Contents
1/2-inch (12mm)Moving wheels 1/2-inch outwards eliminates rubbing and clearance issues when installing aftermarket wheels. |
1.25-inch (30mm)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 Toyota Tacoma is one of the most popular vehicles in Toyota’s lineup, especially when it comes to real car enthusiasts. This Japanese pickup is known for its durability and ruggedness, but also for its off-road performance with the right model. A vehicle that can go anywhere and come home intact.
Being very popular with enthusiasts, Toyota offers a TRD off-road kit for the Tacoma with upgraded suspension, wheels, and tires. This kit dramatically improves the off-road ability of the Tacoma and makes it one of the best all-terrain vehicles out there.
But, what about improving your “run of the mill” Tacoma? What if you want to install bigger wheels and tires or use a leveling kit to make it higher? There are numerous options for upgrading the Tacoma, but all of them start with installing wheel spacers.
What are wheel spacers and why do I need one?
Wheel spacers change the wheel offset, or in other words, push the wheels outward. There are numerous advantages to this, but most Tacoma owners install wheel spacers because they want to put bigger wheels and tires on their vehicles. With the wheel spacers, you can put very wide tires and big wheels, without worrying that they’ll touch the wheel well.
What Spacers do I need?
Suppose you have 2018 Toyota Tacoma and adding some 18×9 wheels XD Xd127 and 275/70 or 33.2″x10.8″ tires.
By installing Suspension Lift 3″ you will need to add 2″ spacers.
1″ Spacers
1.5″ Spacers
2″ Spacers
3″ spacers for Tacoma
4″ spacers for Tacoma
There are wheel spacers that even change the bolt pattern, so you can install those amazing off-road wheels with a lot of bolts on them. Wheel spacers can open more space for installing bigger brakes as well, which is very important in hardcore off-road driving.
That said, most of the Tacoma owners want to just add a bit drama to the design of their vehicle. Wheel spacers can improve the looks of the Tacoma by pushing the stock wheels outward. This way, the wheels will be more flush with the bodywork of the vehicle and the Tacoma will appear more aggressive and with a better stance.
Do they improve on performance as well?
You can expect a mildly better handling on the road. This is an area where the Tacoma is lacking a bit and better handling certainly won’t hurt anyone. Expect more grip and better stability at higher speeds, thanks to more uniform tire load. On the other hand, wheel spacers can put more strain on the suspension components, so it’s always the best if you go for higher-quality products.
How to choose the best quality wheel spacer?
If you want to be sure that the wheel spacers will last you a long time, choose hub-centric ones. They carry the vehicle weight by themselves, while lug-centric wheel spacers put the weight of the vehicle on the lug nuts. You surely don’t want your wheel falling out during driving or have a vibration at highway speeds? It’s worth mentioning that you shouldn’t install two or more wheel spacers if you need more wheel offset – it’s always better to install bigger wheel spacers.
| Tacoma Bolt Pattern | PCD 6×139.7 |
| Stock wheel offset | -25 to 35 mm |
| Center bore (hub bore) | 106.1 |
| Thread size | M12 x 1.5 |
| Stock Rim Sizes Range | 16×7.5 – 24×10.0 |
| Custom rim sizes range | 17×9.0 – 20×9.0 |
| Tire sizes | 245/75 R16 – 265/40 R22 |
How to install wheel spacers on the Toyota Tacoma?
You can always go to a car shop or garage to install the wheel spacers, as most of the sellers of wheel spacers already offer that kind of service. However, if you buy online, you can install them yourself, provided you have a jack, a jack stand, the proper tools and equipment, and a garage. Please be careful when working – Tacoma’s wheels are big and heavy.
- Jack up the Toyota Tacoma with a jack that supports bigger weights
- Put jack stands under the jacking points so that they support the vehicle
- Remove the wheels by unscrewing the lug nuts. Have another person to assist with holding the brakes of the Tacoma pressed for easier removal
- Install the wheel spacers and tighten them with a torque wrench (85 ft-lbs)
- Put thread locker on the studs for better safety
- Install the wheel back and tighten with a torque wrench (75-85 ft-lbs) in a criss-cross pattern
- Check after driving 50-100 miles that the wheel spacers are properly seated and retighten them again if required
