Are wheel spacers safe?

[the_worrier]

Want to change the look of my car as the 19” alloys look recessed in the arches. Are these things safe? Thinking of 1.5-2cm.

 

[Haze]

who knows, when you have not said what size you are getting.....

just get hubcentric ones, you will be fine

 

[kaiowas]

There is nothing inherently dangerous about spacers in principle. Where they can become an issue is where people either fit a spacer and wheel combination that changes the offset to an extent that loadings on the wheel bearings are significantly increased (leading to premature wear) or where the fitment of a spacer results in insufficient thread engagement of the studs/nuts.

 

[shauncr91]

Want to change the look of my car as the 19” alloys look recessed in the arches. Are these things safe? Thinking of 1.5-2cm.

Nothing wrong with spacers but you'll probably want to install slightly longer nuts.

 

[Simon]

Should be illegal. Ruin handling. Will wear out wheel bearings.

 

[Nasher]

With 2cm or less the offset might still be within spec. I had some on a previous car and never had any issues.

 

[Mr_Sukebe]

Don’t forget about the increase in unsprung mass.
Big no thanks from me

 

[Lakeland]

They need declared to your insurance who may say no. If you ignore it, it could void your insurance.

Not worth the hassle imo.

 

[mushtafa]

Small spacers will not ruin the bearings, will not kill your handling or make you crash. Don't even worry about the added unsprung rate, they weigh hardly anything.

Just buy hubcentric ones and use longer studs/bolts

 

[theone8181]

Small spacers will not ruin the bearings, will not kill your handling or make you crash. Don't even worry about the added unsprung rate, they weigh hardly anything.

Just buy hubcentric ones and use longer studs/bolts

They will wear bearings faster though as the centre of gravity of your wheel is further away. Not sure how much quicker though.

 

[mushtafa]

They will wear bearings faster though as the centre of gravity of your wheel is further away. Not sure how much quicker though.

Not really. I ran very low offset wheels on my E36 for 5 years without issue, than lower ET + spacers on my Octavia vrs for 6 years again without issue.

 

[watercooledman]

I have always used hubcentric ones in the past

 

[Dominic-Toretto]

Get quallity hubcentric TUV approved spacers, along with longer bolts and you will be fine.

Edit: What car is it op

 

[Dominic-Toretto]

Should be illegal. Ruin handling. Will wear out wheel bearings.

Don’t forget about the increase in unsprung mass.
Big no thanks from me

Porsche used spacers standard on 911s (997 generation).

Spacers won't "ruin" his handling, but it will degrade it. Its a compromise of handling against aesthetics. Depends what OP values

 

[the_worrier]

Where is best to source them from?

 

[NathG79]

Had H&R spacers on my mk4 golf for best part of 8years now.
No problems whatsoever, 20mm on the back 15mm on the front.

 

[Rroff]

All I can say is I've seen two YouTubers recently who put them on their vehicles end in tears - albeit they weren't the best examples in the first place :s https://youtu.be/U55LEoRXuGY?t=687

 

[Rilot]

All I can say is I've seen two YouTubers recently who put them on their vehicles end in tears - albeit they weren't the best examples in the first place :s https://youtu.be/U55LEoRXuGY?t=687

I'd say it's more likely his unbelievably bad taste with that chain-link steering wheel that caused him to crash.

 

[Rroff]

I'd say it's more likely his unbelievably bad taste with that chain-link steering wheel that caused him to crash.

Won't quite say it is a parody but he finds it amusing (and probably drives views) to lay the character on thick for videos like that.

Annoyingly can't find the other video, which was a little more serious, but likewise ended with a wheel off but again the vehicle was put through some silly stuff.

 

[Drangueos]

As long as you do it properly, using correct torque, bolts and use good quality ones I don't see a problem.