18" JBW ROK Steels + Falken 235/55/18 tyres: will i need spacers?

[LSNE]

As title, I'm about to pull the trigger on these wheels in gloss black

John Brown Wheels | Alloy Wheel & Tyre Specialists

We specialise in the distribution of quality, leading brand, alloy wheels, tyres and accessories for both the public and trade, UK and worldwide.

www.johnbrownwheels.com

Going to pair them with Falken WILDPEAK A/T AT3WA 235/55 R18

I'm going down from 20" alloys so I presume I'll need some new bolts?
Before I buy them, will I need spacers for the wheels? Will this change the length of the bolts I need?

Cheers for looking.

 

[Wilder86]

As title, I'm about to pull the trigger on these wheels in gloss black

John Brown Wheels | Alloy Wheel & Tyre Specialists

We specialise in the distribution of quality, leading brand, alloy wheels, tyres and accessories for both the public and trade, UK and worldwide.

www.johnbrownwheels.com

Going to pair them with Falken WILDPEAK A/T AT3WA 235/55 R18

I'm going down from 20" alloys so I presume I'll need some new bolts?
Before I buy them, will I need spacers for the wheels? Will this change the length of the bolts I need?

Cheers for looking.

Hey, did you ever get these? I’m looking at them and quite keen… if you got them, any photos??

 

[LSNE]

No I didn't get them in the end.

Read a couple of reviews where people had issues with the quality of the paintwork on them, also some had issues with the balancing.

 

[Ads_Essex]

Hey, did you ever get these? I’m looking at them and quite keen… if you got them, any photos??

I bought some JBW 18’s in silver after reading the thread below.

I only use them as winters. They don’t need spacers, but I use a 15mm on the rear to fill out the arches. Running 245/45/18

They’ve held up well considering the price.

Picture here:
Cheap Set Of 18” Steels Anyone - JBW 18”

@LSNE I've retitled this thread from ROK to JBW as that seems to be what they’re better known by

 

[AeonMach]

I bought some JBW 18’s in silver after reading the thread below.

I only use them as winters. They don’t need spacers, but I use a 15mm on the rear to fill out the arches. Running 245/45/18

They’ve held up well considering the price.

Picture here:
Cheap Set Of 18” Steels Anyone - JBW 18”

@LSNE I've retitled this thread from ROK to JBW as that seems to be what they’re better known by

Just about to pull the trigger on some of these wheels to run winter tyres too (but running 235/55/18 - I’d have preferred 255/50/18 but not much availability there - the 235/55 is a bit larger so gives me a wee bit more snow clearance in winter)…

…but interested in the spacers since I‘m currently on 20” wheels with 275/35/R20s and I really like the planted look of the current fitment/stance.
So what’s the deal with (15mm) spacers?
Do they bolt on to the existing hub lugs and then the spacer offers a new lug on to which the wheel attaches? (At least in this thickness? Perhaps very thin shims just go between hub and wheel and the lugs are long enough?)
Did you go steel to match steel wheel? Does that matter? (Corrosion?)
And are they easy to get off again if you don’t need them for your non-winter wheels?

And finally where did you source them?
I see 4x4tyres/Tuff Torque offer them and also someone recommending PCD Parts?

cheers

 

[Ads_Essex]

Just about to pull the trigger on some of these wheels to run winter tyres too (but running 235/55/18 - I’d have preferred 255/50/18 but not much availability there - the 235/55 is a bit larger so gives me a wee bit more snow clearance in winter)…

…but interested in the spacers since I‘m currently on 20” wheels with 275/35/R20s and I really like the planted look of the current fitment/stance.
So what’s the deal with (15mm) spacers?
Do they bolt on to the existing hub lugs and then the spacer offers a new lug on to which the wheel attaches? (At least in this thickness? Perhaps very thin shims just go between hub and wheel and the lugs are long enough?)
Did you go steel to match steel wheel? Does that matter? (Corrosion?)
And are they easy to get off again if you don’t need them for your non-winter wheels?

And finally where did you source them?
I see 4x4tyres/Tuff Torque offer them and also someone recommending PCD Parts?

cheers

I’m still running my JBWs as winters, albeit I haven’t fitted them this year (yet?). They’re in good condition considering they were seconds.

I use PCD 15mm spacers on the rear. They send you longer bolts (coloured black, can’t recall if they offer alternative colours) and I just use some copper-slip between the faces. They come away easily enough when changing wheels.

From me, I’d recommend both companies.

 

[AeonMach]

I’m still running my JBWs as winters, albeit I haven’t fitted them this year (yet?). They’re in good condition considering they were seconds.

I use PCD 15mm spacers on the rear. They send you longer bolts (coloured black, can’t recall if they offer alternative colours) and I just use some copper-slip between the faces. They come away easily enough when changing wheels.

From me, I’d recommend both companies.

Ah maybe I’ve just got it: with the spacer, it is secured to the lugs (which in standard approach *nuts* thread on to) but spacer now does NOT present new lugs but rather has threaded holes that wheel *bolts* go in to?

Have I understood?

 

[AeonMach]

Ah maybe I’ve just got it: with the spacer, it is secured to the lugs (which in standard approach *nuts* thread on to) but spacer now does NOT present new lugs but rather has threaded holes that wheel *bolts* go in to?

Have I understood?

Or reading further have I misunderstood and been led astray by US oriented YouTube vidoes in to thinking I have lugs/spigots/sticky-outy threaded bits on which my wheels mount…?
When actually the standàrd VW Transporter hub fitting is wheel bolts anyway???

 

[Ads_Essex]

The hub has threaded holes, and the spacer and wheel both have no threads, so the longer bolt passes through them both, sandwiching the spacer betwixt.

Lugs and studs do exist on other vehicles (and can be retrofitted to a T6) and the latter is often used as a phrase incorrectly

 

[AeonMach]

The hub has threaded holes, and the spacer and wheel both have no threads, so the longer bolt passes through them both, sandwiching the spacer betwixt.

Lugs and studs do exist on other vehicles (and can be retrofitted to a T6) and the latter is often used as a phrase incorrectly

Gotcha, many thanks! I got there in the end!
And so, that sounds like if makes mounting pretty straightforward... and cleaning the wheel hub (wire brush) likewise - since there are no annoying lugs to clean round.

 

[The Bear78]

Larger spacers are available which can be bolted to the hub and then the wheel bolts on to the spacer. Obviously, in this scenario the wheel bolt length (edit. "thread engagement") is limited by the thickness of the spacer so typically you won't see that type for thin spacers. If I recall, 15mm may well be the minimum and thinner types will likely use studs and nuts.
Personally I'd rather have one set of bolts clamping the wheel to the hub! Maybe this is why insurance companies ask about wheel spacers on some of the quotes checklists?
This type can also be used as an adaptor to alter the PCD of the bolts if you're desperate to use wheels that arent available in a fitment for your vehicle.

 

[AeonMach]

Larger spacers are available which can be bolted to the hub and then the wheel bolts on to the spacer. Obviously, in this scenario the wheel bolt length is limited by the thickness of the spacer so typically you won't see that type for thin spacers. If I recall, 15mm may well be the minimum and thinner types will likely use studs and nuts.
Personally I'd rather have one set of bolts clamping the wheel to the hub! Maybe this is why insurance companies ask about wheel spacers on some of the quotes checklists?
This type can also be used as an adaptor to alter the PCD of the bolts if you're desperate to use wheels that arent available in a fitment for your vehicle.

Ah yes gotcha, that makes sense; above a certain thickness the length of the bolts would get silly and it’s probably stronger to split it up… so perhaps <20mm is bolt through and >25mm is two stage (enough space for the first stage bolts to be hidden flush inside the spacer)?
cheers