 1" spacer on standard wheels, the geometry is designed to take this amount (within reason) for the 20" wheels with a wider J setting

As you go up in wheel size the spacer thickness needs to come down, e.g. 18's a 20mm, not sure about 19" wheels, have not had a lot to do with them..... One thing I will say is spacers on 20" wheels does not work, looks good, with the wider track, but tramlines badly. The only time you can get away with spacers on 20" wheels is when the offset is much larger as in adapter spacers but a definate no no on standard 20" wheels.

 

Have you look in to the spacer by H & R? by the way, I am having a XK8 with factory 17inches susage wheels. So, would you think 20mm in the rear and 15mm at the front would be Okay?

 

Uh.... No.

If I want a car that looks like a Buick, I'll just buy a Buick and save $50K.

 

Xk Racer; thanks for your good advice.
Nice "garage".