Best Wheel Spacers

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Updated 11:35 pm

From an initial group of thirty contenders for the best wheel spacers, we managed to whittle it down to a modest five—five spacers that have the tenacity, design, and aesthetic quality to give any vehicle a physical boost.

After several days of intensive research, physical testing, and a lot of back-and-forth, we can confidently say that the Spidertrax S2PWHS010 wheel spacers are the best spacers money can buy. Strong, incredibly durable, and easy to install, these wheel spacers check all the boxes. Keep reading to find out more about our top pick and our four other favorites. For more great interior options, then read our best car accessories guide.

Top 5 Best Wheel Spacers

 #1  ECCPP 5×114.3 Wheel Spacers

Award: Honorable Mention

WHY WE LIKE IT: With their high quality and solid performance at a fairly affordable price point, these wheel spacers from ECCPP greatly improve vehicular stability by widening your wheelbase. This makes them perfect for road trips and long, rough rides.

Pros
  • Widens wheelbase for stability
  • Improves vehicle handling and maneuverability
  • No noticeable vibration
Cons
  • Only compatible with very specific models
  • Only hub-centric with very specific models
  • Lug nut holes are quite thin

As a trusted car company, ECCPP develops products that tend to be met with high expectations. Thankfully, these wheel spacers deliver. Made of high-quality aluminum alloy and aerospace-grade 6061-T6 aluminum, these spacers were made for rough terrain and long drives. Increase your transmitting range with our best Bluetooth transmitter.

The ECCPP wheel spacers also greatly widen the vehicle’s wheelbase. Aside from looking great (as most jeeps look better with widened wheels), this also improves its overall handling and stability. Do bear in mind that these spacers are made to fit exact specifications, so checking compatibility and dimensions is an absolute must before you purchase. But if they do suit your ride, you’re in for a treat. Your truck is going to look great with wide wheels and the best truck bed liner mats.

 #2  KSP 5×114.3 Wheel Spacers

Award: Best for Enhancing Performance

WHY WE LIKE IT: Made specifically for most Nissan and Infiniti models, the KSP wheel spacers greatly improve existing power and performance with their “aggressive” feature. These are great for vehicles with torque that need a tight fit.

Pros
  • Improves vehicle handling and stability
  • Pre-installed 10.9-grade bolts, stronger and lighter than steel
  • Aggressive look and stance
  • Hub-centric spacers with wheel-centric lip
Cons
  • May require re-torquing after 25-50 miles
  • May require extended open lug nuts (not included)
  • Not designed for rougher terrain

These KSP spacer’s claim to fame is their “Aggressive Look,” wherein the adapters move the wheels further out from the hub. This widens the base and gives the vehicle a more aggressive stance while simultaneously fixing clearance issues and preventing the tires from crashing into other components—specifically the brake calipers and the shocks. Designed specifically with Nissan and Infiniti models in mind, these wheel spacers have dimensions and a construction that ensure a tight fit with the right vehicle.

Also forged from lightweight anodized black 6061-T6 aluminum, this model is robust, durable, and relatively corrosion-resistant. Though not as hardy or as long-lasting as other items on this list, KSP wheel spacers are strong enough to withstand high torque and reasonably rough handling. Combined with their aggressive stance, they’re capable of giving your vehicle a noticeable performance boost. And speaking of performance, make sure that you have the best jump starter handy just in case.

 #3  Orion Motor Tech 5×114.3 Wheel Spacers/Adapters

Award: Best Budget

WHY WE LIKE IT: Manufactured from aircraft-grade aluminum billet and enhanced with innovative anti-corrosion technology, the Orion Motor Tech (OMT) wheel spacers can vastly improve a vehicle’s cornering capability and steering. It’s the perfect choice for jeep owners who want more accurate, precise steering.

Pros
  • Improves steering & safety
  • Improves vehicle traction
  • Hardened, heat-treated bolts for strength and corrosion-resistance
Cons
  • DIY installation is not recommended
  • Bolts may come loose easily if not installed exactly as needed
  • Not thick enough for some jeeps

Designed for speed and maneuverability, the OMT spacers deserve recognition for the performance they give at their price point. Made of aircraft-grade 6061-T1 aluminum billet, they’re both durable enough to withstand high speeds and flexible enough to allow for cleaner, tighter turns. Its hub-centric design allows for more control over the wheels, which enables more accurate steering. The bolts are also hardened and heat-treated for rust-resistance and to strengthen the spacer’s overall integrity.

On top of aesthetic improvement, the OMT wheel spacers can enhance your car’s cornering capability by widening the wheels. That, combined with the overall cut and innovative design, allows for more precise maneuvering. This doesn’t just make your ride smoother, but makes it safer as well. And since we are talking about smooth rides, make sure you can have one by carrying the best car battery charger with you. For another great option, there’s the Venum Wheel Accessories 4Pc Jeep Grand Cherokee Black Hub Centric Wheel Spacer Adapters. They have a wheel bolt pattern of 5×5 inches, are made of T6 aluminum, and are hub centric by fitting perfectly over the vehicle’s hub to eliminate vibrations at high speeds.

 #4  Rough Country 2″ Wheel Spacers

Award: Best for Improving Aggressive Stance

WHY WE LIKE IT: These 2” wheel spacers are some of the beefiest wheel spacers on the market. Considerably robust and long-wearing, they’re perfect for people who want a larger, more aggressive look.

Pros
  • Easy installation
  • Visually aggressive
  • Corrosion-resistant
Cons
  • Prone to vibration
  • Unusual stress on the lug nuts
  • May need Loctite to support integrity

Heavyweight and heavy-duty, these 2-inch-thick, 13.15-pound Rough Country wheel spacers can handle heavy vehicles and rough terrain with minimal concern for breakage. Even better, they can instantly make your car look imposingly beefy thanks to their size, thickness, and wheelbase-widening feature.

The preinstalled studs make for easy installation, though you may need a bit of Loctite or sealant to fortify the lug nuts. Otherwise, these spacers can handle anything you throw at them. However, you may want to re-torque everything after a couple hundred miles of rough terrain or driving, just to err on the side of caution. Be sure to also check out the Supreme Suspensions Jeep Wrangler JK Full Coil Spacer Lift Kit, which has four lift coil spacers, two front shock extenders, and four brake line extenders. This kit is intended for 2007-2018 Wranglers.

 #5  Spidertrax S2PWHS010 Wheel Spacer Kit

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Award: Top Pick

WHY WE LIKE IT: The Spidertrax S2PWHS010 wheel spacers are a pair of powerful 1.5-inch-thick spacers that can effortlessly handle heavy vehicles and rough roads. Specifically cut and designed to fight off corrosion, they’re perfect for jeep owners looking to rack up some serious mileage.

Pros
  • Best quality
  • Cut and designed to fight off corrosion
  • Easy installation
Cons
  • Only comes in a set of two
  • Only comes in 1.5-inch design
  • Only comes in one color

At 8” (L) x 8” (H) x 4″ (W) and only 7.1 pounds, the S2PWHS010 wheel spacers look deceptively average. However, they are anything but. Powerful, tenacious, and painted a sleek blue, these aluminum wheel spacers offer the most bang for your buck. Out of all the wheel spacers we tested, these are the ones that can easily handle heavy loads without rattling or buckling. Drive 500 or 5,000 miles after installation, and they’ll still be locked in tight. Keep your car protected and your rims safe with our best wheel locks.

These spacers were also cut and designed specifically to fight off corrosion. They feature Spidertrax’s standard 4140 chromoly wheel studs, making for easy installation. And since they’ve proven capable of preventing tires from rubbing together or crashing into other components—like your suspension links or your frame rails at full turn—they’re perfect for oversized wheels. If you are looking for a place to park your car, read about the best carport.

How We Decided

Good wheel spacers improve the performance, maneuverability, and above all, the safety of your car. Hence, durability and resilience of the wheel spacer was a non-negotiable feature. Anything that wasn’t designed for long drives or rough terrain wasn’t considered. Spacers that didn’t have a durability rating above industry standard or didn’t appear to prioritize durability were also dropped from the list.

We also gravitated more toward wheel spacers that were relatively easy to install. We know that a lot of owners prefer to take the DIY route when it comes to customizing their rides, so we prioritized the ones that advertised easy at-home installation or—at a stretch—simply recommended professional installation. Wheel spacers that required professional fitting weren’t considered.

Lastly, we decided not to limit our options to just hub-centric designs or vice versa, simply because it’s a matter of preference. We wanted to give readers options to suit their inclinations. Hub-centric wheel spacers carry the weight of the car using the hub, while lug-centric spacers use the lug nuts to bear the weight. Lug-centric spacers align the wheels using tapered holes and nuts, making them far more flexible and forgiving when it comes to measurements. Hub-centric spacers, in comparison, are more exact. Both have their benefits and drawbacks, but since we cannot objectively say that one is better than the other, we remained impartial in this aspect.

Best Wheel Spacers Buyer’s Guide

The Most Important Features to Consider

  1. Practical Use and Use Value
    There are a ton of different reasons why people invest in wheel spacers. Some people do it for purely visual reasons. After all, a wider wheelbase can make any jeep or rough-terrain vehicle look good. Others might have jobs that require them to make long trips every day. Wheel spacers can make the drive smoother and more manageable. It’s all well and good for you to choose a hub-centric spacer that’s thick and built for heavy vehicles, but you might realize that you actually need to prioritize the maneuverability of your vehicle rather than the sturdiness. Or you might pick the best, most aggressive-looking lug spacers without realizing your car is better suited for a hub-centric design. Knowing what you want to achieve for your specific vehicle and situation can help you choose spacers that best fulfill your needs.
  2. Durability
    You want something that’s going to last more than 500 miles of rough driving and bumpy terrain. Wheel spacers that wear down quickly—or worse, break easily—can compromise the integrity of the wheel it’s attached to. This, in turn, puts you at serious risk. If you don’t want to be triple-checking your wheels every hundred miles or so, definitely prioritize durability.
  3. Warranty
    You want to have contingencies in place if, despite your best efforts, the wheel spacers do break. Always purchase wheel spacers from official distributors to ensure you’re covered by a substantial warranty—one that’s realistic for the price you’re paying and the model you’re getting. Two- to three-year warranties are the average, but you can get the occasional five-year deal if you know where to look. If the spacer doesn’t come with a warranty, try a different brand—or a different seller.

Wheel Spacers FAQs

Are wheel spacers necessary?

They technically aren’t necessary, but they’re highly recommended, especially for heavy-duty vehicles or vehicles with larger-than-average tires. By creating clearance around the wheels, wheel spacers can improve a vehicle’s performance, stability, and maneuverability. They can make it easier for cars to traverse uneven terrain without putting too much stress on the suspension system or shock absorbers. They can also increase a vehicle’s handling and traction, effectively helping the car withstand rough driving for extended periods of time. They’re also highly recommended for people who experience trouble when cornering or taking sharp turns. Wheel spacers put some much-needed distance between a wheel and a car’s hub assembly. This, in turn, gives the car better traction. When taking sharp turns or sudden curves, the higher traction makes for improved handling. So, if cornering or turning is a legitimate concern, wheel spacers are recommended.

Are wheel spacers dangerous?

Absolutely not. Wheel spacers are only dangerous if they’re installed incorrectly—and you can usually tell if they are once you start the car and drive a few feet. Otherwise, they can actually improve your car’s safety and stability. For one, they widen a vehicle’s wheelbase, giving it a more solid, stable foundation. For another, they can create clearance between the tires and other components underneath the car frame, like the suspension links or the brake calipers. This effectively eliminates noises, friction, vibration, and other factors that make for an uncomfortable ride.

Do wheel spacers affect gas mileage?

Currently, there is no definitive, measurable proof to either back up this claim or debunk it. As far as many vehicle owners are concerned, neither the added weight of the spacers nor the new placement of the wheels seems to affect the gas mileage of their car. If they do, it’s not enough to be noticeable. Mechanically speaking, an increase in weight and a decrease in aerodynamics (because the spacers have pushed the wheels further out) would slow the car down. But, as we said, there just aren’t any studies, reviews, or reports out there to support a definitive answer.

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