Ok, I'm looking at buying some solstice wheels and need spacers on the front with the extended tip lug nuts.

Are running spacers safe or no?

 

I ran spacers on my lowered Ranger on 20's for 2 years without a problem. As long as there quality products, you shouldn't have any problems. I'm sure someone who has them on their HHR will chime in!

Dave

 

Spacers can be safe if you torque the lugs properly and check the torque on both the rims and spacers frequently, but its imperative to use the best quality spacers your budget will allow.

 

There are several members here using spacers for those rims.

One member is using really Thick adapters to use newer Vette Rims on his hhr..

But keeping them properly torqued is important as was said..

 

Other than the cautionary notes by Sleeper, 843dr and Silver, I'd keep an eye on the wheel bearings. Years back I decided not to add wheel spacers due to the warning of the shop selling the spacers - something about needing to be aware that they would most likely shorten the life of the wheel bearings. As I had a hight speed sudden failure of a front wheel bearing a year or two earlier that scared the heck out of me, that kinda put me off considering wheel spacers.

As long as you keep an eye on your wheel bearings (I sure didn't years ago), I wouldn't worry about that aspect tho'. A lot of people use them without problems. :)

 

I'll second the wheel bearing note above. They do affect the load on them. Also, it depends on how thick the spacers are. 5mm seems to have little negative effect on any car. Running 20mm+ spacers usually does. Your mileage may vary.

 

And also realize that all of the weight will be placed on the lugnuts on whichever spacer you buy. There will be no more hub to centralize or brace the weight

 

Spacers are big in the jeep world. Lots of people use them with out any trouble. But like was already said the added weight, and the stress of the wider over all axle width should put stress on the bearings. I know jeep guys that do wheel bearings every few years, but 35" tires weight a lot more.

 

There are guys who drag race 3800 pound F bodies on spacers with no issues and sometimes are needed. Most times you need to make sure you have enough threads to properly secure the lug nut and like the other said. Periodic torquing of the lugs.

 

I was going to buy some but where I buy my tires said they would not work on any car with spacers, they have about 500 tires stores across country.