Hey all! I wanted to find out what you all thought on Steel vs Aluminumumnumnum wheels.

My friends differ in opion... steel is stronger and lighter than aluminum ones. No... aluminums are lighter. NO, aluminums are thicker to be just as strong as steel, therefore heavier! back and forth.

just wanted to know your thoughts. I know each have their + and - .

my friend wants to buy me new black rockcrawlers so i can give him my American Eagles 589. i always wanted to get the rockcrawlers. he said he'd mount and balance them too! hehe

 

Well joshik, I just switched my rig over last week. I had chrome rims w/ 235's on it. I put the original toy aluminums on w/ 265 all-terrains. I can tell you from that expierience that the steel rims feel heavier.... even with tires almost 3" taller, the aluminums were lighter. Granted, I didnt weigh them, but I did handle them quite a bit that afternoon. I say.... lighter.

 

joshik,

Unless you're doing some serious rock crawling, desert racing, or hard core off-roading, I don't think it really matters whether you go with steel or aluminum. Here's an interesting article on steel versus aluminum wheels.

Personally, I think the wheels you have are pretty sweet! When I need to get new rubber, I'm going to get a set of the 589s (I currently have the AR 23s). The one thing about aluminum is that it doesn't rust like steel. However, if you want black wheels, steel is the way to go.

Good luck!

Matt

 

Steel wheels are on average cheaper, heavier, more durable and easier to maintain.

Aluminum is less prone to bending, more costly, lighter, and more labor intensive.

I have black steelies. There is beauty in untilty. I got all 5 of them for what it would have cost for one nice cast aluminum one. No polishing, not shining. All I need is a hose, a rag and some times some spray paint.

That is exactly the article I was thinking of.

 

I'm with Flygtenstein on this one... I'd love to get some black steelies as they're cheaper than anything out there and no maintenance!! Now I just gotta fine some 16" that'll fit....

Lance

 

How about a pic of this beast of yours...

 

I read an article in 4 wheeler magazine, or one of those. It said that forged aluminum is the best followed by steel, then aluminum. of course price is the most for forged aluminum.

 

Joshik, since you do fairly hardcore wheeling I'd say steel for the simple reason that you can bend it back. You're a wheeling truck so you don't care about weight and besides, it's probably better to be heavier at the wheels so you lower your CG.

Steve

 

good idea robinhood! but im not gonna do the sas no more. i have a BETTER idea!!!!! ok... SAS is gonna cost me $3000 (approx) and then i need to relift the rear to match it, another $700. so im estimating $4000... give or take.

so $4000 for a SAS, or $4000 for a Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40?????


HELL yeh! FJ40!!!! maybe spend a lil more, like 5k-6k and get a decent FJ40!! I dont want a TLC4x4 restored $30k FJ40. Just one with a good drivetrain, and decent body. Paint and all other cosmetics i will do myself. and that will be my rockcrawling, hill climbing, mud boggin, dirt flinging, stream crossing, snow plowing (if theres snow), stomp on Jeeps 4wheeling Beast!

like this one:



not this: