One way to measure for the spacers needed is to use washers. If you have lug studs, this is simple as you will just install washers onto the studs and remount the wheel to verify clearance against the suspension. The size spacer you need will be equal to the thickness of the washers used.
Are wheels spacers safe?
Therefore, properly installed wheel spacers are perfectly safe. The wheel stud applies a clamping force that holds the wheel to the hub. When the lug nuts are tightened, the wheel studs stretch elastically, like very stiff springs. The lug nuts should be tightened until the stud is at 90% of its elastic limit.
Do wheel spacers really make a difference?
There is a popular misconception that wheel spacers improve handling characteristics on sports cars because of this wider track. While there might be a slight cornering advantage due to the change in suspension geometry, the negatives far outweigh any benefits.
Do spacers affect ride quality?
Wheel spacers won’t hurt ride quality. Conversely, they make the ride quality better. If you like a smoother, more comfortable ride, adding wheel spacers is one of the easiest ways to improve your car’s ride quality. By increasing the track width, spacers help your vehicle perform better on the road.
What thickness wheel spacers do I need? – Related Questions
Is there a downside to wheel spacers?
The main issue with a wheel spacer is that it moves the wheel to a wider position whilst the rest of the suspension arms remain in the same place. In particular, the king pin inclination axis remains in the same place. Therefore, fitting a wheel spacer moves the wheel outboard and alters the scrub radius of the car.
What are the cons of wheel spacers?
Wheel spacers cons
- Increased Steering Effort. Wheel spacers improve handling, but also increase steering effort.
- Decreased Ride Quality. Every car comes from the factory with the driving experience already in top shape.
- More Wear on Suspension Components.
Do wheel spacers ruin suspension?
That said, wheel spacers affect suspension geometry, and will change the scrub radius, affecting braking stability, and also reduce the effective spring rate at the wheels. Wheel spacers can also cause wheel bearing failure.
Do spacers hurt performance?
The spacer is usually used when the wheel offset is not ideal. Many people also use it in competitions and racing events. So long as you aren’t going with the wrong size spacers, there shouldn’t be any negative effect on performance.
Why should you not put spacers on your car?
By increasing the offset of the wheel, you place more stress on the axle’s studs, and in a front axle application on the unit bearings (or spindles) and ball joints of the axle. You also increase the tire scrub radius, changing the way the vehicle handles and increasing the difficulty of slow-speed turning.
Do spacers improve performance?
Improve the vehicle’s handling, grip, and cornering in various conditions. Wheel spacers widen your car’s stance—the distance between the driver and passenger side tires—resulting in better performance.
Is it safe to run 2 inch spacers?
If you installed them properly, 2-inch wheel spacers are exactly very safe to use and will not cause any vibration. It is recommended to get your wheel spacers installed at a reputable wheel shop. To ensure safety, the lug nuts need to be torqued properly.
How much horsepower does a spacer add?
With a throttle body spacer, it is possible to increase the torque by 25 ft lbs and add up to 18 more horsepower. Not all throttle body kits can be used for all engines.
Is it safe to drive fast with spacers?
Yes. Since the weight of a vehicle is not sustained by its wheel studs/bolts, the use of wheel spacers is considered to be safe.
Do you need alignment after spacers?
You will not need an alignment if you just add wheel spacers. The main factors involved in setting the alignment to specification are caster, camber, and toe. Once they are set up properly, the direction and the angles that the tires point in is fixed.
Is 2 inch wheel spacers too much?
We prefer to stay under 2 inches when running spacers. However, you will need to be aware that some OE studs may stick out past the spacer’s mounting surface. This means you’ll need to trim off any overhang before mounting your wheels. Also, look for hub-centric spacers when possible, for the best and strongest fit.
How long can you drive on a spacer wheel?
Is there a maximum distance for space saver wheels: There is no official restriction on how far a driver can travel on a space saver wheel, but around 50 miles is considered to be the maximum safe distance.
What company makes the best wheel spacers?
What is the best brand of wheel spacers?
- Supreme Suspensions Hub Centric Wheel Spacers.
- Alloy USA 11310 Wheel Spacer.
- Spidertrax S2PWHS010 Wheel Spacer Kit.
- Rugged Ridge 15201.09 Wheel Spacers.
- RockTrix Precision European Wheel Spacers.
- Yitamotor Forged Wheel Spacers.
- ECCPP Wheel Spacers.
- Eibach S90-6-10-004 Wheel Spacers.
Do wheel spacers make your car shake?
Do Wheel Spacers Cause Vibration? Many car owners worry about whether the wheel spacers will cause vibrations. In fact, wheel spacers in themselves don’t cause vibration, they are just increasing the track of the wheels.
Do wheel spacers affect gas mileage?
No, wheel spacers don’t reduce gas mileage at all. Pushing the wheels out a bit won’t disrupt the airflow, hence there will be a negligible effect on mpg. In other words, if you just add spacers, there should be no difference before and after.
Do wheel spacers cause tire wear?
Since they are mounted between the hubs and wheels, some people wonder whether wheel spacers cause uneven tire wear. In fact, no, they don’t cause your tire wear. Wheel spacers simply serve as the extension parts of the vehicle assembly, they don’t bear the vehicle’s weight.