This is especially true with aftermarket wheels. The most basic function of wheel spacers is that they can give your vehicle a unique, more aggressive look. Ever since I turned old enough to drive, I have driven as many vehicles as possible, while teaching myself how to perform maintenance and upgrade work on every vehicle I've owned. On eBay, you can see a lot of no label, poor quality spacers sold for a low price, which is one reason why individuals end up getting a horrible spacer experience. How to Use an OBD2 Scanner – Diagnose Your Car Using Engine Codes. If any of these upgrades are incorrectly calculated, and you find that any type of fitment issue arises, wheel spacers can provide an inexpensive remedy. Wheel spacers are devices that fit onto the studs of the axle or hub, behind the wheel on the vehicle to create an additional clearance between the wheel and hub assembly. A spacer over 0.313″ (5/16) is not recommended. These have extended studs and different PCD for Rover/MG wheels.They have done around 2000 miles so far and haven't caused any wheel bearing damage.As long as the studs are long enough to hold the wheel safely I don't think the sizes talked about will cause any issues. Sometimes it goes off road but not much. When you go and make turns around corners, you can experience this stabilization the most. For this reason, they are usually used to accommodate minimal wheel extension. Rather it sometimes increases the strength of the studs. CHECK OUT MORE BLOGS HERE. What Do Users Say About the 2021 Acura ILX? Also, always purchase wheel spacers from a reputable source. Secondly, when installing your wheel spacers you have to follow proper procedure which includes every bit of tiny detail has to be taken into consideration. This entails purchasing high-quality spacers from reputable companies. Wheel adapters are used to put a wheel on a vehicle that would not normally fit. The wheel stud can only bend, if the lug nuts are not adequately torqued. Wheel spacers can add anywhere from a few millimeters to a few inches of extra width to your vehicle’s track. The spacer fits on the wheel hub bracket to give more clearance space to make room for larger tires. See Moto Metal MO970 Wheels #3 TIS 544BM. However, that they make driving more dangerous. Floating spacers are placed between the wheel and hub of your vehicle, but use the same factory wheel studs to secure the wheel in place. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Wheel spacers are machines used to stretch the wheel and tires further, to put it in basic terms. The spacers fit on the wheels stud and increase the offset from the wheel hub. As long as the change is not drastic and weight and size limits are observed, wheel adapters can be safely used. Material is also important. Can You Mix Synthetic Oil with Regular Oil? There are indeed significant advantages of using, but spacers often come with disadvantages. Some of the stuff is well deserved, but for the most part, spacers are not a bad thing and if used properly are a very useful tool to make your wheels fit properly. Frequently Asked Questions. Share. With that being said, only if you think you need them can you have wheel spacers mounted. There is little point in upgrading your vehicle’s brakes only to find that they will not allow your wheels to spin freely. But it actually does not turn the wheel studs. Page 2 of 3 - Are Wheel Spacers Safe? These types of spacers bolt onto the hub of your vehicle, causing its wheels to be bolted on the spacer. Additionally, spacers that are not torqued correctly, just like when wheels are mounted, may cause the assembly to completely fail, and your vehicle’s wheel may come completely off. When the lug nuts are tightened, the wheel studs stretch elastically, like very stiff springs. In essence, this forms a new “hub” onto which your wheels are now bolted. Let’s take a look at what wheel spacers are, and discuss whether or not they are actually as good or as bad as people say they are. For a more in-depth analysis on wheel spacers and their function, watch this video! Yes and No (OURS ARE!) A torque wrench should be used to torque the lug bolts to appropriate tension. Page 1 of 2 1 2 Next > Apr 3, 2010 at 10:26 AM #1 #1. jmed99 [OP] Well-Known Member. for instance if the wheel has a 3″ diameter, your spacers should also have at least a 3″ diameter, or as close to that as possible. You can also find wheel adapters that will alter the pattern of your bolt. 2021 Mazda CX3 – The most Stylish and High Performing SUV. Lv 7. Overall, for aesthetic reasons, wheel spacers are bought more because people enjoy the way they push the wheels out. Wheel spacers are generally safe to use on your vehicle—as long as they are made of high quality materials and have passed rigorous testing. The answer to this question is twofold. Whatever type of wheels you have, your vehicle will need to match up with the type of spacers you may choose to buy. © 2021 Vehicle Scene, All rights reserved. There is also a risk. Wheel spacers alter the scrub radius of the car. Suspension parts can also be affected, depending on how much distance from the main assembly you choose to add. What size spacers do I need? First of all never compromise on quality as we have explained above, saving few bucks on your wheel spacer purchase can cost you in the long run as low price tag will ultimately mean low quality. In other words, wheel adapters are added to the wheel assembly to increase how far they stick out from your vehicle, increasing its track width. See ARKON Lincoln Wheels #2 Moto Metal MO970 . In the end, you are the only who can truly answer the question of whether or not wheel spacers are good or bad for your car, and you are the only one who can completely control your entire wheel spacer experience from start to finish! Check your local laws to see what the regulations say. Just as wheel adapters have their own set of benefits, there are almost as many reasons to avoid them, and there are just as many experts who advise against them as there are those who advocate for them. But I have heard that they are unsafe, and can brake easily. Top 21 Wheels of 2021 #1 ARKON OFF-ROAD Lincoln. Mostly the most overlooked part when you install wheel spacers is stud and bolts of the wheel. In extreme cases of increased scrub radius of your car’s suspension system, the tires will not be able to grip well, leading to more slides and understeer. The core of the hub, after all, is not what secures the spacer. Hub-centric means that the wheel bore and axle line up perfectly, and lug nuts are used to secure the wheel to the mounting plate. Wheel spacers are safe if they are installed properly. Particularly, forged wheel spacers are one-piece wheel spacers. Cheaply made wheel spacers can be dangerous because the material with which they are made may not be durable enough to bear the weight of your car or truck. Wheel spacer is bit of a contentious topic. The End. This often simply comes down to personal preference. They are typically made of aluminum or steel and are available in a large array of sizes and types to fit most wheels to most automobiles. There are a lot of good wheel spacers on the market these days. The billet undergoes continuous intense pressure to be formed. In short, the scrub radius has a profound effect on how easy it is to turn the front tires of your vehicle. Some practical terms for on-site Civil engineers, Who is Costa Georgiadis’s Partner? When you install wheel spacers, the studs/bolts don’t hold up as well as they used to and create a gap which leads to the hub, wheel and the spacer itself to flex. Within the automotive world, wheel spacers’ benefits and safety are heavily debated, but the ultimate question of whether they are right for you, whether they are actually safe, and whether they are truly a good or bad idea comes down to you and your reasoning behind using them. We discuss the pros and cons of using them, what benefits they may bring, and if there are any downsides. Keep Your Engine Safe! Use a well trusted manufacturer, make sure they are hub centric and the correct size for your hub. Are wheel adapters / spacers safe? On the other hand, they can be very bad if they are installed incorrectly, made of cheap materials, or if you are unaware of the advantages and disadvantages they offer, as well as what exactly it is that you’re getting them for. They have a lot of benefits to the car. Scrub radius is the distance between your vehicle’s central tire contact patch and the upper ball joint where it would theoretically touch the pavement if moved straight down. Are Wheel Spacers Safe? I manly use my truck as just a street driver and gravel roads and such. Wheel spacers are devices that are fitted to the wheel assembly hub of a vehicle to increase the distance between the wheel itself and the inner wheel well. You must use a professional and licensed mechanic who has experience installing wheel spacers successfully. Most casual drivers will not give any thought to the wheels on the vehicles they buy. Some love them and claim they are a great device to change your wheels’ offset, mainly if you make a mistake because of misjudgment in measurements and buy the wrong aftermarket wheels. Why Might You Want or Need to Use Wheel Spacers? When it comes to wheel spacers, a big first mistake many people make is having one of low quality. When Wheel Spacers Are Not Safe For Your Vehicle Wheel spacers are designed to move your car’s wheel to a wider position now that does look aesthetically pleasing but it can take a toll on your car’s suspension. Last but not least, understand why you need wheel spacers and what they are intended to accomplish. Discussion in 'Wheels & Tires' started by jmed99, Apr 3, 2010. The farther away from the center of a vehicle the wheels are placed, the less likely the vehicle will be to roll over. This helps to correct the orientation by changing the offset of the wheels that you want to mount. You can get junk that will make your driving experience worse than it was before, as with any other aftermarket car component, especially anything designed for functionality. There are both practical and visual explanations why anyone will operate wheel spacers. Spacers can allow for wheel assembly components and your brake or suspension upgrades to remain intact by moving the wheels away from your upgraded components. Personally, we find that most the failures related to wheel spacers are caused more by user error or misinformation, rather than being caused by the spacer itself. With the wheel mounting, it just assists you. You end up with issues such as the wheel being almost welded to your spacer, something we touched on earlier. This is an explanation why the cheapest spacers you can find don’t want to go for them. Basically, wheel spacers are used to setup larger, wider, custom tires. There isn't a day – no, maybe an hour – that goes by when someone doesn't jump on the internet and mention, ask about - or try to justify - the use of wheel spacers under their 4X4. These days, most students opt for further education after graduation as it... Medical billing process was a great fatigue for hospital staff for very lo... Why Is It Important To Service Your Car Regularly? fitted to the wheel assembly hub of a vehicle, 9 Best Tire Sealants for Punctured Tire Repair in Case of Emergencies, How to Wash Your Car: The Ultimate Guide (28 Steps & An Infographic), How to Rotate Tires, Why Bother, and How Often to Do It, Best Antifreeze And Coolants In 2020: Reviews & Buyer’s Guide. It would help if you used a trained and licensed mechanic who successfully installed wheel spacers. The following are a set of advantages and explanations for why individuals end up using them. Lifted pickup trucks are prime candidates for wheel spacers, because a lift kit or some sort of other suspension enhancement may cause tire or wheel rubbing. So, using wheel spacers is entirely safe from this perspective. Whether it’s because of too narrow of axles or not enough wheel offset, wheel spacers … That said the spacers Eric has and thought was a good idea to modify by adding a … These spacers tend to be most beneficial to certain custom wheels. If properly secured by someone with the proper tools and knowledge, they will be safe. There are several reasons you may want or need spacers installed on your vehicle. Adding wheel spacers to your vehicle may be necessary for upgraded component fitment such as brakes or suspension. Wheel spacers may be safe per normal road use your wheel won't fall off but they are not recommended. Spacers tend to be a very polarizing topic in the automotive community. Even if you think you’re a competent mechanic, it is not recommended that you try installing wheel spacers yourself. The answer to the question of whether or not wheel spacers are good or bad is very subjective. As such, wheel spacers (also referred by many as wheel adapters) are usually of little concern to most people. However, having wheels that aren’t covered by the fenders or wheel wells may be illegal in your locality. And they are highly safe. Brake, wheel, and suspension upgrades can be expensive. In other words, wheel adapters are added to the wheel assembly to increase how far they stick out from your vehicle, increasing its track width. Wheel offset measurement, the distance between a wheel’s mounting point and its centerline, is a commonly miscalculated piece of information that could cause your brand new wheels to be incompatible with your current brake setup. Wheel spacers are safe to install on your vehicle, only if they are properly installed. Most know that their tires will eventually need to be replaced as part of general vehicle maintenance tasks, but the wheels around which the tires are wrapped simply exist as a matter of preference. Wheel spacers increase the scrub radius as the tire track becomes wider, making your vehicle less maneuverable. Your stock vehicle setup is the way that it is because the manufacture designed it like that. This means the wheel spacer will fit securely between the wheel and wheel hub. There are several different types of wheel spacers which have their own set of benefits and downfalls: There are two types of wheels on vehicles: Lug-centric wheels and hub centric wheels. Wheel spacers are normally used when there is a clearance problem with brakes, tie rods and other components. Rather than spend thousands of dollars more on different wheels, spacers can correct this issue at a fraction of the cost. They go over the car’s hub assembly, providing a more optimistic offset for the revolution. 1 decade ago. Are Wheel Spacers and Adapters Safe? Are Wheel Spacers Safe? These vehicle codes are designed to prevent the likelihood of rocks and debris striking other drivers or pedestrians. They also put a greater load on wheel bearings and these will need to be replaced more often. How to Remove Tree Sap from Your Car & Prevent It from Coming Back, Best Tire Pressure Gauge – Our Top Recommendations for 2020, 8 Best Tire Pressure Gauges for Accurate Reading with a Quality Product, How to Read Tire Sizes: Explaining Different Numbers & Digits You See, How to Put Air in Tires – Tools needed, and Step by Step Guide. ARE SPACERS SAFE? https://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/wheels-tires/are-wheel-spacers-safe Why Might You Want to Avoid Wheel Spacers? What are the best wheel spacers for trucks? read below. The fact is, wheel spacers are illegal in Australia unless the manufacturer fitted them. It may only be after your stock wheels are damaged, your brakes need to be replaced or you want to jazz up your vehicle’s appearance that you will want to know about wheel spacers and if they are actually good or bad. Now, you may think that all spacers are made the same but they aren't. Some people think wheel spacers may cause wheel studs to bend. They change the geometry of your suspension and steering and will not handle as well as a stock vehicle. Wheel spacers. GET SPACERS HERE . On this episode of Wheel School, we cover all of that! Wheels can come off during normal driving if the stud length is not correctly adjusted after spacers are fitted. Are Wheel Spacers Actually Safe? Fitting larger or even different brakes to your vehicle may cause clearance issues with your stock wheels. Are Wheel Adapters & Wheel Spacers safe? The more surface area you have, the better, as it will evenly distribute the pressure. Spacers: Spacers have gotten a bad rap over the years. Know About His Wife, Bio, wiki, Life, Height, Age, and Net Worth, Who is matt Stonie’s girlfriend? Regardless of the type, quality, or material of your wheel spacer of choice, it will not be beneficial at all if the fitment or bolt pattern is incorrect. With benefits like these, you would wonder why anyone would ignore anything like this. They’re a pretty heated, controversial topic. I did a search and read a ton of threads but couldn't locate one that discussed the safety of spacers … Although using long wheel studs for your wheel spacer is necessary, you don’t need to have longer wheel studs mounted if you select larger wheel spacers. That’s where wheel spacers come into play, when your rims don’t have the correct offset on them, a spacer can simulate that. See TIS 544BM … Furthermore, as they rotate, the extra space generated allows your wheels to be more stable. If you do not know how to install them, already have them improperly installed by either yourself or someone else, or you do not have a clear idea of why you want or need them (and might not really need them in reality), they can be detrimental to your vehicle’s performance and could pose a safety risk to you and others. Wheel spacers if of proper design and fitted properly meeting all specifications are safe. You can always consult a professional for any assistance when it comes to equipping your vehicle with wheel adapters. Lug-centric means that the lugs themselves do the centering due to an increased hub diameter. If you are unsure about any of this or are uncomfortable about installing wheel spacers by yourself, always consult a professional, and definitely have them install the spacers for you if you can afford it. Ask your nearest mechanic, if you’re still lost, to suggest any. Wheel spacers can be used when you want to install custom wheels, especially wheels that are not correctly positioned for your vehicle. … When using the correct type of spacers, and installing them properly, spacers are very safe. This may also cause damage to both your new brakes and wheels. Well there aren’t a lot of things that you can do to make using wheel spacers safe for your vehicle but there are couple of things that you should keep in consideration so that you don’t fall victim to a costly accident. Are these spacers safe though? Use a well trusted manufacturer, make sure they are hub centric and the correct size for your hub. When used in the right manner, wheel spacers are safe. This is not valid since the spacers do not influence the physics. Generally, if they’re correctly mounted, wheel spacers are healthy. Check out this piece about hub centric vs lug centric if you’re interested in learning more about this. It's a good cost-effective way to widen your vehicle's wheels for handling and cosmetic purposes. Drive with confidence knowing that quality and customer satisfaction go hand and hand as our top priority when we sell and build anything. Typically, wheel spacers are exactly safe if they’re installed properly. Wheel bearings are particularly affected by the use of wheel spacers, since this will alter their load-bearing characteristics. Ask any professional out there who’s been in this field long enough how many times they’ve been asked the question “are wheel spacers safe?”. Wheel spacers have extra space between the spokes and the hubs of the wheel. Plenty of folks on here running wheel spacers including myself without issue. I was recently thinking about buying 2" spacers for my wheels, to give the tires a more aggressive stance. Therefore, properly installed wheel spacers are perfectly safe. In our 10+ years of experience selling the highest quality American Grade wheel spacers on the market, we have had a near flawless success rate of safety! Instagram, Net worth. This is a serious risk for the vehicle and you are prone to an accident which can prove to be costly. Because wheel spacers set the vehicle track wider than it normally would be, vehicle stability (and therefore the car’s handling) can be greatly improved. And of course, they should be properly installed using the right hardware. I have a 1996 gmc k1500. Just pick studs that are longer than your traditional factory studs. This is due to the custom wheels sitting too close to the existing inner wheel well. Nor does the wheel spacer’s lip encounter any load. Post Reply. Just because an aftermarket part says it fits your vehicle, this does not always guarantee it. This is especially true with floating spacers which just in between the wheel and hub. After examining wheel spacers and what they exactly do for your vehicle, the question that remains is whether they are good or bad for your vehicle. This is because the entire weight of your vehicle is dependent on the strength of your wheel assembly. Sign up to receive new articles, tips, tricks, and guides, as well as discounts on top products, hitting your inbox every week! It is not recommended that you try installing them yourself, even if you think you’re a good mechanic. Buy wide spacers – you want to make sure the diameter of the spacers is sufficient, and that the spacers are wider than the mounting surface of the wheel. The issue with cheaper spacers is that they are not very resistant to heat because of the lower melting point of the metals used. - posted in Problems, Questions and Technical: I have 65mm ones on the back of my Mini. If properly installed, high-quality wheel spacers are very safe. The wheel spacer should be of appropriate size and should be hub-centric. - YouTube. Bolt-on spacers are generally used for larger wheel extension. VehicleScene.com is a participant in the Amazon Services Associates Program. For the past 10 years, I've been honing my skills as a vehicle hobbyist, in recent years also enjoying writing car reviews, opinion articles, vehicle how-tos, car-buying guides, and even provide individual consultations for those who need car-buying advice. It is important that the correct length of stud is used to hold the wheel on tightly. Know his biography, Age, Height. Wheel spacers are devices that are fitted to the wheel assembly hub of a vehicle to increase the distance between the wheel itself and the inner wheel well.