Upgrade the wheel style and handling with 1/2″ spacers! Wheel spacers are metal components that fit between the vehicle hubs and the wheels, pushing the wheels outward from the vehicle’s chassis. A 1/2″ wheel spacer is typically equal to 12.7mm in thickness. They are often chosen by drivers who want to slightly adjust the appearance or handling of their vehicle without making drastic changes.
If you get 1/2″ spacers installed, you need new, longer wheel studs to properly secure the wheels. Only if the stud thread is long enough can the studs provide proper clamping force to keep wheel spacers and wheels balanced. As a rule of thumb, the thread length must be equal to or greater than the diameter of the stud itself. Giving an example, an M14 wheel stud would need at least 14mm threads to ensure a safe engagement.
How Long Wheel Studs Do I Need for 1/2″ Spacers?
Simply speaking, 1/2″ spacers occupy about 12.7mm stud thread which stops the OEM wheel nuts from engaging the full thread. Therefore, you need at least 13mm longer wheel studs. For example, if your OEM wheel stud length is 27mm and you get a 1/2″ wheel spacer installed, then 40mm wheel studs are the way to go. Stock stud length + spacer thickness = required wheel stud length.
Are 1/2″ Spacers Illegal?
No, 1/2″ spacers are legal in most countries and regions. As long as you don’t make the wheels stick out too much, it is safe and legal to use wheel spacers. With the right spacer size and quality components, you can enjoy the benefits of enhanced stability, a broader stance, and a more customized driving experience. The legal and safe 1-inch spacers should be:
- Proper thickness and PCD sizes
- Precise hub-centric construction
- Made of high-quality materials
- Good corrosion resistance ability
- Customer service and warranty
Where to Buy the Best 1/2″ Spacers?
Brands, sizes, and materials are three important factors that identify the best 1/2″ spacer for fitment purposes.
Brand Matter:
Authentic brand companies have a reputation for delivering high-quality products. For example, BONOSS engineers and develops 1/2″ wheel spacers for more applications. BONOSS forged lightweight plus spacers are precisely cut with some “hollow holes”. These holes are designed to keep spacers as light as possible while maintaining high strength.
According to the experimental data, the average weight of each spacer is more than 20% lighter than the previous-gen product. Adding such lightweight 1/2″ spacers won’t hurt the wheel bearing or air suspension.
Quality Materials:
By purchasing authentic brand products, you are worry-free about the quality of materials, craftsmanship, and overall durability. Unlike regular street wheel spacers, BONOSS forged lightweight plus wheel spacers are built with stronger forged 6061-T6 and 7075-T6 aluminum alloy materials. The ultimate tensile strength of these two aluminum alloys are:
- Forged 6061-T6 spacers: 42000-45000 psi (300-310 MPa);
- Forged 7075-T6 spacers: 74000-78000 psi (510-572 MPa).
Precise Hub-centric:
Using hub-centric spacers is highly recommended for any vehicle modification. They fill the gap between the wheel’s center bore and the hub’s diameter, providing a snug fit. A good set of 1/2″ spacers are precisely made to fit your sports car. BONOSS forged lightweight plus wheel spacers are designed with better multi-stage hub-centric rings.
The multi-layer design provides the bevels to fit the corresponding hub flange, which eliminates any possible gaps. These BONOSS multi-stage hub-centric 1/2″ wheel spacers effectively ensure a firm wheel connection and better load transition. The wheels are well-balanced so that there will be less chance of vibrations.
(Hi, I’m Kevin Brian, a 30-year mechanical engineer. For a better user experience, this article is original content uploaded by humans. It is not generated by Artificial intelligence (AI) Models or tools.)
