[Tigers] The need for wheels spacers

[awtiger at cox.net]

James:

The reason that Rick has that warning in his catalog is that if you have those brake drums that are pictured, your wheels will not seat flat on the  drums the way that they should.  Spacers are only "required" if the wheels you are using have enough negative offset to cause the wheel not to seat flat on the drum where it should.  As an example, I have a set of original LAT-70's that I run most of the time on my Mk1A and I also have a set of American Racing Silverstones that I'll run occasionally, just for a different look.  The offset of the LAT-70's does not require me to run a spacer at the rear, but the offset on the Silverstones is just slightly negative enough to allow the spokes to touch the drum at the edges, thus requiring a spacer.  However, the lug nuts for the Silverstones have a longer shank on them, which allows me to run the spacer without having to have longer lug studs.   

Please...safety is the most important issue and this is not a place to scrimp.  If you are asking questions about it, then you probably have a feeling deep down that it's not safe.  Go with that gut feeling and, if you would feel better replacing the studs with longer units, then by all means do it.  Having been there before, I can tell you it's no walk in the park, but it's also not impossible.  

Best of luck to you,
Andy Walker
Edmond, OK
B382001600LRXFE