Are adapter's safe?

[tre2k]

I got a pair of 18"s from a 2009 LS460 that I want to put on my SC300. I asked Discount Tire about getting wheel adapters to convert the 4 x 14.4 to 4 x 120, but the guy there was pretty strong in his conviction that if I put wheel adapters on my car, I had a good chance of dying while driving on the hwy at 80 mph because of the wheel falling off and rolling away from me.

Are they just trying to get me to buy new rims, or is this actually a threat? I've read places that say the stress on the lugs is the same and others that say otherwise. I figure with newer technology, they wouldn't have the same adapter issues had a few years ago, etc.

[SiRed94]

If they fit closely around the lip on the hub and have a lip for the rim center that also fits closely, I wouldn't be worried about it at all. Or, if they come with hubcentric rings. I have personally never had any problems with using wheel spacers, even at the track. And a few of mine didn't fit closely around my hub's lip. I also very rarely have rims that the centers fit closely around the hub's lip, even on my track cars and I have never snapped studs off. (Basically the same principle.) But, then again my car barely weighs 2000lbs. Another option would be ARP lug studs if you just want that extra assurance. It makes sense that extra stress is placed on the lugs when the center of the rim doesn't fit closely to the hub lip, but it's harder to say what force would cause them to snap off. This is kinda like the heated vs. cut springs debate. Even though one side is scientifically proven to be better, it will still be debated for eternity. I say just buy a set of hub rings to go with them, they are probably less than 20 bucks anyways, and you will probably be ok.

[dorin48]

They are wildly popular in the vw/audi/euro world. Most tire shops and such wont touch a vehicle with adapters or spacers. I only ever hear the horror stories from people who never use them.

[chuck]

...been running 30mm spacers with extended studs at the track with no problems... certainly still alive.
but as sired94 make sure you get the hubcentric mounting type...

[Eksgot_ti]

I had a ranger adapters on the front and drove the crap out of it and never had a problem at all. Also have a friend who has them on his F150 he has a mild lift and some wide 33s and he makes a trip from KY to ga and back every weekend so im pretty convinced there safe if properly installed we just put some locktite on it,it may be a pain to get off later but better to have a little trouble gettin them off than to have to chase a wheel down the hwy...Usally you mostly hear the bad before the good about anything

[CHADbee]

theres a guy her in conyers with 2.75 INCH adapters on his s10 to fit C6 vette wheels and he drives in the interstate, drops the bags and drags his truck down I20 with sparks flying. his wheels stay on.

[tre2k]

Thanks for the feedback. I like the locktite idea with ARP lugs. I'll let fate decide. If I can't get rid of the rims by the end of the month, I'm throwing them on the SC, because even though the LS460 rims are nice, they're 7.5 and I'm thinking I'll probably want something fatter... still the adapters are an inch thick, so they'd act like psuedo spacers.

[Sammich]

...been running 30mm spacers with extended studs at the track with no problems... certainly still alive.
but as sired94 make sure you get the hubcentric mounting type...

i'm glad u posted this...i was wondering about spacers on teh track...reps

[silverDA]

anyone running the 4x100 to 5x114 adaptors,there 2inch so with a 50mm wheel puts you at about +6offset?

[HillClimbGuy]

anyone running the 4x100 to 5x114 adaptors,there 2inch so with a 50mm wheel puts you at about +6offset?

I don't know about this one i know some poeple mainly with 240's that run these instead of a 5 lug swap and it just looks unsafe.


the bolt on type spacers are cool just RETORQUE them every 20 miles when you first get them.

[The Youngn]

Just make sure you torque everything down properly and you should be fine.

[Dirty Octopus™]

Just make sure you torque everything down properly and you should be fine.

werd.

i ran 25mm adaptors/spacers in the front and 15mm in the rear and i was fine

[YokotaS13]

yes on all accounts htey are safe

[MROTH]

im running spacers on my rear wheels and have had not one issue, as stated just make sure you get hub-centric ones and torque them down properly!!!

[rollininstyle2004]

I ran them on the Passat, 15mm 5x114.3-->5x112 adapters, Got them hubcebtric and wheelcentric to my car/wheel setup so everything was snug. No wobbles, vibrations, etc. Felt good as stock

[YokotaS13]

im running spacers on my rear wheels and have had not one issue, as stated just make sure you get hub-centric ones and torque them down properly!!!

disagree with hub centric
but wahtever