steel wheel vs aluminum wheel

[horse123]

Originally Posted By: Donald
Originally Posted By: horse123
Unless you have virtually limitless money or don't care to spend significant amounts on looks over functionality, go with the stock size steel wheels on a full sized suv/truck.


A lot of pickups (mine included) come with factory alloy wheels, not steel.


Not on the base trim levels they don't

 

[krismoriah72]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Originally Posted By: krismoriah72


I had two places tell me that they werent able to balance my steel wheels because they dont carry many of those weights anymore..not a major problem but i guess steel wheels arent as common anymore.



That's hooey-- there are about eight different weight crimp/corner profiles-- seven for aluminum and one for steel. They could have put sticky weights on the inside or used a bunch of 1/2 oz crimpy weights if they ran out of the bigger ones.

They must be terrible shops.

They are..local used tire places and small shops. Ended up going to walmart and they put sticky weights on. I noticed a few weights missing here and there...so they probably didnt prep the paint before putting them on.

 

[4wd]

Another plus for aluminum is they are machined in critical areas and run very true. I have full size spares for three vehicles and they are used aluminum rims off eBay ... (TPM's fit perfectly too).

 

[Bamaro]

Originally Posted By: krismoriah72
Steel rusts, aluminum corrodes.. in aftermarket i prefer steel due to not having to buy special lug nuts.

I had two places tell me that they werent able to balance my steel wheels because they dont carry many of those weights anymore..not a major problem but i guess steel wheels arent as common anymore.


Thats crazy. I would definitely stay away from those two places whether I had steel or aluminum wheels.
Aluminum will save weight (un-sprung weight), steel will save money. Aluminum can corrode and cause leaking problems in the bead area.

 

[Wylie6G72]

This is enlightening. I assumed all the police Tahoes have steel wheels because they can take more abuse. In reality, they must just be cheaper. I just hope they keep using them....they're a dead giveaway on the unmarked police cars.

 

[Kestas]

The weight saved by going to aluminum wheels does not justify their expense. They are put on cars chiefly because they look good. Unsprung weight is just a minor benefit.

 

[DrRoughneck]

Originally Posted By: Kestas
The weight saved by going to aluminum wheels does not justify their expense. They are put on cars chiefly because they look good. Unsprung weight is just a minor benefit.

Agree, from what I can read on this thread.

 

[sw99]

I replaced the OEM steelies on my 3/4 Ram with OEM Aluminum ones off CL. They were 1/2 the weight.