Wheel spacers do or don’t

I’m getting my toyo M/T 285/75/16 tires and rims installed tomorrow and I have wheel spacers my friend gave me I don’t exactly know the brand and we’re wondering if they were safe to use

 

I've used small ones on other rides with no issues when running wheels that didnt fit right.

I prefer wheels that fit.

But thats just me.

Lots of folks will be along soon to tell you how great they are.

 

i hear to many horror stories of failed bearings every 20k so I would just go with proper wheel offset

 

Before people roast me, Obviously anything other than stock will cause things to wear out faster than originally intended due to added stress. Even if its minimal and over time.

That being said wheel spacers when properly used are no different than running a wheel with a deeper offset than stock. That is, when they are hubcentric spacers. Hubcentric being they have a lip on the outside (wheel side) that holds the wheel in place from sliding back and forth and are hubcentric to your hub as well. Stock tacoma wheels are hub and lug centric meaning the lugs center the wheel as well as there is a lip on the hub. Safe hubcentric spacers are made by companies like spydertrax and bora.

All this being said the spacer in your picture doesn't look to be hubcentric on the wheel side because there is no lip on the wheel side to hold the wheel in place. I personally wouldn't run then unless they were hubcentric.

 

Those are lug centric wheel spacers. most likely a generic e-bay brand. As long as you torque them down in proper order and to spec, they should be fine to use. If you botch initial install, you could have vibration in your wheels- which translates to the following potential issues:
steering wheel vibration which could feel like your wheels are out of balance, which could case wheel bearing premature wear. I'm not telling you that to scare you away from using them, just so that you're informed. I have two sets of wheels that I go back and forth between and one set requires that I use spacers.

 

I’m all for wheel spacers (I run them and wheel with them) but one of my rules for safe useage is a quality brand like spidertrax or bora. I would never run generic eBay ones. This thing LITERALLY holds on the one thing that keeps you in contact with the ground. Wouldn’t want to cheap out there when my family’s safety is on the line.

 

I run 1inch spacers on stock wheels. I got mine from eBay or Amazon . Don't remember. I think I only paid $40 for them. They are huh and wheel centric and I haven't had any issues with them.
The ones in the op, I wouldn't use.

 

I'm on the opposite end of that spectrum...

 

By that you mean you don’t like spacers?

 

I had a leveling kit installed on my Gen 2, 2013 TRD Sport and included installation of 2 inch spacers, and my truck rides smoother and more stable than ever. I like to widen the wheel base a little if I raise the vehicle to maintain a stable ride, and not get top heavy.
I run Cooper 265x70x17 tires which run really well on and off road, but are a little to wide for the set up with the spacers.
I will put a narrower, taller tire on and go to a rim which pulls more of the tire into the wheel well and that will eliminate the inch or so I have now outside the chassis.