Diesel Truck Wheel Spacers & Wheel/Tire Upgrades
How to install wheel spacers, upgrade to aftermarket wheels, and choose the right tire size for a lifted diesel truck. Covers bolt patterns, hub-centric vs. lug-centric, and safe spacer sizing.
Tools Needed
Find Materials Near You
Tap a store to find the nearest location on Google Maps.
Instructions
Understand Wheel Spacer Types
Bolt-on (thick) spacers: attach to the factory studs with lug nuts, then the wheel bolts to new studs on the spacer. Sizes 1.25"+ are bolt-on. These are safe and properly supported. Slip-on (thin) spacers: slide over the factory studs and the wheel clamps them in place. Limited to 1" or less. Not recommended on heavy diesel trucks. Always use hub-centric spacers — they have a center bore that mates to the hub flange, centering the wheel. Lug-centric spacers rely only on lug nuts for centering and can cause vibration.
Choosing the Right Spacer Size
Common sizes: 1.25"–1.5" for flush fitment with 18"–20" wheels, 2"+ for aggressive stance or to clear brake calipers with aftermarket wheels. Check backspacing and offset of your new wheels before choosing spacer size. A wheel offset calculator (search online) tells you the exact spacer needed. Too large a spacer puts excessive load on wheel bearings — diesel trucks already have heavy front ends. Max recommended: 2" on daily-driven trucks, 3"+ on show/off-road builds with quality spacers.
Installing Bolt-On Spacers
Loosen lug nuts before lifting. Lift and support the truck. Remove the wheel. Clean the hub face with a wire brush. Install the spacer onto the hub using the supplied hardware — apply a thin coat of anti-seize to the hub contact surface. Torque the spacer's lug nuts to 140 ft-lbs (typical for 9/16 studs) in a star pattern. Install the wheel on the spacer's new studs. Torque the wheel lug nuts to 140 ft-lbs in a star pattern.
Choosing Wheels for Lifted Diesels
Dually rear trucks require dually-specific wheels (wider, different hub bore). Check GVWR rating on wheels — use wheels rated for your truck's max weight. Popular sizes for lifted diesels: 20"×10" with -24 to -18mm offset for aggressive stance, 20"×9" with 0mm to -12mm for a cleaner look. Forged wheels are lighter and stronger than cast — important on a truck that tows or carries heavy loads.
Tire Sizing for Lifted Trucks
The most common lifted diesel tire sizes: 2" lift: 285/65R18 (33") or 285/70R17, 3"–4" lift: 295/70R18 (34"–35") or 35×12.5R18, 6"+ lift: 37"×13.5" or 37"×12.5". Always check for rubbing at full lock and full droop before finalizing. Spinning the steering wheel lock-to-lock with someone watching the tires prevents surprises on the road. If rubbing occurs: trim the mud flap, roll the fender lip, or adjust the spacer size.
Re-Torque After 50 Miles
This is critical and often skipped: after driving 50 miles on new spacers or wheels, re-torque all lug nuts (both at the spacer and at the wheel). Wheels and spacers seat under load and can lose torque. A loose wheel on a heavy diesel truck is extremely dangerous. Make it a habit to re-torque after any wheel/spacer change.
