When installed on a vehicle, 20mm hub-centric spacers are centered directly on the middle flange of the brake rotor. This means that the spacers and wheels are concentric with the wheel bearings which creates a much better-balanced wheel connection. Aftermarket lug-centric 20mm spacers usually have a bigger center bore size to accommodate a wide variety of vehicles. They are cheap. However, these lug-centric spacers are not actually centered in the vehicle hub (because of the gap), the wheel connection will be loosened due to road impacts.
20mm hub-centric spacers come with center rings that cover the spacing between the center bore of aftermarket wheels to the hubs of the vehicle. These hub rings are important because they secure the wheels in place and help prevent any type of vibration issues. Quality 20mm hub-centric spacers are exactly safe to use. As long as you install them correctly, there are will be no problems.
What 20mm Hub-centric Spacers Do I Need?
There are various 20mm hub-centric spacers available through the dealer who sold the spacers. Fortunately, you can choose the correct set through several factors. The most critical parts are pitch circle diameter (PCD) and center bore (CB). The PCD refers to the diameter of an imaginary circle running through the center of each bolt hole. And the CB basically means the diameter of the middle hub flange. The easiest way to figure out them is to check online for the vehicle specifications by your exact make and model.
You need to ensure that your new 20mm hub-centric spacers have the same lug pattern and the same CB as the vehicle hub on your vehicle. For example, if your bolt pattern is 5×112, then you will need 5×112 20mm hub-centric spacers to fit. In addition to this, you need to ensure you have the same center bore that is the same diameter as the original wheel. If you intend to use aftermarket wheels, then a different adaptor ring should be used.
Are Forged 20mm Hub-centric Spacers Safer?
Not only are forged 20mm hub-centric spacers stronger, but they are also lighter too. They undergo continuous tons of pressure to form. This eliminates any porosity, shrinkage, and other micro-processes presented in the raw material. The resulting 20mm hub-centric spacers have a high degree of uniformity in the grain structure which allows the spacers to have a very high weight-to-strength ratio. As a result, forged wheel spacers can be much more durable with much less material. That is why forged 20mm hub-centric spacers are far stronger as well as lighter than casting alternatives.
The most popular forged wheel spacers are made of 6061-T6 or 7075-T6 aluminum. Both these two forged aluminum wheel spacers are of good strength, toughness, hardness, and corrosion resistance. However, forged 7075-T6 aluminum wheel spacers are significantly stronger than 6061-T6 ones. Forged 6061-T6 wheel spacers are suitable for daily commute. But if you are a racing enthusiast, 7075-T6 spacers will be a better option. The better the material is, the safer your 20mm hub-centric spacers are.
