Wheel Spacers – what they are and how to use them

Wheel spacers or rim spacers, are a set of parts that are installed in a car to adjust several configurations, mostly regarding the wheelbase of the vehicle. In general they are used to adjust ride clearance, handling, as well as the position of the wheels. Depending on how you install them, wheel spacers will affect the appearance and performance of a car. Notable applications for them range from using offroad rim spacers for motorsports to adjusting the space of the wheels to be able to install other components such as brake pads.

Manufacturers use different types of materials when making wheel spacers. Traditionally the metals most commonly used for creating them are aluminum or steel.

Wheel Spacers Reviews

Here we review some of the best wheel and rim spacers by our choice.

Titan Wheel Accessories t200-545-545-1220-2 (2) 2″ inch (50mm) 5×4.5 to 5 x 4.5 Wheel Spacers Adapters 1/2″ x 20 Studs

These wheel spacers are manufactured by Titan Wheel Accessories. Made from high quality billeted aluminum, they weigh a total of just 7.1 pounds. Each spacer measures 7 x 6.5 x 5.6 inches.

They are fairly simple to install only needing a socket or a lug wrench to tighten the rim spacers. This item comes complete with wheel studs and open-ended lugs needed for a convenient, out-of-the-box installation. This set of wheel spacers are just one pair, and you will need to order another set for all four wheels.

For this particular set of rim spacers, they are designed to push your wheels out up to two inches from their original settings. They also give your car a more aggressive stance as well as resolve existing clearance issues. In general this set will fit into most sedans. However if the standard wheel studs of your vehicle do not fit the adapter, you might need to have the studs grounded for a better fit.

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2″ 5×5.5 to 5×5.5 Wheel Spacers 1/2″ studs Dodge Ram 1500 Ford F-100 Bronco Jeep CJ (5×139.7)

These wheel spacers are manufactured by Precision European Motorwerks. The entire set comes with four rim spacers made from high quality aerospace aluminum. Before purchasing make sure that the bolt pattern, hub bore, and studs are compatible to your vehicle. The four wheel spacers come in at a lightweight 18.8 pounds and measures 15.5 x 9 x 6.2 inches each. The diameter of the bolt pattern is 139.7 mm.

This product is designed to be compatible with a wide array of vehicles. In particular they are built for the following Dodge models: 1976-1993 Ramcharger series, the 1994-2001 Ram 1500 series, as well as the 1996-2001 Ram 1500 Van

They can also be used for the following Ford trucks: the 1963-1974 F-100 Pickup series, the 1977-1983 F-100 series, the 1980-1996 F-150, the1980-1983 E-100 Econoline series, the 2003-2006 E-150 series, the 1992-2002 E-150 Econoline series, as well as the 1980-1996 Bronco series.

For JEEP, the list includes: the 1963-1966 CJ3 series, the1964-1983 CJ5 series, the 1964-1975 CJ6 series, the 1976-1986 CJ7 series, the 1981-1985 Scrambler series.

Finally we have a list of Suzuki models: the 1989-1997 Sidekick series, the 1999-2004 Vitara series, and lastly the 2002-2006 XL-7.

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4pc | 2.0″ | 6×5.5 (6×139.7) Wheel Spacers | 14×1.5 studs – for Cadillac Chevy GMC Trucks SUV Van

These wheel spacers are also manufactured by Precision European Motorwerks. The entire set comes with four rim spacers made from high quality aerospace aluminum. The four wheel spacers come in at a total of 18.8 pounds. They are an ideal solution for fixing troubles with vehicle clearance, shock absorbers, and brakes. They are designed to give your vehicle a more aggressive appearance by pushing the wheels away from the hub. The bolt pattern diameter is 139.7 mm.

They are designed to fit into several popular models trucks and SUV’s. Most notably they are compatible with the Cadillac Escalade. They can also be fitted to most Chevrolet and GMC vehicles. They are very easy to install, needing only standard mechanical tools.

Make sure that your wheels comply with product specifications before installing. When in doubt have a trained professional install the product for you to avoid further problems and complications.

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 2″ 6×5.5 (6×139.7) Wheel Spacers 14×1.5 studs for Escalade Sierra Yukon Suburban Silverado

 These are another set of wheel spacers made by Precision European Motorwerks. The material is a CNC Machined high quality aerospace aluminum and weighs just 18.9 pounds. The product dimensions are 15.9 x  9.5 x 6.9 inches. When you order this product you will receive a total of four wheel spacers.

They are designed to change the appearance of your truck by moving the wheels for a more aggressive stance. These will also improve the handling of your vehicle as well as resolving clearance issues regarding the wheels.

They are compatible with the Cadillac Escalade and several models of Chevrolet and GMC trucks. Although this product comes complete with studs and lug nuts, you might need to purchase different sized ones if your vehicle’s wheels have different specifications. This is a minor issue however, as these parts are widely available. This set of rim spacers is easy to install. Have a trained professional install them for you if you are unsure of your ability to do so.

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4pc 1.5″ Hubcentric Wheel Spacers 5×5 to 5×5 | for Jeep Grand Cherokee Commander Wrangler XK JK WK

These wheel spacers are manufactured by Precision European Motorwerks. The entire set comes with four rim spacers made from high quality aerospace aluminum. The four wheel spacers weigh a total of 17.4 pounds and measures 15.8 x 9.2 x 5.6 inches each. The diameter of the bolt pattern is 127 mm.

They are designed to be compatible to the following JEEP models: the 2006-2010 Commander, the 2007-2014 Wrangler, the 1999-2010 Grand Cherokee. This particular design has a hubcentric and wheel-centric lip, which will allow them to fit perfectly on the hub. It is also known to eliminate vibrations as well as fixing clearance issues regarding the wheels in relation to contact with your other components near the wheelbase.

Before buying though, you must check to see if the specifications of your vehicle match the product description to avoid further inconvenience. Consumers have praised this product for exceptional build quality at the fraction of the price as other leading wheel spacer brands.

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1.5″ 6×5.5 to 6×5.5 (6×139.7 to 6×139.37) Wheel Spacers 12×1.5 studs for Dodge Hummer Toyota

These spacers are another quality product coming from Precision European Motorwerks. The entire set comes with four brand new rim spacers made from high quality aerospace aluminum. The four wheel spacers weigh a total of less than 18 pounds with a bolt pattern diameter of 139.7 mm.

They are designed to be compatible to Toyota, Mitsubishi, Lexus, Kia, Isuzu, Hyundai, Hummer, GMC, Chevrolet, and Dodge trucks and SUV’s . This particular design allows the wheel spacers to fit perfectly on the hub of your vehicle. As with other products, these are proven to eliminate vibrations. They will also fix clearance issues to your vehicle, as well as giving it a more aggressive stance. They will also improve the quality of ride and handling.

Installation is fast and easy. You will need to have standard mechanical tools to tighten the lugs and bolts. Consult a trained professional if you have further issues regarding installment procedures.

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4pc 1.5″ Thick | 5×4.5 to 5×4.5 Hubcentric Wheel Spacers | for Jeep Grand Cherokee Wrangler & More

 These wheel spacers are manufactured by Precision European Motorwerks and are made from high quality billeted aluminum. They weigh a total of just 14 pounds for a complete set of four wheel spacers. The bolt pattern pitch circle diameter is 114.3 mm.

They are fairly simple to install only needing a socket or a lug wrench to tighten the rim spacers. This item comes complete with wheel studs and open-ended lugs needed for a convenient, out-of-the-box installation. They are designed to be compatible to the following JEEP models: the 1980-2001 Cherokee series, the1993-1998 Grand Cherokee series, the 1987-2006 Wrangler series, 2002-2012 Liberty series, and the 1986-1992 Comanche series.

For this particular set of rim spacers, they are designed to push your wheels out up to two inches from their original settings. This particular design has a hubcentric and wheel-centric lip known to eliminate vibrations. They give your JEEP an aggressive stance as well as resolves existing clearance issues. If the standard wheel studs of your vehicle do not fit the adapter, you might need to have the studs grounded for a better fit.

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1.5″ 8×6.5 to 8×6.5 Rim Spacers for Chevy Silverado GMC Sierra Yukon Hummer H1 H2 8×165.1 14×1.5

This set come with just one pair, so you will need to order another for a complete set on all four wheels. Manufactured by Precision European Motorwerks, the material used is a CNC machined high quality aerospace aluminum.

The wheel spacers are compatible with the Cadillac Escalade and several models of Chevrolet and GMC trucks as well as the Hummer

This product comes with a complete set of studs and lug nuts. But make sure to verify if the product description matches your vehicle before purchasing. This set of rim spacers is known for a high-end build quality. However, these will cost you a significantly lower price when compared to other leading wheel spacer brands.

In some cases your vehicle will have a different thread pitch to those that come supplied with this set. You will have to have a trained professional to shave down you’re the lugs and studs.

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Steel Wheel Spacers

Steel rim spacers are generally used for heavy-duty vehicles since steel is a tough and resilient material. Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV) and trucks usually fall under this category. Steel wheel spacers are heavier and thicker, which makes them appropriate for rugged purposes. They are usually installed in tandem with steel rims.

Offroad wheel spacers make use of high quality steel to protect it from getting warped out of shape through the rigors of regular use. When buying steel rim spacers make sure that they are rustproof to prevent damage associated with corrosion. Installing steel wheel spacers to your truck increases track width, giving it the potential of supporting heavier loads. This is a cost-effective method for prolonging the longevity of your vehicle.

Trucks often use steel offroad wheel spacers to displace the stress experienced when driving through rugged terrain. Bolting steel rim spacers to the axle of your truck also changes the pattern of the wheel bolts. By changing these patterns you can customize the axle width of the truck to fit in components that are too big.

When installed properly, steel wheel spacers increase the safety and manageability of your vehicle. Keep in mind that poorly installed rim spacers in contrast, will give you more problems.

Aluminum Wheel Spacers

 Aluminum wheel spacers are lightweight and are naturally less prone to rust. These types of rim spacers are widely used for motorsport. The components used in racing cars must be light to minimize the weight, yet must be tough enough to handle punishment during competition.

High-quality aluminum wheel spacers and rim spacers are more expensive, but they can be as tough and resilient as the most rugged steel wheel spacers. Aluminum ones add to the appeal of a car. Not only do they make the care look sportier, they also lend to sporty handling and maneuverability as well. High-end aluminum wheel spacers also reduce complications associated with widening the track.