Are Wheel Spacers Safe? Types, Impacts and Affects

Are wheel spacers safe in my car? It’s a very common but concerning question. And the answer is, yes, it could be safe if the wheel spacers are of high quality, hub-centric, and correctly installed.

Wheel spacers widen the track of a vehicle by pushing the wheels outward, improving looks and handling.

Their safety is mostly questioned because these wheel spacers change something with the suspension components and cause vibration.

With the right type and thickness, correct fitment, and professional installation, wheel spacers are mostly safe for daily driving, even boosting up stability and cornering.

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How Do Wheel Spacers Work?

Wheel spacers are essentially metal disks that fit between the wheel hub and the wheel itself.

Their primary function is to move the wheels further away from the hub, effectively widening the vehicle’s track-the distance between the wheels on the same axle.

They come in various thicknesses, usually ranging from a few millimeters up to a few inches, allowing for custom adjustments based on the needs of the car owner.

What Are Wheel Spacers Used For?

Create Space Between Hub and Wheel:

The spacer rests atop of the wheel hub, while installed. The added thickness pushes the wheel outward from the vehicle body.

It changes the stance of the vehicle and can provide an aggressive look.

Modifying the wheel offset:

Offset refers to the distance between the wheel’s mounting surface and its centerline. Adding a spacer decreases the effective offset, which pushes the wheel outward.

A change in offset is also done for aesthetic reasons when centering wheels with fender arches or providing extra clearance for big brake calipers.

Increasing Track Width:

Spacers are used to widen a vehicle’s track by spacing out the wheels.

The wider the track, the greater stability, particularly in cornering, due to even weight distribution of the vehicle with minimum chances of body roll.

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Types of Wheel Spacers

Wheel spacers are nominally availed in a few types, each designed to fulfill specific adjustments in wheel positioning and fitment.

Slip-on Spacers:

The most simple type of wheel spacers, slip-on spacers are designed to go over existing studs and sit between the wheel and hub. They are put to use on minimal wheel offset adjustment and are relatively easy to install.

However, they may require longer wheel studs in order to ensure a secure fit.

Bolt-On Spacers:

These spacers are more robust, tightened, in comparison with slip-on spacers. They are bolted to the existing wheel hub and have their own set of studs to which wheels are attached.

This kind of spacer is used for larger adjustments in wheel offset and is very common in its application in performances and off-roads. This bolt-on spacer does not need longer wheel studs; hence, these are convenient for use.

Hub-Centric Spacers:

These spacers would, therefore, perfectly fit over the vehicle’s hub, and the wheel would be precisely centered. Due to such a spacer, alignment is better and vibration reduced, hence stability and handling of the vehicle improved.

Hub-centric spacers find applications in performance vehicles where correct fitting of wheels is required.

Lug-Centric Spacers:

Lug-centric spacers depend on the lug nuts for centering and not on the hub. Since lug-centric spacers aren’t as common as hub-centric ones, their production is mainly for those vehicle models for which hub-centric variants are not available.

Being mounted with great caution is essential to keep it properly centered; otherwise, there will be vibrations.

Spacer Type	Thickness Range	Mounting Style	Centering Type	Best For
Slip-On	2–10 mm	Direct Hub	Hub- or Lug-Centric	Minor adjustments to wheel stance
Bolt-On	10–50+ mm	Bolt-On Hub	Hub-Centric	Aggressive stance, brake clearance
Hub-Centric	Any	Any	Hub-Centric	Reducing vibrations, high-speed use
Lug-Centric	Any	Any	Lug-Centric	Lower-speed or specialized applications
Adapters	Varies	Bolt-On Hub	Hub-Centric	Changing bolt pattern for custom wheels

Additional Considerations:

Material: The most general material used in the making of quality spacers includes aluminum or steel, due to the fact that they are strong and durable. Aluminum spacers are lightweight and resistant to corrosion, while steel spacers are highly strong.

Thickness: They can be availed in various thicknesses for custom wheel fitment and stance.

Vehicle Compatibility: Be sure that the spacers ordered should be compatible with your vehicle’s make and model for proper fit and safety.

Average Prices of Wheel Spacers by Material and Brand

Material	Brand	Average Price (per pair)	Notable Features
Aluminum Alloy	Eibach	$80–$120	Lightweight, corrosion-resistant, hub-centric design.
Steel	H&R	$100–$150	Durable, suitable for heavy-duty applications.
Billet Aluminum	Spidertrax	$120–$180	Precision-machined, anodized finish for durability.
Cast Aluminum	Generic Brands	$40–$70	Economical, may lack precision of billet spacers.

​Do Wheel Spacers Affect Alignment?

Wheel spacers themselves do not directly affect the alignment of your vehicle. But, yes, wheel spacers can affect alignment; the effect, however, depends on many factors like the size of the spacers, the type of vehicle, and the settings applied to the alignment.

By installing wheel spacers, you’re effectively pushing the wheels further away from the hub. This changes the stance of the vehicle and alters the geometry of the suspension and alignment settings.

Changes to Suspension Geometry:

By widening the track, spacers serve to change the leverage ratio on the suspension. This may change how the wheels and tires interact with the road.

It can affect the alignment angles most notably camber, toe, and caster.

Camber Adjustments:

Camber is an angular measurement of the degree to which the wheels lean inwards or outwards when viewed from the front of the vehicle. Although wheel spacers will not directly affect camber, pushing the wheels out further can affect how camber impacts tire wear and handling.

For example, adding spacers on a car that has negative camber-settling, which means the tops of the wheels are basically pointing in toward the center of the car-may accentuate it. If such a car is not realigned, it can definitely lead to uneven wear on the tires.

Toeing and Casting Impacts:

Angle-in or angle-out is what the toe-in/toe-out refers to when the wheels are viewed from above.

In this regard, because spacers push the wheels further out, changing the position of the wheels in relation to the vehicle, minor effects on the toe settings may also happen, and not being reset properly may lead to “toe-out” or “toe-in” conditions that may affect handling and uneven tire wear.

Caster-affected steering stability could also be influenced, since spacers push wheels further out and change the pivot angle.

Increased Load on Suspension Components:

The spacers can allow greater leverage on the wheel bearings and control arms of your car’s suspension.

This sort of added leverage can speed up wear on these parts that otherwise would call for periodic inspection and alignment adjustment, most especially for bigger spacers.

Alignment Check Recommendation: Professional alignment check will be icing on the cake after the wheel spacers installation. This way, small adjustments, if required due to change in positioning of the wheels, will be made to have your vehicle continue offering optimum handling.

Impact of Wheel Spacer Thickness on Vehicle Dynamics

Spacer Thickness	Effect on Handling and Stability	Potential Risks
3–5 mm	Minimal impact; slight improvement in stance.	Generally safe; ensure proper installation to avoid minor vibrations.
10–15 mm	Noticeable improvement in stability and cornering.	May require longer studs; improper installation can lead to vibrations.
20–25 mm	Significant change in stance; improved handling.	Increased stress on suspension components; potential for accelerated wear.
30 mm and above	Aggressive stance; may benefit off-road stability.	High risk of suspension wear; possible legal issues due to wheel protrusion.

Do Wheel Spacers Affect Handling?

Wheel spacers can dramatically affect a vehicle’s handling, often in ways that are both salutary and potentially challenging, depending on the size of the spacers, the vehicle’s design, and the intended use.

In that respect, yes, wheel spacers will affect handling, and these effects have their positive and negative sides depending on how they are applied and of what quality they are.

Positive Effects on Handling:

Improved Track Width:

Wheel spacers do an excellent job by increasing track width, thus pushing the wheels outward. Most of the time, this increase in width leads to stability and cornering improvements. This wider track width carries many advantages pertaining to handling, primarily less body roll.

Additional Clearance:

Wheel spacers provide better clearance for big brake calipers or suspension components. In that case, they try to eliminate all kinds of rubbing or interference and allow smooth handling.

Better Fitment:

These could help out with much better wheel fitments, ensuring the wheels can sit flush with the fenders for an improved handling response.

Potential Negative Impacts on Handling:

Extra Stress on Components:

Adding spacers will add extra stress to wheel bearings, hubs, and suspension components and might potentially cause increased wear and therefore potentially lead to handling issues over a period of time.

Unsprung Weight Increased:

Spacers increase some of the unsprung weight of the vehicle; this might lead to a slight change in suspension dynamics and might affect handling.

Vibration Issue:

Poor quality and improper installation may lead to vibrations, which might affect the overall handling and ride comfort negatively.

Optimum Handling Considerations:

Quality and Fit: Always use high-quality, hub-centric spacers to fit properly for reduced vibration and other issues with handling.

Professional Installation: Improve improper installations to avoid possible problems and ensure the best handling performance.

Regular Inspections: Periodically check the spacers and associated components for wear or other damage for optimum handling.

What Size Wheel Spacers Do I Need?

The size of the wheel spacers will be based on what you want to achieve on that car, whether a better look, enhanced handling, or making space for the larger component.

Note that the perfect size spacer depends on your vehicle specifications and wheel fitting, among other desired installation purposes.

How to Find the Right Size Wheel Spacers

Measure the Current Clearance:

Measure the distance from the inner lip of the wheel to the nearest suspension or brake component. That would give you a rough idea of how much more room you have to play with.

Intended Fitment:

Decide how far out you want your wheels to sit. Some people like them flush with the fender, and some like them sticking out a bit. For this, you will need to measure from the outer edge of the wheel to where you would like it to sit relative to the fender.

Wheel Offset:

Check the factory wheel offset, typically stamped on the back side of the wheel. The smaller the offset, the further the wheel is from being sucked into the hub. You can adjust this with spacers to get the desired stance you like.

Common Spacer Thickness:

Wheel spacers come in sizes from 3mm to 30mm and more. The most common sizes are 5mm, 10mm, 15mm, and 20mm. The thicker the spacer, the further the wheel will be pushed out from the hub.

Consider Suspension Travel:

This added width mustn’t interfere with suspension travel. The wheels should never rub on the fenders or suspension components, even when the suspension is most compressed.

Bolt Pattern and Hub Diameter:

Ensure the spacers correctly match your vehicle for bolt pattern and hub diameter to fit properly and be safe.

Purpose	Spacer Thickness	Key Benefits	Installation Needs	Suitable Applications
Aesthetic Flush	3–10 mm	Flush fit with fender	Standard bolts; no studs	Appearance-focused builds
Handling	10–15 mm	Improved stability, handling	Often needs extended studs	Daily driving, performance
Clearance	15–20+ mm	Room for larger brakes/suspension	Bolt-on spacers recommended	Off-road, custom builds

How To Measure For Wheel Spacers

Measuring for wheel spacers is necessary to ensure that you get the right fit for your vehicle. Properly sized spacers can enhance your car’s stance, improve handling, and provide necessary clearance for either brake or suspension components.

If you measure it wrong, this will cause wheel vibration, uneven wear of the tire, and possible safety hazards.

Just follow the steps below

Step 1. Measure Clearance:

Take a measurement from the inner edge of the wheel to the nearest suspension or brake component.

Step 2. Desired Fitment:

Decide how far out you want your wheels to sit, and take a measurement from the edge of the wheel to what you’d like the position of the wheel relative to the fender.

Step 3. Check Wheel Offset:

Take note of the current wheel offset. In some cases, spacers are able to be used to achieve the desired stance. These measurements will come in very useful in choosing a spacer thickness that suits your needs.

Type	Description	Typical Thickness Range	Price Range (per pair)	Key Considerations
Slip-On Spacers	Slides over existing studs; may need longer studs.	3–10 mm	$20–$50	Improve hub-centric for reduced vibrations.
Bolt-On Spacers	Bolts onto hub; wheel bolts to spacer.	15–25 mm	$50–$150	Includes studs; ideal for larger spacing.
Hub-Centric Spacers	Matches hub diameter for precise fit.	5–25 mm	$40–$100	Minimizes vibration; stable at high speeds.
Lug-Centric Spacers	Centered by lug nuts, not the hub.	5–20 mm	$20–$60	May cause vibration; less stable.

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