Wheel Spacers

Do your wheels sit too far inside the wheel arch, or does the bolt pattern not match your car's hub? Wheel spacers move the wheel outwards and give a wider track, while wheel adapters can also change the bolt pattern so you can fit wheels with a different PCD. Both require precise measurements.

Wheel spacers or wheel adapters?

A wheel spacer sits between the hub and the wheel and moves the wheel outwards by the thickness of the spacer, e.g. 10, 15 or 25 mm. This can give a wider track, make the wheel sit more flush with the fender edge or create room for a larger brake caliper. A wheel adapter has its own bolts or studs and can also change the bolt pattern, e.g. from 5x100 to 5x114 as with the adapters from ISC Suspension. A wider track can affect steering, wheel bearings and fender clearance, so the effect depends on the car and wheel.

How to choose the right spacer

Check these measurements for both hub and wheel:

• Bolt pattern (PCD): e.g. 4/108, 5/112 or 5/120.
• Centre bore: a hub-centric spacer, such as H&R Trak+ with e.g. a 57.1 or 72.5 mm centre bore, centres the wheel on the hub rather than on the bolts alone.
• Thread and fastening: versions for wheel bolts and for wheel studs are available with different threads, e.g. 14x1.5 or 12x1.5.
• Thickness: measure the clearance to the fender, strut and brakes before you choose.

Fitting and maintenance

With thin spacers you will typically need longer wheel bolts to ensure sufficient thread engagement; whether they are included depends on the product. Tighten to the specified torque and re-torque after the first few kilometres. Clean the contact surfaces of rust and dirt so the spacer sits flat. Whether the car can pass inspection with spacers depends on the product and the car, and the documentation must be checked for the specific part number. You can find more parts for your wheels under tyre and wheel accessories, e.g. tyre valves and wheel accessories.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need longer wheel bolts with wheel spacers?

It depends on the thickness and type of spacer. With thin spacers, where the wheel is still fastened with bolts through the spacer, the bolts typically need to be longer by the thickness of the spacer. Adapters with their own bolts or studs are fitted differently.

What does it mean that a wheel spacer is hub-centric?

The spacer has a centre bore that fits the hub precisely, and typically a collar for the wheel's centre bore. This means the wheel is centred by the hub and not just by the bolts, which can reduce the risk of vibrations.

Can my car pass inspection with wheel spacers or wheel adapters?

It depends on the product, the car and the overall position of the wheel, e.g. whether the tyre is still covered by the fender. Check the documentation for the specific part number, and ask the inspection centre if you are in doubt.