So I'm not a fan of cutting corners

But I'm looking for some opinions on wheel adapters/spacers. Specifically, 5x114 > 5x100 adapters. Obviously they are not a good thing, but exactly HOW are they bad? Does it through off the symmetry of the wheel? Or could they break under cornering? I don't track my car or anything, so performance isn't a huge issue. Safety is my main concern.

 

first off why do you want to run adapters? i am guessing its due to some wheel. so which wheel exactly

 

I run Project Kic 15mm spacer conversion kit on my BRZ that changes the bolt pattern from 5x114.3 to 5x100 so I could run a particular wheel I had in stock.

I have had 0, ZERO, no, none, nein issues. lol. I autocross and drive it hard.

I spoke directly with Project Kics at the SEMA Show a few weeks ago, and they run spacers on their race cars with no issues.

If you are worried about them being centered, you can run hubcentric rings, but I don't, and don't have issues.

I think this is the deal with spacers kits. There are several out there, several cheap kits and you get what you pay for. Project kics are not cheap, but they work well.

People will swear against them and people will say it is not a problem.

Here is a video of my set up, if you are interested.

Good luck!

 

there are no issues but your wheel bearing running out faster than usual. i think when you run some sort of conversion adaptor, you are running at a big spacer size.. i dunno.. if you are going to run spacers or adaptors just make sure they are hubcentric.

 

Another note: Some people say, like mistaanime did above, that your wheel bearings might wear more, or some say that it puts added stress on your hub and suspension compentents. Well, running a ridiculous wheel size would essentially do the same thing.

 

May be a stupid quesiton but why do you want to switch to 5x100? I was always under impression 5x114 was a more deisrable pattern with more wheel options?

 

i think he meant 5x100 to 5114.3 since it says OP has a 2002 wrx. unless you have a full sti hub swap and want to convert back to 5x100 in which case you sir are dumb haha

 

IMO bite the bullet and find another set. Or find one thats dual drilled (10 lug holes: 5x100, 5x114)

I personally would not run wheel spacers, as im sure youve seen other people post, it puts more stress on your wheel bearings. It does indeed change the geometry of your suspension. The suspension still moves the same way and has the same strokes, but other components will wear out quicker. I run 5mm spacers in snow but take them off in the summer.

 

I actually talked to my friend Brendan Bannister about your set up. I believe you're the guy he want to SEMA with. Thanks for the info!

 

And to everyone else, sorry I should've added more details. I have a 2002 wrx (5x100), and recently acquired some 2005 STI BBS's with 5x114 to 5x100 adapters. The adapters are also 20mm spacers. So I really can't say I've had any problems with them so far, except that I'd rather not run a 20mm spacer. The adapters essentially make the BBS's into 17x8 +33, which is quite wide on my car. I've heard the lowest offset adapter you can purchase is 15mm.

Also, the seller wasn't running hubcentric rings! The adapters are 64mm, and the hub is 56.1mm I believe. Hopefully I said all that correctly. Anyways, I'm not going to drive the car until I get the rings, that just doesn't seem good.

Thanks for all the input. Not sure if I'll keep these wheels in the long term though... Just doesn't sit well with me.

 

For those who are interested, I have an update on my adapter/wheel situation.

Turns out, the adapters I acquired at not hubcentric. The bore of the adapter is 64mm, while the hub is 56mm. The seller told me I could purchase hubcentric rings to make up the difference. But that was incorrect. The inner bore is not beveled, they are meant for a 64mm hub. Also they are 20mm spacers, which is just to wide for my car. Adapters are scary enough, no way I'm going to run ones that don't even fit snugly to the hub!

Anyways, I didn't want to spend the cash on Project Kics adapters. So I found another reputable make, that is actually made in America. I called up the owner and he was super helpful. They make 15mm adapters that are speciacally meant for WRX's, that come with a 56mm bore.

This is the link to their website,
Wheel Adapters, Wheel Spacers, Hub Centric Rings | Motorsport Tech