Pros & Cons of Wheel Adapters?
- Thread starter trung69pd
- Start date
There are no pros or cons. They simply are what they are, plain and simple. They allow you to run a wheel that wouldn’t normally fit.
When the rims have too much offset and the tires are too wide along with the adapters pushing the tires outboard; they can accelerate the wear on the hub unit bearings due to more leverage.
I’ve never been a fan. Aside from the ability to run a different bolt pattern, there’s really no other pros.
LONGJP2
TJ Expert
Con - takes longer to remove/replace brake rotors.
Also, some shops don't want to mess with them for liability reasons.
Pro - cheap way to get wrong tire/wheel combinations to fit without rubbing.
Also, some shops don't want to mess with them for liability reasons.
Pro - cheap way to get wrong tire/wheel combinations to fit without rubbing.
Con: everyone will tell you not to run them
Pro: they are totally fine to run
Pro: they are totally fine to run
Never have run them, but considering it in order to fit 12.5" wide tires on my stock ravines. I wouldn't mind some new wheels but the money can go to other upgrades. Still debating with myself on that.
From what I've read you have to run some pretty thick adapters to cause issues like premature unit bearing failure.
From what I've read you have to run some pretty thick adapters to cause issues like premature unit bearing failure.
I'm running them in the front because my front Dana 44 is TJ width and rear is JK width. I'm running 37's, so run a TJ to JK adapter to allow me to run JK wheels. They also are a spacer to give me more clearance.
They are fine to run, but I would only run them to fix a problem. I wouldn't run them because someone gave me free wheels. Up to you if it's worth it.
They are fine to run, but I would only run them to fix a problem. I wouldn't run them because someone gave me free wheels. Up to you if it's worth it.
They cause no more issues than properly backspaced wheels for a 12.5" wide tire. I used 1.5" thick adapter with 35s on mine.
Ever measured your scrub radius?
It was talked about a little bit here:
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/optimal-wheelbase-track-width-for-different-tire-sizes.31002/
Backspacing is part of my issue. My wheels have too much BS. About to change them out for beadlocks. The front axle is just too narrow though.
Con: you have to remove the wheel to check if the spacers are tight. Or just wait till your front driver starts to wobble on the highway. That’s what I did, anyway. 
Or install and torque them down correctly.Con: you have to remove the wheel to check if the spacers are tight. Or just wait till your front driver starts to wobble on the highway. That’s what I did, anyway.
p.s. My wheels don't come loose either.
Yes. I forgot to torque them. Why didn’t I think of that.Or install and torque them down correctly.
p.s. My wheels don't come loose either.