Wheel Spacers allow you to create extra clearance between the wheel and the hub assembly. This will allow you to install custom wheels or suspension kits and provide better handling performance in some cases.

The best wheel spacers are the Supreme Suspensions Kit, which is an aerospace-grade billet construction that provides a 1.5 or 2 inch spacing of your wheels.

When you install wheel spacers, it is important that you also install longer lug nuts and wheel locks. Standard OEM lug nuts will reduce the thread engagement, which will mean that driving could potentially be dangerous.

Best Wheel Spacer Kit

Installing wheel spacers is a divided topic with many completely against the idea. However, when using premium hub centric spacers, they can provide a range of benefits that include improved handling, appearance and improving incorrect offsets.

Failing to install correct wheel spacers can result in extra stress to the wheel bearings, change the airflow to the brakes and increase the chances of rubbing on fenders. However, if you are looking for wheel spacers, these drawbacks are irrelevant if you install correct spacers because its the extra clearance that you require.

Below is a list of the best wheel spacers that allow you to push your wheels outwards for additional clearance.

Supreme Suspensions Wheel Spacers

Supreme Suspensions provide a set of 4 wheel spacers that are suitable for the Dodge Ram and other manufacturers. They easily bolt on to the hub and take just a few hours to install with basic tools.

Features of the Supreme Suspensions wheel spacers include:

• Available in black or silver
• Aerospace-grade billet construction
• Precision machined splined studs
• Choice of 1.5 or 2 inch wheel spacers
• Suitable for both 2WD and 4WD
• 5 x 5.5 inch bolt pattern
• ASE certified

The Supreme Suspensions produce a wide range of wheel spacers that have all been developed and tested by ASE specialists. For those with a Dodge Ram and require their wheels spacing, these wheel spacers are the best option.

YITAMOTOR Forged Hub Centric Wheel Spacers

Yitamotor have been producing wheel spacers for many years now and these are their latest generation. They are fully forged and have passed the international SGS standards and even come with a 5 year warranty by the manufacturer. In terms of their compatibility, they are suitable for a range of Jeep and Dodge models.

Features of the Yitamotor Forged Wheel Spacers include:

• Constructed of a 6061-T6 forged disc
• Packaged as a set of 4
• Available as 1.5 or 2 inch spacers
• Anodized surface that prevents corrosion
• 5×5 bolt pattern
• Meet SGS high standards
• Includes a 5 year warranty

The Yitamotor wheel spacers are designed to provide maximum durability and offers excellent value for money. The brand even claim that you can install these in less than 2 hours, which is great for those worrying about a difficult installation.

Spidertrax Wheel Spacer Kit

Spidertrax are another popular brand within the wheel spacers industry and these are suitable for a range of Jeep models. They are produced from a 6061-T6 aluminum and are 1.5 inch thick for mild spacing of the wheels.

Features of the Spidertrax Wheel Spacers include:

• Package include a pair of spacers
• Includes 10 lug nuts and a thread locker
• Anodized in dark blue using a double anodizing process
• Each spacer is wheel and hub centric
• Made in the USA

Considering that you only get two wheel spacers within the Spidertrax kit, it is fairly expensive. However, the 6061-T6 aluminum is highly durable and they have been anodized twice for enhanced corrosion resistance.

Rugged Ridge Anodized Wheel Spacer

Rugged Ridge wheel spacers are a universal fit for vehicles that run a 5 x 5 bolt pattern and require spacing of their wheels. The brand is known for their off road components and these wheel spacers follow their reputation for superior build quality.

Features of the Rugged Ridge 15201.05 Wheel Spacers include:

• 6061 T6 aluminum construction
• Provides 1.5 inch spacing
• Universal fitting for 5 x 5 inch bolt patterns
• Hub centric design for OEM fitment
• Available in a black or red design
• Grade 8 extra strength hardware
• Packaged includes a pair of spacers
• Includes a 5 year warranty

Overall, the Rugged Ridge 15201.05 are great all-round wheel spacers that provide excellent longevity and corrosion resistance. Included with these wheel spacers are 10 pre-installed wheel studs, 10 lug nuts and a thread locker.

Goplus Wheel Spacer Adapters

For those looking for cheap wheel spacers, the Goplus provide the perfect solution. They are suitable for a range of car manufacturers that include Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC.

Features of the Goplus Wheel Spacers include:

• 2 inches thick
• 6 x 5.5 inch bolt pattern
• Package includes 4 spacers
• High quality aviation aluminum alloy
• Anodized for resistance to corrosion

In terms of value for money, the Goplus provides everything you require to provide spacing to your wheels. However, the quality of the aluminum does suffer when compared to the alternatives but this may not be a big issue for some people.

Wheel Spacers Buying Guide

Investing into quality wheel spacers to improve the vehicles stance, performance of simply correct the offset of your wheels is a popular modification. However, if done incorrectly, it can cause stress on components such as the bearings and steering.

Most wheel spacers are made of a high quality aluminum and have stud sized holes that are used to mount to your wheel. We strongly recommend choosing a hub centric wheel spacer as they ensure the weight of the car is on the hub and not dangerously on the studs.

To help you make an informed buying decision, we have produced the below buying guide regarding wheel spacers.

Hub Centric vs Lug Centric

When it comes to wheel spacers, the two main types include a hub centric and lug centric. The more desirable of the two types is the hub centric because the weight of the wheel is supported by the hub rather than the lugs. There are no gaps between the hub and the center wheel lug, which makes it far safer.

The lug centric alternative is supported by the lug nut itself and not the wheel hub. This means the weight of the wheel is resting upon the lugs, which is not that safe when compared to the hub centric alternative. Therefore, we strongly recommend paying the extra for hub centric wheel spacers.

Compatibility

When it comes to choosing the type of wheel spacers that are suitable for your vehicle, you should check the bolt pattern and hub diameter. After the installation, you will also require new lug nuts to ensure maximum thread engagement with the hub and wheel. Most complete kits come with new lug nuts to use but if they don’t, we strongly recommend purchasing them yourself before fitting the spacers.

Before you purchase wheel spacers, it is also important to check the size that you require. Too thick of a spacer could result in a negative offset of your wheels and you may begin rubbing on your fenders. For most trucks or SUVs, this will not be a problem as the suspension is not as low.

Appearance

The majority of people will install wheel spacers for better stance, which is far more aggressive. Some people may also only install them to the rear of the vehicle for the staggered or drag strip car appearance, which can look great.

Wheel spacers for trucks are very popular with many owners opting to have the wheels pushed out further than the fenders. Below is an example of an aggressive stance that is made possible by using thick wheel spacers.

Are They Safe?

When using quality wheel spacers that is hub centric and is suited to the usage of the vehicle, then they will be safe. However, those that install cheap spacers or install them incorrectly can run into trouble. There are many cases of the lug nuts bending through the improper use of wheel spacers.

Drawback of Wheel Spacers

The main reason for installing spacers is for a more aggressive stance, increase wheel clearance and to improve handling performance. However, not all vehicles on the road are designed to be used with spacers and this can cause issues.

One of the most common problems that may occur is a reduced lifespan of the wheel bearings. This is due to the fact that the contact between the wheels and ball bearing is reduced, which can cause additional stress and early failure.

Due to the spacing of the wheels, they will be that much closer to the fender, which may result in tires rubbing against the fender. This can cause damage to the fender overtime and even make basic driving tasks such as full lock turning impossible. However, you can use a fender roller to increase the distance between the wheel and fender.

How To Install Wheel Spacers

Installing wheel spacers is fairly straight forward and you can have them installed in just a few hours. Below are brief steps to the installation:

1. Thoroughly cleaning mounting hardware and hub.
2. Attach wheel spacer to the hub.
3. Align the spacer with the bolt holes.
4. Lift wheel onto the hub and position correctly.
5. Use a torque wrench to tighten lug nuts.
6. Check for any clearance or fender issues.

Once driving out on the road, be sure to check for any irregular handling issues or concerning noises. We highly advise avoiding high speeds until you are happy that they are installed correctly.

Conclusion

Adding wheel spacers for an improvement in stance, handling and clearance is a popular modification and can make a world of difference. However, issues can arise when people put incorrect spacer on their hub or use lug centric instead of hub centric. All of our recommendations cover a range of manufacturers and we highly recommend choosing a spacer that is suited to your specific vehicle.

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