Originally Posted by
newtomit
Ooooh I didn't realize those OEM wheels are alloy, thought all OEM are steel. Anyway, I called the place and the car is no longer there. Too bad, that would've been a good find! Thanks Top_Fuel for the tip
So I'm still confused about something. It looks like everyone on here is pro-alloy wheels and not a fan of steel. However, many have a set of steel wheels for Winter. I know it doesn't snow where I live, but there's a chance I might take a trip to somewhere that does. I don't have space to store Winter wheels and tires, so shouldn't I just go with steel for its multi-purpose usage?
If my car came with steel wheels I wouldn't bother replacing them. The only reason I have aluminum wheels is cause that's what it came off the boat with and the previous two owners never changed them and nether did I. I did however buy a set of used steel wheels with winter tires already mounted but resold them cause the center hole was too small. I couldn't find any other cheap wheels so I just bought cheap winter tires and mounted them on the factory wheels. And then still haven't bothered to swap the summer tires back over. I really don't car if my car has steel or alloy wheels. The factory steel and aluminum wheels are similar in weight. I weighed both but my dog ate the pictures.
I bought a cheap car so I could spend money on other things like my house, go on trips, and lately I've been blowing a lot of money on my new sxs.
Buy whatever you want, the only reason people call steel wheels winter wheels is cause they have a nicer set they don't want ruined by salt or by flying out of control into curbs. Aluminum wheels can be winter wheels, no need to be racist against metals.
As already mentioned, the bad and the good about steel: they bend easily but can usually just as easily be bent back. If they get rusty, scuff them up and paint them with a rattle can.
Aluminum, look nicer/fancier, won't bend and be able to bend back like steel, will crack instead. When aluminum gets old and crusty they can be a pita when they corrode around the bead and not stop leaking. Ever.
You do you. You asked for advice and got lots. They're wheels, not a house.
__________________________________________
View my fuel log 2014 Mirage SE wussie cvt edition. 1.2 automatic: 37.7 mpg (US) ... 16.0 km/L ... 6.2 L/100 km ... 45.3 mpg (Imp)