A majority of car enthusiasts view spacers as the simplest way to achieve perfect fitment from their wheels and tires. Wheels (usually 5mm-30mm) tend to be pushed somewhat inwards for better drag and fuel efficiency. Many people don’t favor this because it does not look flush with the car and gives off a wonky appearance. That is where wheel spacers come in. The main purpose of a wheel spacer is, as the name suggests, to increase the “space” between the wheel and the wheel hub to push them slightly outward. While wheel spacers are commonly used in the car scene, especially in the tuner community, they have also found their way onto trucks and off-road vehicles. This is done to increase the amount of clearance between the wheel and the hub when swapping out the setup. Installing spacers in these cases proves beneficial because drives can then install larger off-road tires, which translates to improved performance, traction, and overall capability.

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A wheel spacer is placed between the wheel and the wheel hub of your vehicle to essentially push the wheel further out. This creates more backspacing and a negative offset for an improved and more aggressive look. There are two main types of wheel spacers: slip-on and bolt-on. The former slides over the wheel studs and is located between the wheel and wheel hub. The latter bolts right onto your wheel studs and comes with its own studs to bolt the wheels to. Wheel spacers are available in a variety of different thicknesses, diameters, and bolt patterns. Such makes it possible for virtually all consumers to locate a proper set of spacers that fits their specific application. All in all, spacers can be used for a number of reasons such as aesthetic purposes and suspension clearance, but the issue about safety remains. 

Are They Safe To Use? 

The short answer is, yes. As long as your wheel spacers are of high quality and properly installed, you should be fine. And, as aforementioned, spacers are a simple and effective way to get the fitment you want. They only become problematic when improperly fitted or used in an inappropriate manner. So, while some may argue that wheel spacers should never be used and are dangerous, others understand that they can be very useful and safe if done right. If the wheel, hub, and spacer are correct for the application and the bolts/lugs are torqued to the right amounts, you should not encounter any problems with running spacers. 

It is also important to do your research and make sure you get the right ones for your applications. That’s because, sometimes, wheel spacers can actually cause your tires to rub on the outer edge and that can become quite an issue. They can also wear out your car’s suspension parts more quickly. But, while that can be detrimental in the long run, it doesn’t make them inherently unsafe. Whether you are looking into spacers for aesthetic or performance purposes, there is no reason why you should not reap the many benefits associated with them for both daily driving and racing. 

Pros of Using Wheel Spacers

1. Improved Vehicle Performance: Investing in wheel spacers is an easy way to improve the performance of your vehicle when behind the driver’s seat. By pushing the wheel further away from the chassis, you are simultaneously creating a wider track and lower center of gravity for increased performance benefit. With this, you will enjoy more grip when cornering and a faster acceleration response when coming out of turns. 
2. Better Traction and Grip: The wider a vehicle’s wheelbase, the greater its grip and traction will be. Wheel spacers present the opportunity to increase an otherwise stock wheelbase in order to enjoy an enhanced performance. This is the primary reason why wheel spacers are often used for racing applications. It can really make a world of a difference and help out on the track. 
3. Proper Wheel Fitment:  The most common use for wheel spacers in the first place is to ensure that a particular set of wheels will fit a vehicle properly. After all, each year that passes shows an increasing number of drivers shifting their attention to custom wheel and tire packages. You will need wheel spacers if the wheels you have chosen have the incorrect offset for your car. And, just as there is potential for harm with wheel spacers, a wrong offset can interfere with your bodywork and suspension parts thereby creating unwanted driving issues.
4. Increased Aesthetic Value: Many owners choose to use wheel spacers to increase the aesthetic value of their cars. In many applications, a wider-than-stock wheelbase can be more visually pleasing and transform the overall look. Having wheels that come out to the edge of the bodywork will not only look the part but perform it as well, as it can offer a better driving stance too. While at a standstill, wheel spacers help to create a more aggressive appearance that shows your car means business and can consistently handle corners.
5. Multiple Options Available: The bolt-on wheel spacer is your best choice if you need to add a significant amount of clearance for your specific wheel-and-tire package. This specific type of spacer will connect to your existing hub and then you can bolt the wheel onto it. The washer type of wheel spacer is very affordable because it doesn’t require any additional mounting hardware to offer these benefits. This is ideal if you only need a few extra millimeters of clearance and it is super easy to install. 
6. Can Fit a Bigger Brake Kit: If you decide that you want a larger brake kit for your car, wheel spacers can give you enough room to potentially make that happen. Most of the big brake kits require wheels that are 17 inches or larger, which means fitment can be tricky using the standard setup. This may not apply in all applications, but it can be worth looking into for specific situations. 

Cons of Using Wheel Spacers

1. Wheel Vibration: Auto manufacturers specifically engineer each of their vehicle models in a way that provides superior ride quality and driveability. This is accomplished by establishing optimal front-end suspension geometry. So, whenever any of these related angels become modified (i.e. using spacers), excess wheel vibration can occur as a result. 
2. Accelerated Wear: Wheel spacers can sometimes cause accelerated wear on the hub components of your vehicle and its suspension. This happens because you are creating a wider track than what the frame was initially designed for. This can place stressors that go beyond the tested tolerances recommended by the OE manufacturer.
3. Fender Interference: While wheel spacers can oftentimes fix suspension and frame interference problems, they can also create these same issues in the process. When wheel offset is increased and a vehicle’s wheelbase is widened, factory wheel-to-fender clearances are reduced. Such can lead to tire rubbing or fender damage as a result.
4. Heavier Steering: Depending on the size of the wheel spacers you use, the steering can sometimes feel heavier while driving compared to before they were equipped. This is because creating a wider track for your vehicle to follow means that more effort is needed to navigate curves and turns. 
5. Must Install on All Wheels: If you were to install wheel spacers at the back of your vehicle while excluding the front, then you would only receive the advantage of more grip in the rear. That means your car would want to understeer as you approached a corner, with the front trending towards the outside, which could adversely affect the overall balance of the vehicle. Having them in the front would create a similar result, causing the back to get loose and potentially fishtail as you attempt to accelerate through coming out of the turn.
6. Safety Issues: Billet aluminum spacers are known for being more structurally consistent and stronger. Investing in billet aluminum spacers over cast aluminum is important because the latter has been reported to fit somewhat loosely around the hub and lead to an incomplete tightening of the lug. During driving, the lug nut may come off resulting in losing them and possibly experiencing a more serious safety issue. Or worse, the wheel can even come flying off when you least expect it due to improper installation.

Conclusion

While wheel spacers can offer several performance advantages, not everyone wants them — and that is okay. Not everyone in the car world needs to agree or do things the same way. If that was the case, we would not enjoy the plethora of unique builds we see these days. For those that do want wheel spacers, not only will you enjoy enhanced traction and handling, but you will also get a more distinctive look that can transform your car’s overall attitude. It’s important to remember, though, that you might need to roll your fenders or lift your vehicle to gain enough clearance. And, as subtle as wheel spacers can be, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. 

Are you thinking about getting spacers for your ride? Let us know your thoughts on this controversial mod in the comments below! If you have any questions, feel free to contact the Vivid Racing team for help. You can reach us by phone at 1-480-966-3040 or via email at sales@vividracing.com.