There are a few reasons you may want to use wheel spacers. The first is to get better vehicle stability, which you’ll notice most during cornering and turning because they help move the tires farther apart. They help distribute the weight equally on all four wheels. It’s this improved weight distribution that helps enhance the car’s handling.
Another reason to use wheel spacers is to correct improper wheel offset. Sometimes new wheels can interfere with steering or suspension components on a vehicle, and a wheel spacer can remedy that. This can also be an issue when you pair a factory wheel with modified suspension. For example – on a lifted truck, the new steering and suspension components are built for a wheel with a different offset and back spacing. Therefore, the factory wheel might require some extra space to keep them from touching.
There are three different types of wheel spacers:
Slide On Spacers
These small plate spacers typically come in quarter inch increments and slide over the vehicle’s hub between the hub and wheels. They can be tricky to install as they are not hub-centric and can cause vibration issues. These are typically used in situations where there is contact with a suspension or braking component (i.e. calipers or the caliper bracket itself).
Bolt On Spacers
A bolt on spacer is used when the fitment requires more significant movement of the wheel out from the hub. These actually slide over and are bolted to the factory studs, which allows the wheel to install to new extended studs in the spacer. This extends the mounting surface the full width of the spacer for installation of the wheel. This provides the clearance you need around the fender well for other components, allowing the tire and wheel assembly to be clear from obstruction.
Hub-Centric Spacers
If you do need to run a spacer, this is the option we recommend. The spacers are built to spec for your vehicle and wheel combination, providing a proper and reliable fitment. This means the wheel is truly central to the hub, so you get no movement or vibration through the wheel and tire assembly. A hub-centric wheel spacer also puts far less stress on your bolts or studs, and is less prone to failure.
Are you trying to find the right wheel spacer for you?
Bring it by TireSouth, and we’ll go over the best option for you and your vehicle! We have multiple locations throughout the Metro Atlanta area and have been doing vehicle customization for over a decade. We also have a complete selection of tires, wheels, lifts, lighting, and accessories, and we even offer financing and nationwide shipping. Visit one of our tire centers in McDonough, Atlanta, or Covington, or contact us online to order today!