Wheel Spacers - A Guide to What You Need to Know

If you’ve ever seen a pickup truck or Jeep with tires protruding away from the truck’s wheel wells, it could very well be that wheel spacers have been installed. Truck wheel spacers are thick aluminum rings that range in size and are used to move the wheels away from a truck’s body, in order to clear the fenders.

Aftermarket wheels typically take this spacing into consideration and are built with appropriate offsets and backspacing. If the truck has the original wheels on, but larger tires and/or a lifted suspension, wheel spacers are used to achieve the same effect.

Basic wheel spacers for trucks are not particularly expensive and usually run between $50-130 for a set of two spacers. Wheel spacers are fairly easy to install using the same tools it takes to remove and replace wheels and tires. It is critical, however, that you use a torque wrench and tighten them to factory specs, in order for them to be used safely.

Let’s take a look at more details on different types of wheel spacers and what they do.

What Are Wheel Spacers?

Wheel spacers are basically large metal washers that fit between the hub of your truck and the wheel. Once fitted, these spacers push the wheel further away from the body.

Spacers are primarily used to allow for aftermarket upgrades such as larger tires and wheels or large brakes. Another reason to use spacers is to give the truck a wider stance. The wide stance has some benefits in terms of providing more stability and reducing body roll, but they can cause premature wear on components such as ball joints and unit bearings.

In some cases, wheel spacers/adapters are useful. For example, an older Jeep with a 5x4.5” bolt pattern can be converted to use wheels with the newer 5x5” bolt pattern. 

What Do Wheel Spacers Do?

Wheel spacers are installed between the wheel and the hub or unit bearing. Wheel spacers are available in various widths, which determine how much further outward the wheel and tire will sit. As mentioned above, they may also convert the bolt pattern to accommodate different wheels.

There are several reasons you might consider using wheel spacers, and they include:

• Running larger tires on original equipment wheels.
• Increasing the track width of the vehicle’s wheel axle for improved stability and reduced body roll.
• Moving the wheels outward to achieve a more aggressive stance
• Fitting a different set of wheels with a different bolt pattern.
• Providing clearance for upgraded larger brake calipers

For off-road trucks and Jeeps, using wheel spacers can allow for taller and wider tires that may otherwise not fit within the truck’s wheel well. This is particularly common on GM pickups, due to the squarish shape of their wheel wells. Wheel spacers are also commonly used when people buy a tire that generally fits, but rubs at full articulation. In many cases, wheel spacers can move the wheel out just enough to keep this from happening.

Wheel spacers do have a few drawbacks. Mainly, because they are pushing heavy wheels and tires further out, this can increase the amount of leverage and vibration and can cause some components to wear out sooner.

Because you are doubling the number of lug nuts on each wheel, it is essential that wheel torque be checked periodically, especially on the inside lugs, which are hidden.

By spacing your wheels outward, your turning radius will be decreased, so you may have a little bit of a tougher time pulling into tight spots or making U-turns. Shoving your wheels and tires further out, without adding extended fender flares means that you’ll likely be washing the sides of your truck more often, too!

Are Wheel Spacers Safe?

As long as spacers are properly installed and maintained, they are quite safe. It is important to check with your local and state laws to make sure that wheel spacers are legal in your area. Many states also prohibit wheels extending beyond the fender flares, so you may also need to purchase aftermarket flares.

As previously mentioned, spacers may cause suspension parts to wear out sooner, which may cause problems down the road. However, they are not inherently unsafe.

What Size Wheel Spacers Do You Need and How To Measure

Wheel spacers come in different sizes and types – usually ranging from 1-2”, though ¼” spacers are also available. The width of the spacers that you’ll need depends on the specific combination of tires and wheels and your specific truck. NEVER use more than one wheel spacer per wheel. No stacking allowed!

A quick trick to measuring what you need is to buy a box of washers that are big enough to go over your truck’s wheel studs or lug bolts. The washers will be used to simulate the size of a wheel spacer.

Essentially, you add as many washers as you need to get the fit that you want. Add up the number of washers used multiplied by the washer thickness and you’ll have the size of wheel spacers that you need. When doing this, NEVER drive the vehicle. This is only to be done in the shop or garage.

How Much Are Wheel Spacers?

The price for wheel spacers can vary widely by brand and size. For example, a set of 1.5” Rough Country wheel spacers for some Jeeps and trucks start as low as $49.95/pair, while a pair of 2” 8-lug GM spacers can cost around $129.95.

An important thing to note is that you must purchase the correct type of spacers for your vehicle. Spacers can be either “lug-centric” or “hub-centric” depending on the application. If you don’t know what you need, just ask us!

Count on H&H Truck Accessories to find a wide selection of aftermarket parts and accessories for your truck or SUV. We sell a variety of different wheel spacers and you can see exactly what we have available on our website or at your local store.

Look for the “We Install” wrench icon to get convenient installation for many of the parts available at your local store.