Are wheel spacers bad these days?

I been doing some research the last few days and come across people who love them and others who hate them. Seems as though the people who have had bad experiences with them, had them years ago. Do they make them better now-a-days?

Also, everyone recommends the spidertrax spacers but they are $200 for 4!! Is this brand significantly better than other.

I found some for $160 at:
and $116 from ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TOYO...ts=Model:Tacoma|Year:2008&hash=item5643123085

 

I wouldn't trust the ones from ebay...AP or Spidertrax are what's commonly used around here in 1.25"

 

Have they gotten better in the past few years (design, material etc)? Heard a few horror stories and concerns, but like mentioned above, seemed like a lot of this was from years ago.

 

I want to get some too! but am scared ill shear off my studs if I off road too hard?

 

Mine are awesome. there are pics of my All-Pro's in my gallery. I got them because i didnt want them to be too noticable like the blue ones

 

Ya, I wouldn't trust em bud...just stick with whats good...like Spidertrax if you HAVE to run wheel spacers. I know its a cheaper alternative to buying new wheels but cheaper can sometimes cost you more in the long run...but you already know that

 

Did you cut yours down? Do you have any before and after pics?

 

People have been using wheel spacers on race cars forever. As long as you don't buy cheap shit and install them properly you should'nt have any issues.

 

I think most people had issues with wheel spacers not wheel adapters like the spidertrax and ap adapters. Steer clear of eBay and trail gear though that's all Chinese crap.

 

So adapters change the bolt spacing? What is the difference between the two? Why is one less problematic than the other?

 

Quality, is the problem. Never EVER go cheap with something that holds the wheels to a truck.

Read this thread
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/wheels-tires/59184-had-wheel-spacer-break-me-tonight.html

 

Also remember the spidertrax ones are hub-centric, while the ebay ones are not.

 

I figured the ebay ones were not a good way to go. Just wanted to throw it out there and see what you all thought.

 

Do you have spacers on yours? I like how width of your stance.

 

I have the AP 1.5 and love them!

 

I do not have spacers, but I have 9" wide wheels. That's why they stick out that far.

 

Go to wheelers and look at their spidertrax adapters and then look at their wheel spacers (should be .5" I believe). With spacers you may need longer studs, where with adapters you get another set of lugs

 

I haven't had any trouble with my ebay ones. Been on my truck for 2 years now.

 

Just in general spacers are bad and a band aid fix regardless of how quality they are. Pushing the wheel out also adds more stress to the suspension, joints and bearings.

Real racers do not use spacers. Sure some small local cars/teams might that don't have the funding to spend on a proper fitting set up but again, that is a band aid fix and should always be temporary.

OP, if you are just staying on the street and not towing a bunch or doing heavy loads spacers would work for a while (buy quality ones), but if you plan to wheel a bunch or test your truck in other ways buy new tires, deal with the rub or buy new wheels with a proper offset.

Tyler