When it comes to vehicle modifications, automotive spacers are a popular choice for enhancing both the aesthetics and performance of a car. One of the most common questions people ask is: “What size of wheel spacer do I need” Understanding the factors that contribute to spacer safety, the impact of thickness, and the bolt pattern compatibility with your vehicle is critical to ensuring optimal performance without compromising safety.
Common Automotive Spacers Sizes
To find out the best automotive spacers sizes, the following guidelines may help:
3mm to 10mm Automotive Spacers
These thin spacers are generally safe for most vehicles without significant modifications. They provide just enough space to clear big brake calipers or adjust the offset slightly. But it is required to check whether there is sufficient stud length for proper lug nut engagement.
12mm to 20mm Automotive Spacers
The 12-20mm wheel spacers are relatively safe for most sedans and SUVs, especially since they are hub-centric spacers. At this thickness, you can notice obvious changes in the vehicle’s appearance and handling, particularly when cornering. It’s crucial to ensure that the wheel bolts are long enough to maintain secure wheel attachment.
25mm to 50mm Automotive Spacers
Spacers in this thickness range are usually used for pickup trucks and specialized wide-body applications. It’s vital to opt for high-quality hub-centric spacers and ensure that the vehicle is properly aligned after installation. Professional installation and a thorough understanding of the vehicle are highly recommended at this thickness level.
Common Automotive Spacers Bolt Patterns
Bolt patterns are specifically set by the manufacturer, helping narrow your wheel spacer choices. Figuring out the lug bolt pattern on your vehicle is important before buying a set of alloy rim spacers. The most common automotive spacers bolt patterns are 6×139.7mm, 6x135mm, 5x120mm, 5×114.3mm, 5x112mm, 4×114.3mm, and more. On the BONOSS shop, you don’t need to worry about this issue.
With over 10 years of professional experience, and 1000+ actual measuring, 1800+ drawing updates, size precision upgrades, and installation tests, BONOSS provides precise automotive spacers for you. Besides, BONOSS forged active cooling wheel spacers can improve brake cooling efficiency. There are heat dissipation grooves that send the external cold air to flow continuously inside the wheel spacer when it rotates. The air takes away the heat, so it achieves the purpose of actively dissipating heat for the braking system.
Key Factors of Automotive Spacers Thickness
Wheel Offset:
Wheel offset refers to the distance between the mounting surface of the wheel and its centerline. Wheel spacers reduce the wheel offset. If you get aftermarket wheels with a high positive offset, you may need automotive spacers to push the wheels out and avoid interference with the suspension components.
Suspension Clearance:
Automotive spacers are often used to clear wider tires or bigger brake calipers. In this case, the thickness of the spacer needs to be carefully measured to ensure there is enough clearance without pushing the wheel too far out.
Fender Clearance:
When using spacers to achieve a flush or aggressive stance, it is essential to consider how much the wheels will stick out relative to the fenders. If the wheels extend too far, they may rub against the fenders. To prevent this, you need to measure how much gap from the outermost part of the rims/tires to the fender line.
Wheel Stud Length:
For bolt-on wheel spacers, the length of the wheel studs is critical. Simply speaking, if the wheel pockets are not deep enough to contain the protruding studs, you may need thicker automotive spacers.
BONOSS has a team of experienced professionals to offer expert advice on the best automotive spacers for your car, feel free to contact us right now.