I've read where people say "don't use wheel spacers", and I've read where people say "they're ok to use".

What's the deal here...?

Spidertrax and Teraflex both make wheel spacers, and I'm sure there are other companies that build them too. I see that Teraflex's are made of Steel and Spidertrax's are Aluminum. I personally would think the steel ones would be better because of thermal expansion differences between the brake rotor and the aluminum spacer, but that's no matter here, nor there.

Anyway, my question is, what's the difference between buying a wheel with less backspacing then the stock wheel, or putting a spacer behind the stock wheel? I see no difference in loads on the axle doing either. The downfall I see by using a spacer is there's one more point of failure, but if they're installed properly I doubt that would happen.

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I am running bfg 35x12.5 on my stock 17's and a 1" teraflex spacer. People don't like them because of the liability. It's hard enough to get one set tight and good but for them to have to worry about an internal set can be a problem. As long as you keep up on them and keep 'em tight it should be ok. My brother had a wheel spacer and adapter on a rebuilt 66 mustang and lost a tire going around a turn. They have to be re-torqued after the first 100 miles and checked after each 5000 to 7000 or so as per mfg specs from teraflex. I've had no problems thus far.

 

there's a lengthy thread on this with many opinions from some of the most experienced jeep owners around this forum. do a search for "wheel spacers safety" or something like that. you'll find it.

i found it for you cause i hate when i have a question and someone tells me to search for a particular thread:

https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/modified-jk-tech-2/i-am-nervous-about-spidertrax-spacers-1700/

 

I was running the Spydertrax aluminum 2.25" spacers on steel wheels with 33" tires on my '03 Dbl-cab Taco and never broke anything. I rockcrawled Rubicon trail, Dusy-Ershim, Bald Mountain and many other hardcore trails. I also drove like an idiot on the freeway.. Too fast and hard! You will not break your axles or your spacers from having them on, and the stock wheel with spacer will be less severe on your axle than an offset wheel.
No steel! They will rust and deform! I've seen plenty of them break! The aluminum from Spydertrax is Aircraft grade and double-anodized. They will never rust, never loosen, and look awesome. Another difference is steel is heavier than aluminum, so you would be adding more weight and more leverage to your axle.

 

Here are pics of the 1.5" Spidertrax wheel spacers being installed on my Jeep:



This pic you'll see how much the tire sticks out from the fenders (my tires are BFG AT 285/70R/17s):

 

That just what I want to do...........got any other pics ?