Buying Guide: Wheel Spacers
The wheel spacers are the car accessory that you never knew you needed. They work on not only the outlook of the vehicle but set the tires in the wheel well as they were designed to. Scroll down to learn the ABCs of wheel spacers through this buyer’s guide.
Are Wheel Spacers Essential?
Not many people know the relishing impact of car spacers on the driving experience unless they try it. Here are a few positive impacts a wider car track has on the performance of your car.
Easier handling
Wheel spacers greatly impact a car’s performance at turns and corners by dividing the carload evenly. The increased space between the tires consequently increases the radius and lessens the bumps and tension while swiveling.
Enhanced outlook
Amongst the first few things that wheel spacer installation brings about is the changed exterior of the car. Who said only sports cars like Zenvo ST and Shelby GT3 could own the aggressive car look? Any vehicle can be made to look effortlessly bold and lofty just by moving the wheel outward from the arches.
Favors installation of large tires
Installation of custom-made tires isn’t an easy job on a standard design wheel space. There will always be friction between a custom-size tire and the car’s frame & axle. Hence, wheel spacers are the ultimate solution for installing larger tires in Jeeps, SUVs, UPVs, or whichever vehicle you own.
What’s a Must-Have in Wheel Spacers?
A wheel spacer adds to your car in terms of safety just as much as it contributes to smoothening the driving at corners and on bumpy roads. Following are the “must-haves” every wheel-spacer-seeking individual should have in mind.
Easy installation
Installing wheel spacers is an easy, five-minute job. But it requires utmost precision and care. There are two types of wheel spacer varieties: one that requires professional installation and one that can be put together at home. Going the DIY route will save you a grand.
Since pretty much anyone with a car jack and torque wrench can work out wheel spacers, it is better to go for one that is made for easy assembly. Plus, opting for a wheel spacer that comes with essential hardware makes the installation much easier.
Durability of the structure
Wheel spacers go hand in hand with the wheels of your car. If any wheel spacer goes down or loosens up, it will compromise the tire and human life at once. Hence, to keep safe from road accidents and travel miles without having to re-do the torque, invest in wheel spacers that have good durability points. Keep in mind durability checks include resistance to corrosion, heat, transmitted vibration, and snugness of the lugs.
Warranty
Despite good durability and practical-use rating, you can not be sure of how long your wheel spacer will last. There are differences in use such as terrain type, mileage, and driving style that impact a wheel spacer’s lifetime from one user to another. Thus it is wise to buy spacers from an authentic seller offering at least a 2-3 year warranty.
Types of Wheel Spacers
The two types of wheel spacers explained below are classified based on their mounting, hub, and lug fitment. Since both types are safe to use, your choice should be based on the specific pros of either.
Bolt-type
A bolt-type spacer fits snugly right at the hub of the tire. And due to the snug fitment, the bolt spacers are all car specific. With this spacer type, the user shouldn’t worry about the lug size as long as they are compatible with the hub.
Slip-type
The slip-on spacers are the type that literally slips into the lug whole of the tire and afterward require tightening with extended studs or simple lugs. With a spacer like this, you don’t have to worry about the hub size, as these aren’t vehicle specific.
Hub Centric Versus Lug Centric
Don’t just go out in the market looking for the best wheel spacers in demand. For one, look for the most durable wheel spacers; and for another, look for the centric type that meets your needs better. Following are the basic descriptions of two kinds of wheel spacers based on mounting and weight-bearing: bolt-on and slip-on variety.
Hub-centric wheel spacers
The hub-centric wheel spacers fit perfectly around the hub of the car, leaving no space around it. Hub-centric spacers work best for speeding and bumpy terrain rides. This spacer type keeps the weight directed at the hub end.
Lug-centric wheel spacers
The lug-centric wheel spacers fit in at the lug/bolt holes but are wide and roomy around the hub. Such spacers bear weight and align the wheels via the lug and lug holes. The lug-centric wheel spacers are better used in slow-speed, plain terrain, and, at times, railed vehicles.
Wheel Spacers Impact on Steering and Suspension
As manifested to all, wheel spacers provide vehicles with a wider track. It is consequential that steering on a wider gap requires greater arm strength. More so, the steering wheel will stiffen up automatically, and it won’t be easy to turn on a spur. With wheel spacers, brakes work properly but do not do much for smaller bumps as far as suspensions are concerned.
