Usually, opposing opinions arise concerning the value of a specific aftermarket car modification. Wheel spacers are a classic example of this discussion.
On one hand, some agree that wheel spacers are not only safe, but also useful. On the other hand, others feel that wheel spacers are dangerous and therefore should never be installed on a vehicle for any reason whatsoever.
So, what is the truth, and whose opinion is correct according to FACTS?
What Do Wheel Spacers Do?
Wheel spacers are designed to widen a vehicle’s track width by creating additional distance between the mounting flange of each wheel position and the inner face of the wheel.
Each wheel is essentially moved outwards to a distance equal to the thickness of the spacer used.
Spacers come in a variety of thicknesses, diameters, and bolt patterns, making it possible for just about any consumer to find a set of spacers that work for their application.
For many applications, the use of spacers requires you to buy aftermarket wheel studs or lug nuts for proper thread engagement.
Are Wheel Spacers Safe?
Wheel spacers are generally safe to use because weight is not carried by wheel studs.
When a vehicle’s wheels are bolted onto the hub, no weight is being supported by the wheel studs. Instead, each wheel relies upon a tight clamping of the lug nuts to transfer whatever force that wheel exerts through each hub and to the vehicle’s axle.
Thus, the vehicle weight is not dead weight on tyres when spacers are used. Spacers are merely extensions of the stock hub face.
It is always best to purchase wheel spacers from reputable manufacturers and in all cases, use 6061 and 7075 aluminum spacers manufactured from billet aluminum.
Also, it is vital that the studs are long enough (exposed enough) through the spacer face to allow for as much thread engagement as possible, allowing for clamping as mentioned above.
Do Wheel Spacers Affect Alignment?
Properly milled wheel spacers do not affect alignment, assuming that there were no adjustments made to the vehicle’s wheel angle (caster, camber, and toe) for any reason.
If all you’ve done is put on wheel spacers and nothing else, then your alignment is unchanged. You have merely extended the wheel outward.
Will Wheel Spacers Void My Warranty?
In some cases, the installation of wheel spacers can affect your vehicle’s warranty, but in almost all situations, it relates to wear, not failures.
Some common instances where the warranty could be affected are if the unit bearing fails. Unless you have installed wheel spacers, any warranty coverage that is unrelated to spacers will generally still be warranted in the same fashion for defects or failures in any engine-related issue.
Ultimately, if the installation of spacers on a vehicle affects vehicle warranty is entirely dependent on the discretion of the dealership that is visited and the manufacturer of the vehicle.
Wheel Spacer Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
Wheel spacers allow for greater wheel offsets by increasing the distance between a vehicle’s wheels and the respective hub assemblies. Wheel spacers are used for many different reasons, but the following are the most common.
#1. Increased Grip/Traction.
The wider a vehicle is, the more grip/traction it has. Wheel spacers present the opportunity to widen an otherwise stock vehicle for better performance. This is one of the single biggest reasons wheel spacers are commonly used in racing situations.
#2. Correct Wheel Fitment.
Every year, more and more drivers are moving towards the use of custom wheels and aftermarket tires. When you choose an incorrect offset or the wrong style of wheel, it can be common to have frame or suspension interference.
The use of wheel spacers is perhaps the easiest way to alleviate these issues with wheel fitment, especially with off-road or truck applications.
#3. Added Visual Appeal.
Some people like to use wheel spacers on their cars just to increase the visual appeal. In many applications, a wider than stock wheelbase can be visually appealing and allow for an aggressive appearance.
Disadvantages
Like the pros, there are a few disadvantages of wheel spacers that has discouraged some drivers altogether. Here are the most commonly reported cons of wheel spacers.
#1. Wheel Vibration.
Vehicle manufacturers design and test each of their vehicles, so the consumer gets the best drivability experience possible. A vehicle manufacturer builds the best front-end geometry that applies to that particular vehicle.
Anytime you change any associated angles and/or dimensions (i.e. wheel spacers), yes you are going to get some undesirable wheel vibration resulting from either slight or extensive changes.
#2. Parts Wear/Failure.
Original wheel-end parts are designed and tested at the factory for the original application. Adding wheel spacers and widening the overall wheelbase puts more pressure on each of those parts.
Therefore, it is common for parts such as bearings, axles, and hubs to fail prematurely as compared to those same parts with no wheel spacers.
#3. Fender Interference Issues.
While wheel spacers typically solve the suspension/frame interference problems, they tend to create fender interference issues as well.
Increasing wheel offset, or widening a vehicle’s wheelbase, reduces the factory-level wheel-to-fender clearance. Reducing clearance can result in tire rub or fender damage.
Hub Centric vs Lug Centric
Wheel spacers are categorized as either hub centric and lug centric. Below is a brief description of the differences between the two.
Hub Centric
Hub centric spacers, like hub centric wheels pilot to a mount flange at the center of a vehicle’s hub. The center hole diameter of the corresponding wheel or spacer fits exactly with the mounting flange.
Once tightened down, the alignment of these two surfaces keeps the wheel or spacer centered on the hub. Hub centric wheels/spacer do not need to use conical style lug nut.
Lug Centric
Lug centric wheel spacers are designed to fit a wheel or spacer onto its corresponding hub using conically shaped lug nuts. As the lug nuts are tightened, a self-centering action is put into place, preventing any free space to misalign.
Also note that lug centric hubs do not have a mount flange that centers the wheel, also most wheels or spacers using this design also have a larger inside diameter.
Wheel Spacer vs Wheel Adapter
Wheel spacers increase a vehicle’s wheel offset, while wheel adapter convert a vehicle’s bolt pattern. Wheel adapter are most commonly used when trying to use aftermarket wheels that do not match the vehicles bolt pattern.
For example, a vehicle with a 4 bolt pattern could use a wheel adapter to fit 6 bolt wheels. Wheel adapters also have some degree of offset, just due to the thickness.