Are K-tec spacers safe?

[snarfarlarkus]

Hey guys, thinking of running some 19mm hubcentric ktec spacers front and rear on my clio 172.

I'm just wondering if its safe to use as I've heard people saying the extended bolts means more pressure on them? Thanks

 

[Bluebeard]

Absolutely fine, provided they are fitted properly by someone who knows what they’re doing. Go for it!

 

[snarfarlarkus]

Absolutely fine, provided they are fitted properly by someone who knows what they’re doing. Go for it!

Thank you!

 

[loggyboy]

No real concerns with force on bolts, but big spacers can put more force on bearings. 19mm wont make a hug difference but depends on if thats combined with low offset wheels.

 

[snarfarlarkus]

No real concerns with force on bolts, but big spacers can put more force on bearings. 19mm wont make a hug difference but depends on if thats combined with low offset wheels.

Thats good to know. THe wheels are stock ph1 wheels so I think et43 or et48? Thanks for your reply!

 

[leeds_182]

I fit spacers on my cars. I constantly get told i will die and yet I’m still here!

Go for it!

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

Some folk definitely get wound up spacers. So long as they're decent quality, fitted properly, and aren't ridiculously large, then they're fine.

Plenty of competition cars run them and they take way more abuse than road cars.

19mm hubcentric will be absolutely fine.

 

[snarfarlarkus]

Some folk definitely get wound up spacers. So long as they're decent quality, fitted properly, and aren't ridiculously large, then they're fine.

Plenty of competition cars run them and they take way more abuse than road cars.

19mm hubcentric will be absolutely fine.

I've also heard the bolt to hub type are a lot safer than just slip on hubcentric ones like the Ktec 19mm ones? Do you think this is true?

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

It's swings and roundabouts really in my view. Bolt-on ones are more convenient, as you don't have to faff about lining the spacer and wheels up with the bolt holes, but you could also argue that they're worse, as you effectively have twice as many wheel nuts/bolts that could potentially come undone.

In reality though, provided they are hubcentric, and have been fitted correctly, there isn't much to worry about. All you're really doing is effectively making your wheels a slightly wider offset. There are thousands of cars out there running spacers without issue. Loads of people in Clio world do it, so you will be fine.

 

[TheBandit]

Echoing others here hub-centric spacers with longer bolts + correct torque (120Nm) = no issues here, run 20mm on the front and 15mm on the back with 16" 182 wheels

 

[snarfarlarkus]

Thanks for all the replies guys! Its much appreciated

 

[Dom_capper]

I’ve had a H&R bolt to hub hubncentric spacer come loose on me once. They can’t come off as the bolts will wind out so far then hit the wheel. I could feel the vagueness in the rear end and sorted it straight away, obviously not ideal but a little fail safe.

 

[snarfarlarkus]

I’ve had a H&R bolt to hub hubncentric spacer come loose on me once. They can’t come off as the bolts will wind out so far then hit the wheel. I could feel the vagueness in the rear end and sorted it straight away, obviously not ideal but a little fail safe.

Hmm thats pretty scary... Did you torque down the bolts to spec? I wonder how often this actually happens

 

[Dom_capper]

I didn’t use a torque wrench, they were tight but I guess maybe not enough?

 

[snarfarlarkus]

I didn’t use a torque wrench, they were tight but I guess maybe not enough?

I would say this was the problem. Torqueing to the right spec is very important for wheels/spacers

 

[Chambers_RS]

Wheels come loose more often because of incorrect painting/powdering than correctly fitted/torqued spacers

 

[snarfarlarkus]

Wheels come loose more often because of incorrect painting/powdering than correctly fitted/torqued spacers

Why would incorrect painting or powdering cause a wheel to come loose ?

 

[Louis]

Why would incorrect painting or powdering cause a wheel to come loose ?

Coatings on the mating faces for either the wheel to hub or nut/bolt angle.

 

[snarfarlarkus]

Coatings on the mating faces for either the wheel to hub or nut/bolt angle.

Thats crazy how much of an impact that has. I've also heard its common for bolt to hub spacers to fail because the studs on the hub itself poke through the spacer and theres a space between the hub and spacer?

 

[McGherkin]

Send it.