Why won't some shops deal with spacers

I would like to add some spacers to my OEM rims for a better look. 2 tire shops I visited say they won't touch them. One claimed they are only legal for off-road in California. With so many on this forum using them, they must be safe. Any idea's why shops don't like them?

 

Why don't you just install them yourself? I haven't heard of any safety issues here on the forum. Certainly don't think so at all with OEM rims.

 

There are many cases of issues with them, wheels actually coming off the vehicle, in different ways, sometimes shearing lug bolts. Most of these cases are bad installations, or applications. Some shops just do not want the liabilty.

 

This^^^. I've seen some pretty crappy one size fits all spacers I'd only use for a paper weight. There are some real good spacers out there that are made for 5X150mm only which some guys are using here without problems.

 

Wheel spacers are illegal in Utah. I still run them on the 4runner with zero issues for over 10k miles.

As others have stated, make sure they are properly installed and torqued. Use a "permanent" thread locker and they are worry free. If you don't use thread locker you should check that they are properly torqued every 5k miles.

 

there are risks but if you buy quality hub centric spacers, make sure they are torqued properly and use thread locker you should be fine. With that said if you are doing some hardcore off roading I would suggest new wheels with more backspacing but if pavement with some light off road is your primary use you should be fine.

I don't have spacers on my Tundra but I ran 1.5 in G2 spacers on my Wrangler for over 100,000 miles with no issues. My use was primarily pavement with some off road mixed in but nothing like rock climbing.

 

Remember this from while back. I would personally not go over an inch (1") on any. if you want different look, get different offset wheels.
Good Luck!

 

I have seen that post - I would bet my truck that those wheel spacers weren't properly installed.

 

The OP in that threat posted later on that he had the lug nuts the wrong way around - i.e. they were not installed with the cone side towards the spacer, so the nuts were not installed 'centric' the way it is supposed to be. He admitted that it was his fault.

 

I would recommend Spider Trax or Bora wheel spacers as they're hub and wheel centric. Properly installed you shouldn't have to worry. I ran some Spider Trax for roughly 15k w/o any issues.

 

Thanks everyone. I’ll give the Bora or Spiders a try.

 

Its all about the install. I ran 1.25" on my Tacoma for a year+ without an issue and never even gave them a second look after I checked them when first installed. Lock tight on the spacer to hub and torque the wheel lugs to spec and it should be fine, especially if you rotate like you should...

 

Just to clarify terminology, spacers go in between the hub and wheel and reduce the amount of thread the lugs have to grab on to. Wheel adapters, such as spiders and Bora bolt up to the hub and then the wheel bolts onto the adapter. The adapter is torqued and maintains factory specs. I would never recommend running spacers especially when wheeling.

I've ran spiders on multiple trucks for years with no issues on and offroad. As long as you use thread locker and torque. Discountnt has tried to tell me a couple times that they won't deal with the spacers. I just corrected them and told them they are adapters with the same lug pattern and that ends the conversation.