Many people, when their tyres start rubbing, think of jumping straight to wheel spacers. But here’s the thing: installing spacers without understanding how they affect rubbing can actually make the problem worse.
Before you buy and bolt anything on, you need to know why your tyres are rubbing and whether spacers will fix that specific issue. Otherwise, you could go from a minor clearance problem to damaging your fenders, suspension, or tyres.
Do Wheel Spacers Actually Help With Rubbing?
Wheel spacers can help with rubbing, but only in certain situations. This is because of the very nature of wheel spacers, and the practicalities of how they work are such that they can only help with rubbing in if the rubbing is on the inside (of the wheel well), but not all the time.
How Do Wheel Spacers Work?
Wheel spacers work by pushing your wheels outward from the hub, increasing the distance between the tyre and the suspension components. So, they can only help with rubbing when the rubbing is happening on the inside of the wheel well, but not always elsewhere.
- Small (3–5mm) wheel spacers can help by making minor clearance adjustments
- Medium spacers (10–20mm) cause a noticeable change in fitment
- Large spacers (25mm+) can cause a significant change in stance, but that could come with some other risks.
So, wheel spacers don’t “fix” rubbing universally. What they tend to do is shift the problem from one area to another.
When Do Wheel Spacers Help with Rubbing?
There are three scenarios where wheel spacers can help with rubbing: when the tyre is rubbing on suspension components, when the rubbing is a result of tight fitment from the factory, and when the rubbing results from constant contact between brake callipers (usually aftermarket brake callipers) and the wheel spokes.
- When there is rubbing on the suspension components: If your tyre is rubbing against the control arms, struts, or the inner wheel well, wheel spacers can help because they create extra clearance by pushing the wheel outward.
- When the factory fitment is too tight: Some cars have very little inner clearance from the factory. Wheels spacers help in this scenario because they correct overly conservative fitment and allow for slightly wider tyres.
- In cases of brake calliper clearance. Some aftermarket brake callipers sometimes hit the back of wheel spokes and create rubbing. 3-5mm wheel spacers can help because they push the wheel outwards and provide some room for the brakes.
When Wheel Spacers Might Actually Make Things Worse
In some cases, wheel spaces not only do not help with rubbing, but actually make things worse. Usually, this happens in three scenarios: when the rubbing is on the fender or outer wheel arc, when the vehicle already has a lower stance, and when the tyres are already wide.
1. The Rubbing is on the Fender or Outer Wheel Arch
If your tyre already sits close to the fender, wheel spacers may actually make the rubbing worse. They might push the tyre closer to the fender, increasing the chance of rubbing, especially during turns or bumps.
2. You Have a Lowered Vehicle
Lowered cars already have reduced clearance, and installing wheel spacers could actually cause rubbing. Remember, wheel spacers amplify outward travel, which in this case, would make fender contact more likely.
3. You Already Have Wide Tires or Aggressive Offsets
If your setup is already aggressive, wheel spacers are likely not going to help with rubbing. You will likely be pushing beyond the limits of your wheel well.
Inside vs Outside Rubbing: When Do Wheel Spacers Help?
When the rubbing is on the inside (suspension side, that is), installing wheel spacers can help reduce rubbing and increase clearance from struts and arms.
On the outside (fender side), wheel spacers actually increase the risk of rubbing, as the tyres would sit closer to (or beyond) the fender line.
Spacers trade inner clearance for outer clearance; you don’t get both.
Tips and Alternatives for Dealing With Rubbing
- Roll or trim the fenders. This creates more space on the outside and is a viable solution for fender rubbing or if you have a lowered car.
- Adjust the uspension settings. Raise ride height slightly and adjust camber. This will change how the tyre sits and moves within the wheel well.
- Choose the right tyre size: Switching to a slightly narrower or lower-profile tyre can make a big difference. It reduces overall tyre dimensions without major modifications.
- Upgrade wheels with proper offset: Instead of adding spacers, use wheels designed with the correct offset. It provides a cleaner, more balanced solution.
- Check alignment: Improper alignment can cause unexpected rubbing. Proper alignment ensures your wheels are positioned correctly under load.
Why Wheel Spacer Quality Matters
Even if spacers solve your rubbing issue, cheap spacers can create bigger problems than the rubbing itself. So, you want high-quality wheel spacers with enough structural integrity that do not crack under stress or fail at high speeds.
The best wheel spacers are made of forged aluminium and coated for extra corrosion resistance to last longer and handle stress more effectively.
Consider this Orion Motor Tech wheel spacer kit, specially designed to improve the cornering, stability, handling, and control of your all-terrain vehicle by adding 4 inches to its axle track.
- The 4-lug wheel adapters are made from solid blocks of T6 aircraft-grade aluminium: lightweight but highly durable and strong
- The 16 Dacromat-coated M12x1.5 bolts included are 7-10 times more corrosion-resistant than the competition
- They feature unique slots on the rear face for easier removal, to reduce damage during use, and give you a longer service life
This wheel adapter set fits 2013-2020 Polaris Ranger and most Polaris RZR ATVs from 2014 to 2020; see above for the complete fitment list of Polaris RZR XP 1000s, Polaris Trail 900s, and more!
Final Thoughts on Wheel Spacers Causing Rubbing
Wheel spacers can absolutely help with rubbing, but only if you’re solving the right problem. They’re ideal for creating inner clearance, but they can quickly cause issues on the outer side if you’re not careful.
The smart approach is to identify where the rubbing is happening, decide if spacers address that specific issue, and use high-quality components if you move forward
Get it right, and spacers can be a simple, effective fix. Get it wrong, and you may end up chasing a bigger problem than you started with.
You may also be interested in whether wheel spacers affect alignment, and other tips for safe and effective use of wheel spacers.
