Wheel spacers

What are wheel spacers and what are they used for?

Basically, the function of wheel spacers is to increase the width of the axle; widely used in the world of competition, their installation is extended to vehicles for daily use to give them a more sporty appearance.

However, beyond their aesthetic value, wheel spacers influence the safety and stability of the vehicle, so it is essential to know what wheel spacers are used for, assess their advantages and disadvantages and take care of their installation, if you have decided to put wheel spacers on your car.

• The wheel spacers are made of aluminum discs , there are hardly any brands left that make them from corrugated iron due to its fragility.
• The main effect of spacers is that they reduce the tread depth of the wheel, thereby increasing the wheelbase and moving the wheel position slightly further outwards from the wheel housing, closer to the fender.
• Visually, although the spacers are not normally visible from the outside of the vehicle, the movement of the wheel can be perceived. In general, they give the car a sportier appearance , closer to the aesthetics of racing cars.
• From a mechanical point of view, the greater width on the axle achieved with wheel spacers means greater grip in demanding driving situations.

Not all wheel spacers are suitable for every vehicle, as we remind you that, for example, when used on public roads, the rim cannot protrude from the bodywork at any time. This is why some types are intended for use in competitions or vehicles exclusively for use on private land, such as off-road vehicles.

There are then three types of rim spacers to distinguish:

• • Simple spacers (normally multipurpose), are those that do not have a centering neck to the hub.

• • Double centering spacers ; these are those that have a centering collar to prevent the spacer from vibrating.

• • Double centering and double fixing spacers , these have built-in studs to fix them to the hub and then to the rim. Commonly used in measurements of more than 2 cm or vehicles that have a stud originally (Ford, Honda, Volvo etc.), they are also used to change anchors, that is, to put an Audi rim on a Renault or vice versa.

In this section we provide you with everything you need to widen the tracks of your car, as well as all the accessories to make it easier to assemble: studs, screws, racing nuts and the main brands on the market.