Howdy. I'm new to the SD world and have been doing a little reading in the forum here. I'm considering wheel spacers to push the tires out some. I just like a little wider more aggressive stance. Stock wheels and tires, 20" wheels with 275/65R20 Toyo or Nittos (Crap I drew a blank). Anyway I read on some older forum posts that they are bad on the suspension and joints and basically sounds like they screw up the geometry. Is that legit or here say? Any ideas... And go!! Thanks in advance.
Thinking about wheel spacers
- Thread starter TankRN
- Start date
You said it ALL.. right there.
Everything negative about wheel spacers IS legit.
If you find a source for them.. just read the Dis-Claimer on the packaging.
Joe
Thanks for the confirmation, Joe. Will I experience the same problems if I move to a little wider wheel with a different offset, or does the fact that it mounts in the stock position on the hub negate that wider stance?
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A good tire & wheel store, or some research will tell you how big you can go with both. Steering/Turning clearances come into play purdy quik.
Many SDD members have done bigger Tire & Wheel stuff... maybe someone will chime in ?
My .03 would be though: Stay Away From Spacers.
Joe
Many SDD members have done bigger Tire & Wheel stuff... maybe someone will chime in ?
My .03 would be though: Stay Away From Spacers.
Joe
01yellerCobra
Full Access Member
Is that just for the bigger tires? I've used spacers in the past and didn't have any issues. But that was on cars and not trucks. They don't change the geometry of anything. All they do is move the rim outboard a bit.The spindle angle isn't changed at all.
What I will say is if they used the cheap spacers that were lug centric that can cause issues. I had a set of lug centric wheels and getting them centered was a pain. Especially since they were 24" rims on my Expedition. Whenever someone asks about spacers I always say to get hub centric. They'll line up just like the rims on the hub. And depending on how wide you're going to go you might need a set with their own studs. Meaning the spacer bolts to the hub then the rim bolts to the spacer.
Not trying to take anything away from Joe, just giving my experience and perspective.
What I will say is if they used the cheap spacers that were lug centric that can cause issues. I had a set of lug centric wheels and getting them centered was a pain. Especially since they were 24" rims on my Expedition. Whenever someone asks about spacers I always say to get hub centric. They'll line up just like the rims on the hub. And depending on how wide you're going to go you might need a set with their own studs. Meaning the spacer bolts to the hub then the rim bolts to the spacer.
Not trying to take anything away from Joe, just giving my experience and perspective.
Thanks Cobra. I'm just looking for a little wider stance on the truck. I'd like for the sidewalk of the tires to even up with the fender flares. I think I may just go with a little wider tire. I'm also looking at a little wider wheel that will allow me to go to a 35x12.50. That will give the tires only about a half inch height gain but about an inch and a half to 2 inch width increase.
79jasper
Full Access Member
I think the think with trucks is 1. It's way more weight than a car. (Especially if you're towing) 2. People say it puts more stress on the wheel bearings.
Right or wrong, that's just the concensus I see.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk
Right or wrong, that's just the concensus I see.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk
01yellerCobra
Full Access Member
I think it's a wash about the stress on the wheel bearings. A larger/heavier wheel is going to stress the bearings as well. And usually when we go bigger we go wider which moves the tire out relative to the spindle.
I'm not trying to seem like a jerk or anything. Just giving a different perspective. I doubt I'd ever run spacers on my truck.
I'm not trying to seem like a jerk or anything. Just giving a different perspective. I doubt I'd ever run spacers on my truck.
No worries. I'm asking for opinions. The way I worked it out in my mind:
1. With a wider wheel the point of contact to the hub is essentially the same, therefore, the stress point and angle are the same.
2. With a wheel spacer the point of stress and angle produced is further outboard. I'm no expert with geometry, but it seems like a wheel doesn't change anything where as moving out an inch on the spindle changes everything. I'm just not sure. I don't want this truck to get messed up because I got a little too crazy tweaking the looks. This thing will be expensive to do any repairs.
1. With a wider wheel the point of contact to the hub is essentially the same, therefore, the stress point and angle are the same.
2. With a wheel spacer the point of stress and angle produced is further outboard. I'm no expert with geometry, but it seems like a wheel doesn't change anything where as moving out an inch on the spindle changes everything. I'm just not sure. I don't want this truck to get messed up because I got a little too crazy tweaking the looks. This thing will be expensive to do any repairs.
