Steel vs Alloy wheels

What are the plus and minus points of the relevant wheels please?

Steel is stronger, Alloys are lighter and weaker.

supergaz wrote: ...Alloys are lighter and weaker.

and prettier but more expensive

Lol but both are usable off road? If i found some seven inch wide alloys could tyre them up and away i go?

IMO I would say don't get too hung about steel v Alloy. Consider the other (more important) factors that are important -

Width
Diameter
Offset
What tyre size you plan to use
weight
off road use
build quality

IMO Alloy is not always lighter than steel. Our Jimny's are very finely tuned vehicles and heavier wheel/tyre combination can makes big difference to MPG and the dreaded death wobble.

I have 3 sets of wheels and tyres and would say that the standard steel wheels are the lightest I have. Fitted with a good 195 80 15 Mud tyre and a set of wheel spacers will probably give the best performance for less cash outlay. If you damage one, they are cheap to replace.

The aftermarket steel modulas ( Modular Wheels ) are a nice wheel for the Jimny and have the right offset and width for the Jimny, but are a bit heavier. If you are not bothered about less MPG. this would be a good cheap option that does not need spacers.


Black Modular 7 x 15s

If money is no object checkout the Mach 5 wheels - Mach5 Wheels

Back to your question. I think it depends on what is important to you - strength; looks or value for money.

Alloys certainly can be easy to damage and then the paint or finish deteriorates. Some alloys become porous after a period of time. Steel wheels can easily be painted if damaged.


Hope the above is helpful.

Cheers
paul
Hertford

i would go for steel rims everytime they are stronger

I like the quality of my Daihatsu alloys, these can be picked up very cheap.

Those Daihatsu alloys look like my Wolfrace alloys -



Mine were cheap too. brought new from the importer in Maldon

Cheers
paul

Alloy wheels corrode very quickly and leak.

(The tree huggers have stopped us using proper chromate primer on alloy, so the paint flakes off, corrosion builds between tyre and rim, which is porous, and the tyre goes down.)

Stick to steel if you can get them.

Cheers for the replies guys very interesting and informative next question if you were going to fit a 235 or above tyre on the rim would you go for a seven or eight inch wide wheel??

BigMat wrote: Cheers for the replies guys very interesting and informative next question if you were going to fit a 235 or above tyre on the rim would you go for a seven or eight inch wide wheel??

I have 235s on standard Jimmy alloys. They're 5,5" or 6" wide.. No problems with that

Possibly already been said above, but alloy rims are not even necessarily lighter than steels in most cases, especially factory fits. They're just there for looks alone. You can buy stronger, lighter 4x4 alloy rims, but they are not cheap.