Wheel Spacers vs. Wheel Adapters?

[713Hemi]

What exactly is the difference? I know wheel spacers push the wheel out more, but most people also call them wheel adapters...but I thought adapters were for using wheels that had a different bolt pattern.
For instance the wheels I want are the Hostile Switch-Blade but they only come in 6 and 8 lug while my 1500 is a 5 lug. So if I wanted to run these wheels would I need wheel adapters? Or is crossing bolt patterns just not do-able?

 

[HeavyD]

ive seen wheel adapters that will go from 5 - 6 lugs.
& you are right about spacer vs adapters.

 

[012RAMbo]

Spacers just slide over your existing studs and then the wheel goes on top of those. Most of the time these are only 1/4 to 1/2 inch at the most due to stock stud length. Adapters bolt on to your stock studs and have new studs coming off of the adapter itself. They can have the same bolt pattern as your stock studs or a new bolt pattern to fit different wheels. These are usually 3/4'' to 2'' thick. You can't run a spacer that thick because there would be no stud left to bolt on the wheels.

 

[Dubstep Shep]

You could also install longer studs on your wheel hubs and use thicker spacers then

 

[713Hemi]

Spacers just slide over your existing studs and then the wheel goes on top of those. Most of the time these are only 1/4 to 1/2 inch at the most due to stock stud length. Adapters bolt on to your stock studs and have new studs coming off of the adapter itself. They can have the same bolt pattern as your stock studs or a new bolt pattern to fit different wheels. These are usually 3/4'' to 2'' thick. You can't run a spacer that thick because there would be no stud left to bolt on the wheels.

So those guys that running 1-2" spacers are running adapters not spacers? And can you run a spacer on top of an adapter?
I want to run a 6 lug wheel with a spacer on my 5 lug...so am I gonna need 2 different parts? Or do they have adapters that are also spacers?

And is running an adapter recommended or cause any sort of cv/ball joint/etc wear?

Sorry for all the questions lol I'm just kinda confused

 

[012RAMbo]

Definitely not recommended to run spacer and adapter together. The adapter that bolts on is a spacer per say, but like i said, you cant run a slide on spacer that thick because you wont have enough stud to bolt the wheel on. I have never run an adapter that changes lug pattern, but people do it all the time so i wouldnt see an issue. Here is a picture of BORA adapters i ran for about a year with no issues at all. As you can see the stock studs are inside of the adapter bolted on and the adapter has new studs to bolt the wheel on. These are 1.75''. Make sure the adapters are hub cenctric. Our hubs are 77.8mm

 

[BlownGP]

Definitely not recommended to run spacer and adapter together. The adapter that bolts on is a spacer per say, but like i said, you cant run a slide on spacer that thick because you wont have enough stud to bolt the wheel on. I have never run an adapter that changes lug pattern, but people do it all the time so i wouldnt see an issue. Here is a picture of BORA adapters i ran for about a year with no issues at all. As you can see the stock studs are inside of the adapter bolted on and the adapter has new studs to bolt the wheel on. These are 1.75''. Make sure the adapters are hub cenctric. Our hubs are 77.8mm

Yeah, adapters are really spacers because in order to have new studs they need to be at least 1" or so thick.

You won't find many spacers if any that thick without studs obviously since you won't be able to put the lug nuts on.

 

[Wandell]

You could also install longer studs on your wheel hubs and use thicker spacers then

No, that would be a horrible idea.

 

[Dubstep Shep]

No, that would be a horrible idea.

That's why race cars do it lol. I'm sure they have no idea what they're doing and you do.

 

[713Hemi]

Definitely not recommended to run spacer and adapter together. The adapter that bolts on is a spacer per say, but like i said, you cant run a slide on spacer that thick because you wont have enough stud to bolt the wheel on. I have never run an adapter that changes lug pattern, but people do it all the time so i wouldnt see an issue. Here is a picture of BORA adapters i ran for about a year with no issues at all. As you can see the stock studs are inside of the adapter bolted on and the adapter has new studs to bolt the wheel on. These are 1.75''. Make sure the adapters are hub cenctric. Our hubs are 77.8mm

Thanks for all the info man, I got everything I needed.

Btw do you have any recommendation on who to buy the adapters from? I know for the spacers Bora is the best to go with but what about adapters

 

[012RAMbo]

No problem man. B.O.R.A. = Bulletproof Off Road ADAPTERS lol

These are the guys i bought mine from, I had great service and many others have too.

We manufacture the best BORA Wheel Spacers money can buy | Motorsport Tech

 

[713Hemi]

No problem man. B.O.R.A. = Bulletproof Off Road ADAPTERS lol

These are the guys i bought mine from, I had great service and many others have too.

We manufacture the best BORA Wheel Spacers money can buy | Motorsport Tech

Thanks man, and just an after thought, if I'm running a x12 wheel with an adapter which are 2" that means I'l end up with the stance of a x14 wheel?
Holy stance lol I'm gonna have some trimming to do