FAQ

System 2 spacers feature double-sided centering. On the one hand, the hub of the spacer must fit into the center bore of the wheel so that the spacer sits flush against the wheel. On the other hand, the vehicle hub must fit into the spacer so that the spacer sits flush against the vehicle. It is very important that the spacer sits flush on both sides, otherwise the centering lip may break off. Since vehicles with long wheel hubs may exceed the spacer’s capacity to sit flush, we have developed special versions that, while otherwise identical in dimensions, provide greater capacity through an extended chamfer on the upper side of the spacer.

The special spacers feature an additional suffix after the regular part number.

Explanation using the wheel spacer with part number 12124/65:
The spacer has a center bore depth of 15 mm (standard version 12124: 12 mm)
-  The wheel-side chamfer of the spacer has a length of 6.5 mm (12124: 4 mm). Therefore, it must be checked whether the wheel has a chamfer of at least 6.5 mm
-  If the length of your wheel hub is 15 mm or less and your wheel has a chamfer of at least 6.5 mm, you can mount the 12124/65 spacer without any issues

Only after a thorough inspection of the vehicle (e.g. compressing the suspension) can a statement be made regarding the appropriate spacer thickness. It must be ensured that the wheels have sufficient clearance after installation of the spacers. Wheel coverage must also comply with road traffic regulations.

Another major issue is that tire width can vary significantly even with the same nominal size. Therefore, if you are unsure which spacer thickness is suitable, please contact one of our dealers. After inspecting the vehicle, they can determine the maximum possible spacer thickness.

We offer our wheel spacers and wheel bolts in many different coatings.

-  Wheel spacers are available either uncoated, meaning glossy silver, or anodized. For anodized finishes, you can choose between gray and black anodizing.
-  Wheel bolts and nuts are available chrome-plated, zinc-plated (black and silver), with Geomet coating, or with Dacromet coating.

Bolt Pattern (PCD)
The bolt pattern describes the diameter on which the holes for the wheel bolts are positioned. In addition to the diameter, the number of holes is also important. An example of a bolt pattern specification is "100/4" - 100 mm is the diameter on which the 4 holes are arranged.
You can purchase our bolt pattern measuring tool here.

Center Bore (CB)
The center bore is the center hole of the wheel through which the wheel is mounted and centered on the vehicle hub.

If the spacers are stuck on the axle, heat them with a hot air gun. The heat slightly expands the aluminum, allowing the spacers to be removed without using force. Before reinstalling the spacers, make sure to apply grease to the wheel hub (see installation instructions).

The use of wheel spacers in combination with steel wheels is only possible if the steel wheels have a flat mounting surface. Alternatively, wheel spacers can be combined with steel wheels by using a stainless steel intermediate disc adapted to your spacers from our product range, which can also be purchased from us. Further information can be found at the following link: Wheel spacers for steel wheels

The installation of wheel spacers exclusively on the front axle is not permitted.
It is also not permitted to install wider wheel spacers on the front axle than on the rear axle.
The axle ratios of the vehicle must not be modified in such a way that oversteering behavior is promoted.

To determine the maximum width of wheel spacers, sufficient wheel clearance and especially wheel coverage must be ensured. In practice, this means that despite national regulations requiring coverage only 30° to the front and 50° to the rear, neither the tire sidewall nor the wheel rim edge may be exposed within this area. Viewed from above, nothing may protrude beyond the wheel arch in the defined area, which clearly means that protruding wheels are no longer permitted.

Why are no System 5 spacers offered for many newer Audi models? Reason: The wheel hub design does not allow the installation of 3–10 mm spacers without centering.

A System 5 spacer* cannot be mounted or centered correctly because the hub is recessed in front of and behind the small centering section**. This centering section sits exactly in the chamfer (PHO)*** of the wheel when mounting a System 5 spacer. As a result, proper wheel centering is not possible.

Use of System 2
System 2 wheel spacers with double centering can be used from 10 mm onwards. For thinner spacers, the centering lip height of the wheel hub must be smaller than the center bore depth of the wheel spacer.

PCD variation bolts are used to adapt different bolt patterns when the bolt patterns differ only slightly from each other. There is a certification report available for PCD variation bolts, which you can obtain from us upon request. The report is issued personalized (with name and vehicle identification number).

The thread engagement depth determines the minimum and maximum number of turns a bolt can be screwed in. Please ensure that the wheel bolts and wheel nuts of your vehicle achieve the following minimum number of turns and therefore meet the minimum thread engagement depth requirements.

The vehicle-side thread of the double-threaded studs must be secured with medium-strength thread locker and then tightened to a torque of approximately 30 Nm. The installation of the wheels and tightening of the nuts must be carried out using the tightening torque specified by the vehicle manufacturer.

The adaption of a vehicle with a 4-lug connection to wheels with a 5-lug connection is technically feasible, but not legally permitted. This means that adapter spacers with a reduced number of holes cannot receive TÜV approval.

A common question is: what is the thinnest wheel spacer with centering or the thickest without centering that can be installed? Helpful information can be found in our information sheets for System 2 and System 5. In addition, we have created an instructional video that explains the mentioned dimensions in detail once again: Watch instructional video for ZBH, NLT & PHO on YouTube

The parts certificates available for each vehicle provide a good indication of which spacer thicknesses are suitable for your vehicle. However, it is unfortunately not possible to make a reliable statement based solely on the vehicle type.

Only after a thorough inspection of the vehicle (e.g. by compressing the suspension) can a statement be made regarding the appropriate spacer thickness. It must be ensured that the wheels have sufficient clearance after installation of the wheel spacers. Wheel coverage must also comply with road traffic regulations.

Another major issue is that tire width can vary significantly even with the same nominal size. Therefore, if you are unsure which spacer thickness is suitable, please contact one of our dealers. After inspecting the vehicle, they can determine the maximum possible spacer thickness.


 

Assembly instructions System 2

Assembly instructions System 5

Yes, spacers and adapter spacers must be registered! However, parts certificates are available for most of our wheel spacers. With these certificates, registration in the vehicle registration document is no longer necessary. The parts certificates can be downloaded from our website for the respective vehicle.



Approval is then possible through TÜV, DEKRA, KÜS or other inspection organizations.

All special spacers and adaption wheel spacers are generally supplied with a certificate according to §21 StVZO and a manufacturer approval. In this case, registration through an individual approval at TÜV (Western Germany) or DEKRA (Eastern Germany) is required.



For vehicles for which no parts certificate is available, strength certificates are provided. In the strength certificate, wheel spacers from our various systems up to a thickness of 60 mm have been tested by TÜV.



If you still have any questions or doubts, please feel free to contact us.


 

More and more customers would like to register classic and vintage cars with historic registration plates. As part of the registration process, the vehicle owner must regularly prove the period correctness of modifications and retrofits, meaning proof that products such as wheel spacers were already offered and sold for the vehicle at the time of its first registration. In theory, any certificate or catalog that can be proven to originate from the corresponding production period of the vehicle may be used for this purpose.

Furthermore, some inspectors also accept confirmations from the manufacturer stating that the products were already offered for the vehicle at that time. This does not require a specific format, although it can be helpful to formulate the confirmation as formally as possible in order to create the impression of an official document.

PDF Download: Manufacturer confirmation for period-correct accessories 

 

If our extensive product range does not meet your requirements, we also offer custom-made products. These can be ordered in just a few steps. The following PDF provides a clear step-by-step guide. Request a custom-made product now!

We would like to inform you about the reasons why the production of custom-made wheel spacers takes a little more time. Since every product is individually tailored to your requirements, greater effort and detailed processing are necessary. Below, we explain the individual steps of the process:

1. Creation of a CAD drawing:
   First, a detailed CAD drawing of your custom-made product is created, serving as the basis for the entire production process.

2. Creation of production programs for the machines:
   Before production can begin, special production programs for the turning and milling machines must be written and precisely adapted to your requirements.

3. Cutting the blanks:
   For each wheel spacer, blanks must be cut from bar stock material. Since we process a large variety of diameters, these cannot all be machined simultaneously, which results in additional processing time.

4. Production on a dedicated production line:
   Individual sets of wheel spacers are manufactured on a separate production line. This process is very labor-intensive, as each wheel spacer must be manually inserted into the machine and clamped correctly.

5. External coating (anodizing):
   After production, the parts are anodized externally to ensure the desired coating. This process, which is not carried out in-house, takes approximately two weeks.

6. Inspection by the engineering department:
   Finally, the custom-made products are measured and inspected by our engineering department to ensure that all specifications and quality standards are met.

We hope this information provides you with a clear insight into the complex and careful steps required in the production of your custom wheel spacers. Your satisfaction is important to us, and we thank you for your understanding regarding the longer production times.

Product returns and complaints are processed through our RMA module.

Please note!
For complaints, please use the functions "Upload images" and "Add comment" to help us process your request more efficiently and reduce your waiting time. Thank you!
 

1. There, you can retrieve your orders using various reference numbers (invoice number, delivery note number, or order numbers from the online shop).
2. You have the option to return either the complete order or only individual items from it.
3. A shipping label is automatically created. You can decide whether this label should be prepaid (DHL, subject to a fee) or created unpaid.
4. Afterwards, an RMA processing number and all necessary documents will be sent to your email address.
5. You only need to place the RMA overview into the package and attach the shipping label to the parcel before sending it.