Wheel spacers with stock wheels?

[1engineer]

I am new to all these, sorry for my ignorance, what do "spacer" do?

Sets your wheels out further from the axle. It has nothing to do with function (performance) and everything to do with form (looks).

 

[jicko]

Sets your wheels out further from the axle. It has nothing to do with function (performance) and everything to do with form (looks).

Thanks!

Oh, so it makes wheel-to-wheel "wider"? Will it affect any drive-ability? Stability?

Sport cars has wider tires which in turn make the car wider....

 

[1engineer]

Thanks!

Oh, so it makes wheel-to-wheel "wider"? Will it affect any drive-ability? Stability?

Sport cars has wider tires which in turn make the car wider....

Marginally, if at all. It will increase bearing loads and could cause premature failure of those bearings. It's all about the look.

Sports cars have a low center of gravity which lets them handle a curve better which means wider tires are needed. Chicken-egg thing. Low CG means better handling which needs wider tires. NOT wider tires need better handling which means lower CG.

 

[Photi]

Sets your wheels out further from the axle. It has nothing to do with function (performance) and everything to do with form (looks).

I've read in Antman's thread that installing spacers gave him a perceived improvement in stability - specifically the wandering the vehicle tends to do during highway driving... Please note I said perceived... I was hoping for the same effect, it is the only thing I don't like about how the vehicle performs.
I actually turned down a TRD Pro because it had far more of the wander at highway speeds than a Trail with KDSS did.
Has anyone experienced the same effect?

 

[KiruxaT4R]

2014 TE with stock wheels and 1.25" Spidertraxx spacers and 265/70/17 Duratracs..love it

 

[Randyman...]

Marginally, if at all. It will increase bearing loads and could cause premature failure of those bearings. It's all about the look.

Sports cars have a low center of gravity which lets them handle a curve better which means wider tires are needed. Chicken-egg thing. Low CG means better handling which needs wider tires. NOT wider tires need better handling which means lower CG.

But doesn't the vehicles' tracking width play directly into the lateral CG calculation? Tires wider out = more weight/force needed to get the lateral lever action to act on the vehicle, right? (More change in direction would be needed to "roll" a truck with a wider stance vs one with a narrower stance all else equal including the actual tire width/contact patch).

(I'm obviously not up to speed on the proper nomenclature here, but I believe you get the just of what I'm saying)

Grated, we're only widening the stance by 2.5" total with 1.25" Spidertrax, but that isn't insignificant from what I gather (what is 2.5" based off percentage of stock tracking width? I'd bet it is statistically significant). I also perceived an un-scientificly proven improvement with the Spidertrax with regard to 75MPH freeway handling (lane changes, etc). But ditching the stock tires and ading 5100's likely had much more of an improvement (duh!)...

 

[1engineer]

I gave it a "marginally" lol. Sure, 2 1/2 inches will help but in the greater scheme of things not much as this vehicle is not pushing the ragged edge of handling a turn or skidding out. It definitely won't help with any lean. My son did a project last semester (Junior - BSME)and it was trip force required to overturn a vehicle. He used the 4Runner for his vehicle and I know he had lateral forces involved and track with also. If he still has it I will ask him to run a simulation with the width a bit wider and see if that changes any of the cornering speeds by much. I really don't want to tackle that math anymore!

 

[mo_mo]

It's roughly a 4% increase in track width, depending where you measure to & from. Remember that there is a lot of sidewall on these tires that will flex very dynamically as you approach limit. Someone should have a track day and measure cornering Gs with and without spacers (you now can't clip the corner by that 1.25"...is it worth it).

 

[Randyman...]

It's roughly a 4% increase in track width, depending where you measure to & from. Remember that there is a lot of sidewall on these tires that will flex very dynamically as you approach limit. Someone should have a track day and measure cornering Gs with and without spacers (you now can't clip the corner by that 1.25"...is it worth it).

Sounds about right. "Stock" track = 63.2". 2.5" is like 3.9%, and brings total track width to 65.7".

Stock sized BFG KO's likely add another ~ .5" to the track width, too beyond stock tires (if this is taking into account the outer edge of the tire's contact patch, and not just the outer width of the wheels themselves)... The BFG KO's would probably exhibit less sidewall flex, and maintain the track width a bit better than the stock tires in evasive maneuvers IMO...

Lol - Good point on negating the ability to clip an apex by 1.25" I was thinking more of avoiding a rollover in an evasive maneuver - but that works too

 

[1engineer]

Sounds about right. "Stock" track = 63.2". 2.5" is like 3.9%, and brings total track width to 65.7".

Stock sized BFG KO's likely add another ~ .5" to the track width, too beyond stock tires (if this is taking into account the outer edge of the tire's contact patch, and not just the outer width of the wheels themselves)... The BFG KO's would probably exhibit less sidewall flex, and maintain the track width a bit better than the stock tires in evasive maneuvers IMO...

Lol - Good point on negating the ability to clip an apex by 1.25" I was thinking more of avoiding a rollover in an evasive maneuver - but that works too

Should be measured to center of contact patch.

 

[Randyman...]

Should be measured to center of contact patch.

Roger. But for any Lateral CG type calculations, the "Lever's hinge point" would need to reference the outer edge of the contact patch/track width, correct? (minus whatever sidewall flex/deformities exist at said conditions).

 

[1engineer]

Roger. But for any Lateral CG type calculations, the "Lever's hinge point" would need to reference the outer edge of the contact patch/track width, correct? (minus whatever sidewall flex/deformities exist at said conditions).

If your tire was solid that would be correct. Here's a pic:

 

[Randyman...]

If your tire was solid that would be correct. Here's a pic:

So basically yes?

(minus whatever sidewall flex/deformities exist at said conditions).

With our rather skinny tires (height:width), I could see this sidewall deformity approaching the center-line of the wheel in evasive maneuvers. With anything much wider (like a 285 or 295), you'd be hard pressed to get enough sidewall flex to meet the center-line of the wheel for the lever/pivot part of the calculation - but I'm an audio/broadcast guy, not a suspension engineer (I'm sure it shows ).

Back to Broadcasting

 

[Ariakas]

Not that this is the most scientific test ever, but its fun to watch and on topic..

 

[cody maverick]

Now are eBay wheel spacers safe?

 

[good2go]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWijfooeSyU&spfreload=10

 

[KEWW Pro]

Great thread, glad it popped back up, I have been debating the look hard recently and after reading this, and watching the recent tube vid, I am back where I started at 50/50. Okay, 51/49 leaning toward doing what I want cause it will look that much better.

Thanks again T4R.org community!!!

 

[Supa LA]

Any update? Did OP get spacers or what? I just put in 285s and the strut perch is very close to inside of my tires up front. Debating spacers myself!

Sent from my VS987 using Tapatalk

 

[Jason B]

Easy as balls. No alignment needed. Go with Spidertrax 1.25" adapters, period. I used them on my '03 Tundra and they were great. My tips:

- Clean the hub surface with a light sandpaper scuff, then alcohol wipe down and a quick blow of compressed air on the hub and studs.

- Offer up the spacer to the hub so you can see how it is oriented and just get a feel for it.

- Securing to the hub and use of Loctite: this has been debated, but Spidertrax includes a tube of Red with each set. I used just a dab to be on the safe side. I had no issues removing with a tire iron.

- Be very certain to secure the supplied nuts to the spacer in a star pattern. And don't tighten one all the way, then start on the other. Think of doing it in a few torque increments...perhaps 40 to 60 to your final spec of 90 ft lbs (or thereabouts, I forget their exact recommendation). You want as evenly spread out torque as possible.

- Offer up the wheel to the spacer as you would normally to a hub. Then follow suit as above with the wheel with regard to tightening your wheel lugs to the adapter

- Job done, I ran them for 10,000 miles with zero issues.

Great tips above.

Spidertrax 1.25" spacers.

Yes, and these are very good quality and come anodized (not just painted) so you don't see rusting inside the wheel area. I've been selling them for over 7 years now and they're tough as rocks.

SpiderTrax wheel spacers at Burtman Industries

Both colors in stock as we speak:

The main two reasons people are by buying these is... 1) They are rubbing with larger tires and don't want to cut anything. 2) They just want a wider look on factory wheels. These are made specially for Toyota's and push the wheel/tire flush with the fenders so you don't have that sucked in look anymore. It's a nice fit, and fools the eyes and makes it looks like you went up a tire size when you didn't.

SpiderTrax wheel spacers at Burtman Industries

 

[honda250xtitan]

Great tips above.



Yes, and these are very good quality and come anodized (not just painted) so you don't see rusting inside the wheel area. I've been selling them for over 7 years now and they're tough as rocks.

SpiderTrax wheel spacers at Burtman Industries

Both colors in stock as we speak:

The main two reasons people are by buying these is... 1) They are rubbing with larger tires and don't want to cut anything. 2) They just want a wider look on factory wheels. These are made specially for Toyota's and push the wheel/tire flush with the fenders so you don't have that sucked in look anymore. It's a nice fit, and fools the eyes and makes it looks like you went up a tire size when you didn't.

SpiderTrax wheel spacers at Burtman Industries

people who buy wheel spacers thinking it will solve their rubbing issues are silly. it creates a wider arc increasing your chances of rubbing on the fender and bumper. only spot it'll help is rubbing on the frame.

I want a set of 4 1.25 for the 4runner tho....stock trail wheels on 285's with spacers is TITS. IMHO. lol
[MENTION=9]Jason B[/MENTION] when you gonna sell some volant style taillights like you do for the titan world??????