No, wheel spacers don’t affect ride height. They are components that increase the distance between the left and right wheels. And the ride height is the space between the base of your tire where it touches the ground and the underside of your vehicle. If you would like to change the ride height, then you may need a lift kit or new coilovers. At this point, wheel spacers will be helpful.
Since every car is unique, you need to consider a few factors when purchasing wheel spacers. For example, if you go from 245-width tires to 265s. The tire is going to take up more inner clearance. This increase the risk of tire rubbing. With the help of wheel spacers, your wheels are moved further out on both sides, which will create more inner space and give your car a visually wider stance.
Do You Need Wheel Spacers for A Lift Kit?
If you plan to use a lift kit or aftermarket coilovers to adjust the ride height, you may need proper wheel spacers. By moving the wheels and tires further out from the suspension, wheel spacers help prevent the tire from hitting the fenders or any other suspension parts. This also makes your car looks rugged, powerful, and muscular. Such a vehicle will surely turn some heads.
In addition, aftermarket coilovers make your ride height adjustable. A car with a lower center of gravity will handle better thanks to reduced roll and more even tire loading. Installing wheel spacers is also an effective way to keep tires from bumping the aftermarket shock absorbers. At this point, you can change the offset by adding wheel spacers with the corresponding thicknesses. This improves the whole experience on your ride.
How to Determine Perfect-size Wheel Spacers?
The combination of wheel spacers, tires, ride height, and alignment settings all affect a car’s stance. The ride height will have a similar effect as camber. If you’ve ever lowered your car, you probably noticed that the wheels appear more sunken afterward. In this case, using perfect-size wheel spacers can get your wheels flush with the fenders. By determining your setup first, you can purchase the right wheel spacers the first time around.
Firstly, take a look at your car from multiple angles to get a sense of what will look good. Then use a straightedge to measure from the fender lip to the outer edge of your wheel. Repeat this on the front and rear wheels and you’ll soon get a feel for the size of wheel spacers you require. It is recommended to keep the top of your tires just slightly inside the fenders, so you don’t get any rubbing.
