Hello,
I bought a 1999 dodge ram 1500 about 2 months ago. The truck currently sits on 275/75-16 wheels/ tires. The truck has an equalizer kit on the front end so it sits higher than a stock ram. I want to get new rims that are negatively offset for the truck so that the wheels stick out a bit further than they do now to give the truck a wider stance and to make it look better. However, i am on a slim budget and havent had much luck finding 16" wheels that are negative offset more than -10mm. So another option i have been looking into is wheel spacer/adapters. Now I have seen and heard of wheel spacers before but really dont know too much about them. I have been looking around for spacers and for a set of 4 that are 2" it will run me about $160. I just wanted to ask the community who has used wheel spacer/adapters before a few questions about wheel spacers.
-When it comes to wheel spacers, do you get what you pay for?
-Is it necessary to have wheel spacers professionally installed?
-Do the spacer/adapters actually make the tires/rims stick out further from the truck body?
-Is this a safe option?
-What are the pros and cons of wheel spacer/adapters?

Here is the set i was looking at....http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2-2-W...#ht_2387wt_939
(copy link)

-Your input and opinions will be much appreciated!
thanks!

 

A better option than getting iffy spacers would be...wait, here it comes:
Save your money!!!!!

 

offset? forget offset!

get some 12 or 14 wide wheels

 

Yeah but the thing is i dont want to have to get new rims AND tires because i just purchased these tires

 

billet aluminum is as good as it gets. CRAZY STRONG!

 

If your going to run wheel spacers, I would talk to Fred Goeske at wheeladapter.com. His quality is excellent from what ive heard, seen, and researched. Ive spoke with him personally and he is one hell of a nice guy. Probably a little more pricey, but using a wheel spacer is something you dont want to cheap out on. And 2" is probably MAX the widest I would go. Any more than that and youll need aftermarket wheels designed to operate at that amount of backspace. And its just flat out dangerous to go too wide. Installation shouldnt be any different than installing your wheels normally. If your going to offroad, I wouldnt advise using spacers though. There is alot more stress put on two seperate parts bolted together than one solid cast piece of the same backspacing.

 

Btw, never use a cast wheel spacer!

 

thanks for the info guys. Is there any other way to made the wheels wider other than spacers or different rims/tires?

 

Spacers are a very bad idea. We won't touch any vehicle that comes in with them.

 

On this, I will wholeheartedly concur.

By spacing your wheels out TWO INCHES!!! you are dramatically altering the geometry up front. You are going to introduce excessive side loads to the already weak hub/bearing assemblies, which are going to wear out right quick. Combined with larger tires........ better buy stock in the company that manufactures them, as you are going to be replacing them on a regular basis.

Offset isn't what you are looking for anyway. Backspacing is what you want to change. Stock wheels have 4.5 inches backspacing. If you reduce that number, your tires will move outward. (and still give you the same geometry changes, unfortunately.)