Yes you can.

You will need to install longer wheel studs into the hubs. The spacers will effectively shorten the OEM studs, thereby reducing the amount of threads your lugnuts will be able to grab onto.

If you don't go wider than a 5mm spacer, you may be in good shape with the OEM studs, but that will barely push the wheels out and give you the look you want.

As for performance.... there a LOTS of arguments both ways. I would use spacers... that's my $0.02 worth. Others will tell you to avoid them like the plague. The logic is that the wider track of the tires/wheels will make the car more stable and make it handle better. I'll let others post their thoughts on this.

Hope this helps.

PeteH

 

I am curious about this as well

 

I would imagine it would help performance as well, with the wider stance, wonder what the down side is. perhaps those that dont like that have crap loads of hp and the spacer can introduce flex into the system that they dont want?

the track rays shoulda been wider. thats all I have to say.

 

One down side I can think of is pushing the front wheels out past the turning axis. Let me see if I can explain what I mean. If the wheels are currently at the correct offset so that the axis on which they turn falls in the center of the tire tread, then the wheel will rotate along that axis and it won't be dragged along a circumference outside the axis. I wish I had a way to graphically represent what I mean, but I haven't the time to illustrate it in CAD today. lol Maybe someone else can clarify what I'm saying better than I can...

 

The Track RAYS are a beautiful wheel, IMO one of the niced on the Z, a nicer shape then TE37's, but I agree they should have been wider by an inch. Now if RAYS would just produce a wider track style wheel......

 

Would this be affected by changeing the offset on an aftermarket wheel?

 

If what I'm thinking is correct, a different offset can affect that, yes.

EDIT - I'm finding corroborating info to show that my thoughts were, indeed, correct. However, I don't really know just how bad a downfall it really is to have the wheels turning off of the pivot point. So far, the most problematic issue is breaking lugs, but that can be compensated for. I'm just a nut and I like to do things "right". lol

http://www.off-road.com/chevy/tech/wheel/

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/tech/offset.htm

http://www.usacomp.com/Offset.htm

More input and info is certainly welcome, as I'd like to get to the bottom of all the pros and cons to using spacers or changing offsets, etc.

I'd really like to know if the stock offset and wheel width places the wheel's turning point on the pivot point of the hub...

 

Diffferent offset from oem will mess-up the Steering Axis Inclination. Some cars are very sensitive to this. In a straight line the car will track groves in the road more and pull/hunt/wander on uneven road surfaces, steering will be heavier (with power steering its not noticable), initial turn in seems slower and steady state cornering isn't smooth/easy.
This is of great concern on some cars. The Miata is very picky and 3-5mm change from oem offset is VERY noticable.
I really haven't study all the geometry of the front of the Z but it is probably more forgiving than a miata due to the size and length of suspension pieces.

I will look into my Miata sources for an exact details on how it effects the handling.

 

You said it. I too have been considering spacers. It would have been better if the rays were 19*10 in the rear. I hate that fender overhang!

In fact I put up an earlier post asking if rays would ever make the tracks in 19s. Te37s are cool but the track wheels are much better looking.

I dont know whether to widen the stance of my Z with spacers, or to look for a 19 similar to the track wheel.

Discount tire dude has posted pics of some new alloys called Angstrom and their g-67 looks kind of like the track model.
I might have to step up!!!

 

I want the spacers also. Right now it looks like you can fit tire chains front and rear, something this car will never see.

I fit wider off-set wheels/tires on my Camaro and the car was scary at times, steering wheel would practically rip out of my hand (one handed) on some rutted roads. Looked damn good however.

Regardless, I want to try (or idealy see someone else try it first) spacers with my stock Rays.

Some one needs to make a few phone calls to the manufactures and get this thing figured out. Perhaps I will, cause I want em.

 

IMO the stock Track rims look awesome as is.