To tell the truth, 12mm wheel spacers are exactly safe. They are mechanical components that push your wheels away from the original vehicle hub. The vehicle’s wheels are actually fastened to the corresponding wheel hub by a clamping force achieved by tightening the wheel bolts of each wheel. All forces will be transmitted through each vehicle’s hub and its corresponding axle. Therefore, the weight of the vehicle will not be placed on any 12mm wheel spacers that are installed.
Hub-centric 12mm wheel spacers will be safer. Generally, hubcentric 12mm wheel spacers are designed with a hubcentric ring in the middle, which will fit perfectly on the axle hubs and the wheels. In this way, the wheels are centered by the hub connection and the lug bolts can hold it flush against the mounting plate. A 12mm hubcentric spacer allows the wheel to better support the vehicle’s weight and fills the gap for a tight fit, providing the minimum chance of vibration.
How to Keep 12mm Wheel Spacers Safe?
Mostly, 12mm wheel spacers will need extended wheel bolts to keep safe. In fact, the stock wheel bolts can only secure the wheels properly. 12mm wheel spacers will reduce the thread length of stock bolts. It is very dangerous to run 12mm wheel spacers with stock wheel bolts. That is why we always recommend extended wheel bolts for spacers because you don’t want to take a chance on one of your wheels falling off.
It’s easy to figure out the correct length, all you need is to do the math. Here is a simple formula: stock bolt length + spacer thickness = extended wheel bolt length. For instance, if your stock wheel bolts are 30mm long and you get 12mm wheel spacers installed, then you would need 42mm wheel bolts to keep safe. Considering the interference of wheel lug holes, there can be a little longer. Anyways, it’s always best to measure from the wheel bolt you’re currently using.
Properly torquing all the wheel bolts add safety for your 12mm wheel spacers. As a rule of thumb, the engagement must equal the thread diameter, for example, M12x1.5 needs 12mm of engagement, M14x1.25 needs 14mm of engagement… If 1 turn of the nut equals 1.5mm, then for the M14x1.5 studs we need a minimum of 9.5 turns. Always remember to torque every single wheel bolt for your vehicle. Only if they are properly tightened to the correct spec will these 12mm wheel spacers work well and provide all the advantages for you. In addition, it is always a good idea to give these 12mm wheel spacers a check and retorqued the wheel bolts within about 100 miles of driving. Done properly, your 12mm wheel spacers mod will be exactly safe and beneficial.
