Just thinking of getting some new 8 inch rims with my new tires, and was wondering how much of a weight/ gas milage difference it would be with steel rims instead of the stock 4runner ones (1998 SR5) Id much rather have steel and not have to worry about them being damaged, and theyre a hell of a lot cheaper.

 

If you off-road a lot, then the steelies make more sense, since you can usually fix minor bends in the rims. With aluminum, not so much...

 

I mostly just do some mudding and trails, nothing hardcore so maybe aluminum would be better?

 

There lighter. For awhile I was swapping out street tire and wheeling tires as needed. The street tires were narrower, less aggressive tread, on factory Aluminum rims. I got better gas mileage with them of course but many factor were contributing. If you don't seriously wheel it than stick with the factory rims or if you like the steel better go with the steel.

If you wheel it steel is perferred. I myself and friends have pounded rims back into shape with Aluminum, no not going to happen.

 

Steelies are way heavier. MPG and performance were both hindered on mine...measurably. I'd say it hit me for about 1mpg and about .2 seconds 0-60 (I realize some people could care less about the 2nd one). Pros and cons to both I guess, but I ended up returning my steelies to Discount if that tells you anything and went back to the original alloys. And yes, I wheel(ed) my rig in the AZ desert (at the time).

Now I just encourage people to paint their existing alloys. New look, same performance.

 

whichever you go with, make sure you have the correct lug nuts if you change from one the the other.

 

I didnt even realise there was a difference in lugnuts for steel vs aluminum and I torque up wheels almost every day