Im not here to change or challenge anyone knowledge. I just want to share some ideas and pictures. I have used wheel spacers on my Jeeps for over 14 years never had a problem. I have rock crawled, driven 70 mhp thought the desert and bearing, wheel and wheel spaces been fine. Just make sure the spacer are made with T 6061 aluminum. So far the mad flap been doing a good job of protecting the side of my truck. Here are so pictures of my Jeep with 2.5 inch spacer.