Wheel spacers are GTG now?

So are spacers ok now? I was always under the impression that spacers are kind of a no-go, and cause alignment issues.

I like the TRD wheels, but I’d like the 275/70r18 tires I’m about to buy to sit flush with the fender. Spacers seem like the easiest option but I don’t want to do it if it’ll cause problems!

Any real downsides to newer spacers on the market?



ps - apologies if this has been covered before. I searched and couldn’t find anything.

 

Spacers are fine. I personally haven't heard of or seen any that have caused alignment problems but anything is possible. The biggest things with spacers are to go with a reputable brand like Bora or Spidertrax that are hub centric. You want the weight resting on the hub flange and not on the wheel studs. Many of the cheaper brands are not hub centric. And torque. They need to be torqued at install, again at around 100 miles, I suggest doing it again at 500 miles and then at every tire rotation, so every 5k. There are lots of guys here running spacers with no issues. Stick with a quality brand, make sure your hubs are clean when you put them on, keep them properly torqued and you should be good.

 

I run spidertrax on my 2010. Ran all pro offroad on my 05. Zero issues

 

I have Spidertrax on my truck. They are such a quality, nice looking piece that I hate to cover them up. Zero issues as well.

 

Ran spidertrax on my wife’s old T4R for eight years and on her new T4R for a year so far - no issues. Putting some on my Tundra this weekend.

 

It really depends on how long you plan on keeping the vehicle. Give them some time. 10-20k miles is probably not bad. 50k+ and more than likely you will have alignment issues related to how rough the terrain you drive on.

 

Spacers are no different from having deep wheels, just one extra part. If it's a quality hub centric spacer you're fine.

 

I don't see how spacers would effect alignment. It's not going to change toe, camber, or caster. Regular road conditions like hitting speed bumps too fast or potholes will effect alignment before spacers would.

What I would think it "might" effect would be wheel bearings over time due to the change in geometry of the hub and the weight of the vehicle, but even that's a stretch in my opinion. I would not have any reservations with running spacers.

 

I ran spacers for a decade on two different vehicles. One was an 08 G35 with nitrous that I absolutely drove the fuck out of. Had spacers from and rear. They weren’t bolt on. But still never had any issues whatsoever. Second was an 11’ Sierra 6.2. Had 2” spacers front and rear. Once again, not a single issue. If you buy quality parts and install them correctly you will not have issues.

 

The spacer isn’t precision fit to the hub. Technically the spacer is lug centric to the hub.
Hub centric means it has the lip so the wheel is centered on the spacer aka what is the new hub.

 

anybody got pictures of a tundra with spydertrax?

 

Actually Bora and Spidertrax are hub centric are machined to fit the trucks hub flange and provide a hub flange for the wheel. Lug centric is exactly what you don't want. All that weight on the wheel studs can cause them to shear.

 

Before:


After:


Same spacers moved to a different truck:


Both with stock wheels and stock tire sizes.

 

Are those 1.25”?

 

Correct.

 

These are 1.25 are my 02. Had them on for 2,000 miles and no problems so far.

 

Running spidertrax 1.25” for about a year and a half now, no issues.

 

Correct, I was wrong in my first post.

Lug centric is fine. LOL. Adding a spacer doesn't make wheel studs shear. Not installing spacers properly makes studs shear.