ATVs and bigger side-by-sides are outselling the dirt bikes they’re based on. Their go-anywhere, do-anything attitude means they’re built for use and abuse in all riding conditions, on and off-road. Bigger, torquey engines, capable 4WD systems, the ability to take a friend or two for the ride, and accessories that make daily tasks easier are just some of the points that go in their favor.
The huge catalogue of models and makes also means a thriving aftermarket that lets you tailor your quad to meet specific needs. For most users though, quad bike wheel spacers and the right choice of tires go a long way. These come in different sizes and treads to get where you’re going fast. For larger and heavier UTVs and side-by-sides, fitting a UTV wheel spacer on each wheel also has numerous benefits, besides enhanced performance.
Spacer Basics
Spacers are basic ATV and UTV accessories that often go overlooked. They fit between the wheel hubs and the wheels, come in different thicknesses, ranging from half an inch to 3 inches and can be added to both the front and rear wheels. Their main goal is to widen the track between the left and right wheels and increase stability at all speeds. The parts are essential in keeping both experienced riders and newbies safer, by reducing the risk of tipping over. This coincidentally is the number one reason for the majority of quad bike accidents and injuries.
Why You Need Them
Apart from being some of the best-value accessories for any quad, UTV and ATV wheel spacers go beyond their asking price in terms of versatility:
- Increased safety and stability – widening your quad (by up to 6 inches) stabilizes the bike by better distributing weight. Riders get more balance in basic maneuvers such as high-speed turns, and when traversing uneven terrain. A wider wheel track also helps in high-speed hill descents, or keeping the quad level in technical terrain and sharp inclines. This enhances safety but also builds confidence when honing riding skills.
- Ground clearance – spacers are the cheapest way to increase ground clearance by providing the space for bigger tire and wheel combos without shredding the bodywork. Changing stock tires additionally means the choice of different treads, for instance in mudding. And when the weather turns sour, spacers allow the addition of tire chains for the required grip in snow or sand without damaging the fenders or suspension linkages.
- Aggressive looks – a wider stance offers meaner, aggressive looks to go with the higher power output in today’s quads, If this is your goal without spending a heap of cash and downtime in adding different mods, then spacers are the perfect option.
- Value – mods like control arms and aftermarket axles that increase wheel articulation (and thus clearance) can get pricey. Spacers do the same job for a fraction of the price, save you time during installation, involve less labor, and are easy to get off once they’ve done their job.
To get all the benefits spacers provide, consider thickness. Going too wide can cause issues like additional stress and advanced wear to the wheel bearings, axles and joints, difficulty steering due to the changed geometry, and the simple problem of having a vehicle that’s too wide to weed your way through thick brush or dense forest.
Choosing What’s Right
Thickness, bolt patterns and materials should be top priorities in choosing a compatible UTV wheel spacer. So, how wide is too wide? The parts come in 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 and 3 inches, meaning the wheel track can be increased by 6 inches. This may be overkill, but does provide the leeway for any type of tire or wheel sets you’re keen on, with or without installed chain kits. Most riders though will be happy with spacers between 1 and 2 inches in overall thickness. And with less metal, you’ll also be paying less.
Bolt patterns are about the right fit. In short, this is the number of lugs and the distance between them. Most spacers are in a 4,5, 6 bolt pattern, with lug distances ranging between 100 and 156mm.
Materials are the major factor that determines strength, durability and prices. Stainless steel and high-grade aluminum alloys provide ample heat resistance from increased friction, and reduced wear and impact resistance when encountering trail obstacles.
Aluminum is lighter, rust-resistant and dissipates heat faster. Ideal for mudding, technical trails or high-speed runs. It is also more ductile, so expect tighter tolerances. Steel goes further with outright strength, but needs to be treated to prevent corrosion. It’s also harder to shape, meaning steel variants tend to be slightly more costly.
To get the right spacers for your ATV or UTV, consider where and how you’ll be riding, the tires that go on your machine, the ground clearance needed and how factors like spacer thickness and material strength affect ride quality and overall performance.
Pairing Spacers with the Right Tires
Tires that come with your quad when new are in medium treads, suitable for varied terrain. They will, however, show their limitations when pushing your quad on the tough stuff. Spacers let you slap on bigger-diameter tires and treads that suit the purpose. The goal is to get maximum traction for more steering control and higher top speeds.
Mud tires have deep, aggressive treads with lugs paced out wider to cut through mud easily. On that note, rubber meant for sand goes the other route, with thinner profiles, smoother threads and a paddle-like design to sift sand left and right, without getting bogged down. Patterns also differ for tires intended for rock-crawling. These go with strategically placed biting edges and reinforced sidewalls to reduce wear from abrasions and prevent punctures.
For compacted trails, you’ll be looking at treads with closely spaced knobs to increase contact area and the ability to muster traction and the speeds you’re looking for. So, while the all-terrain tires that came standard are go in some aspects, they are more fun when choosing tire treads marketed toward the specific terrain type.
Besides treads, also consider factors like ply count and compounds when buying your next set. The number of plies and how they are distributed (radial or bias) determines how heavy the tires are and how resistant they are to punctures. Averages for ATVs and UTVs are 4 to 6 plies in radial designs, though heavy-duty 8-ply and sand tires with 2 or 4 plies are also sold.
Lastly, go with softer compounds for higher speeds on relatively even terrain, but swap to rubber made from harder compounds in bigger machines meant for work or when testing your skills on technical terrain. These are also less prone to punctures and take longer to thin out.
