How do I choose a wheel spacer?

When choosing wheel spacers, one will have to think about thickness, diameter, as well as which wheels they want to install them on. Varying widths increase the spacing to differing degrees. Generally, you can safely modify your spacing to increase between half an inch to three whole inches. However, three-inch is the limit. If you need more than two-inch spacers, you might want to look at a wider aftermarket lift kit.

What thickness you choose will depend on how much you personally want to widen your ATV or how much extra clearance you need to gain. A set of one-inch spacers will add 2 inches in total width to the ATV. Another thing you want to consider is the diameter of the spacer. Ideally, it should be the same diameter or larger than the mounting surface of the wheel hub. Basically, the more surface contact, the better.

You will also need to consider whether you want to space out both front and rear wheels, or if you just want to do the front. A very common approach is to put wheel spacers on just the front. Some people prefer a combination of longer A-Arms in the front and wheel spacers in the back, or to leave the back as-is without spacers with the A-Arms. In general, it is preferred to have the spacing in the front be wider than the rear, or to have the front and rear be about the same width. 

As for material, billet aluminum spacers are preferred over cast aluminum as they are more precise in terms of measurement. Just as important as the quality of the spacer is the quality of the hardware. Check your product specifications and make sure your nuts and bolts are torqued properly before you hit the trails.

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