Wheel spacers

[Snooze]

So I'm going to invest in some wheel spacers in the not too distant future and Exonian kindly suggested ECS tuning 10-12mm front and 15-20 rear. Does it matter if you put bigger spacers on the rear, will this effect the alignment at all? I would have thought you should put the same size all round, I was thinking of going 12mm. Do please correct me if I am wrong!

[Beddie]

Having staggered spacers will be completely fine 
Having the same size front and rear looks a little odd tbh as you still end up with the rears tucked compared to the front, 10f and 15r is perfect for a mk6 but I feel the mk7 make take a 12f 20r better?

[Exonian]

It was quite common to have spacers on the back of a mk5 or mk6 and not on the front. It won't upset the alignment (assuming it's even correct from the factory which I'd not put bets on) or mess up any settings.
They *can* snap but it's pretty rare with decent spacers, that's your only worry really.
ECS do their flush fit range which aren't cheap in the UK.
Otherwise look at Eibach or H&R and pay a few quid more for some TUV approved ones which you know will definitely fit your car rather than cheap Ebay ones.
The only models that it might effect negatively would be those with 4WD but lots of R owners run them with no issues whatsoever.

[Tornado8]

Do spacers make any difference to the handling, turn in etc.

[FelixtheCat]

Just for my own information what is the benefit of fitting wheel spacers, is it purely cosmetic?

[Snooze]

Just cosmetic so far as I know. Having looked into it the track is 31mm narrower on the rear so a 15mm spacer each side will make the front and rear match. So no need for spacers on the front.

[Gnasher]

Theoretically spacers should improve the roadholding, however I somehow doubt anyone would feel the benifits.

[Exonian]

It's just cosmetic really.

Snooze, although the rear is 31mm narrower across the track (FWD cars are often narrower across the rear track as it helps improve straight line stability or helps reduce understeer or something like that I seem to remember from the dim and distant past) due to the shape and size of the wheel arches I'd still run front spacers too, say 10mm front and 15mm rear just to sit the wheels fairly flush and square the car up a bit.
I've got 12mm and 16mm for mine having recently sold my collection of 10mm spacers 

[willni]

Just out to annoy everyone with talk of spacers again 

Does anyone have any photos of their car with 12mm front & 15mm rear spacers, I'm trying to work out if it's a bit overkill for my subtle looks with the brescias. Although I'm near certain it will be less than that of BBS Ci-r's I had on previously.

My assumptions are below (I'm sure someone with more knowledge will correct me if I'm wrong)

Standard Alloys 7.5J ET50
Brescia 7.5J ET50 + 12 / 15mm = 12 / 15mm more poke over standard.
Pretorias 8J Et44 = 11mm more poke over standard
BBS CI-R 8.5J + Et45 = 15mm more poke over standard

[Exonian]

I just did a quick search and found dozens of my old posts from back in 2015/16 but no pics of my car wearing 12/16mm spacers.
I know back then a few of us ran Sparco spacers and there will be photos on here if you dig deep enough but right now I can’t find them. I only had mine on a very short time before buying some 8x19 ET41 wheels so still have them in boxes looking like new. I’m sure I must have managed to post up at least one photo though! I know a few people with GTI’s did back then.

ECS Flush Kits (plenty of photos with a Google search) were/are 15/20 and sit a little too flush for my tastes but 12/15 or 12/16 look more how it should have come from the factory.