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2015-2017 Subaru WRX
5x4.5 (5x114.3mm) Bolt Pattern with 12х1.25 lug nuts.1/2-inch (12mm)Moving wheels 1/2-inch outwards eliminates rubbing and clearance issues when installing aftermarket wheels. |
1-inch (25mm)A super-effective accessory to increase stability and give a noticeably aggressive stance. |
1.5-inch (40mm)By pushing out the wheels further out from the hub with 1.5-inch wheel spacers you gain in handling characteristics and get a catchy look. |
2-inch (50mm)Allow for significantly wider tires to improve road grip and traction when off-roading. |
2.5-inch (63mm) |
3-inch (75mm) |
The Benefits of Using Wheel Spacers on Subaru WRX
The Subaru WRX has been in production since 2000. It’s a legendary sports sedan that debuted together with the Subaru Impreza. It featured performance-oriented brakes and suspension, and a turbocharged engine.
The car has participated and won numerous racing competition with Peter Solberg as the driver. Its remarkable driving dynamics have ensured that it continues to accrue numerous prestigious titles across the globe.
Wheel spacers affect your vehicle’s clearance in two ways:
- They create space between your wheel and your hub. Stock studs are built to connect directly to the wheel and often come with a specific screw length that allows you to tighten the lug nut. Adding a buffer reduces this length and can stop the lug nut from tightening fully. This is very unsafe. Subaru studs usually come with 3mm of extra length to accommodate the lug nut. Using spacers that are more than 3mm thick shortens your stuck studs. You can mitigate this by further lengthening your car’s studs. Often, thicker spacers will feature their own studs which completely cover the manufacturer’s studs. This creates movement points between the wheel and spacer and is considered dangerous
- Spacers reduce offset. Your car’s total offset is what determines its handling capability. For example, a +50 wheel with a 2mm spacer is effectively similar to having a +48 wheel. This is assuming the lug nuts have been tightened accurately. Using spacers can cause you to have too low an offset.
What are some of the effects of reducing your offset?
Normally, your suspension is built to work with a specific distance between the wheel and the hub mounting surface. Pushing your wheels outwards means that you’ll be widening this distance. The “scrub radius” describes the angle at the lever. Subtle changes may not adversely affect the performance of your suspension but drastic changes could cause extreme handling dynamics.
In addition, adjustments to your car’s offset could cause your tires and suspension parts to wear out. This is especially where the scrub radius is larger than intended. The concept makes sense theoretically but is hard to showcase in practice. These parts wear out naturally. Small to moderate changes may cause wearing but it will not be severe.
Choosing Bolt Pattern & Thickness
Car owners buy wheel spacers for various reasons. It could be an addition to new custom wheels, a choice to improve the car’s appearance or something to go with the new jumbo brakes. All in all, wheel spacers help to solve some of the fitness dilemmas that car owners experience.
When it comes to spacers, size matters. Thickness varies from about 0.125” to about 1” or more. Getting a spacer of the right size is crucial as a difference of 0.25” or more could cause issues with fitment.
Installing Wheel Spacers on Subaru WRX
One of the most important things to consider while installing spacers is thread engagement. This is the number of threads engaged or covered during fitting. It is crucial regardless of whether your car uses bolts or nuts.
Despite there being differences in bolt and stud sizes, either should make about 6.5 to 8 turns during installation. Where a spacer is thicker by 1mm or 2mm (0.04” to 0.08”), thread engagement may not take place to completion.
Sometimes, you can use longer studs or bolts. “Extra thread” lug nuts or ETs can be used where lug studs are too short. They feature a “shank” that projects past the lug seat and further into the wheel. This provides the much-needed thread contact. Make sure the lug hole in the wheel can safely accommodate the extra thread lug nuts.
Other times, a wheel adapter/spacer that has its own threaded holes or studs can be used to solve the problem.
Subaru WRX Mods with Wheel Spacers: Before & After (Pics)
Appearance: Spacing the Subaru WRX wheels out to improve the position and more remarkable view.
Clearance: Lots of aftermarket Subaru WRX wheels fail to provide plenty of clearance to comply with big brake kits.
Correction: The offset of the Subaru WRX wheel setup happens to be too high, leading to the wheels installed too far inside. This may prompt the tire to scrape against the inside Subaru WRX brakes, or other elements. Wheel spacers regulates the offset thing.
Handling: by arranging your Subaru WRX wheels further away from each other, this common alteration can improve the Subaru WRX car with more horizontal firmness and corner better.
