Are Steel wheels/rims better than alloys? - Team-BHP

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Re: Are Steel wheels/rims better than alloys?

Both Alloy and Steel wheels have advantages and disadvantages of their own and are suited for different types of driving; but in general if you want beauty and performance you should go for alloy, and if you want tough, inexpensive, standard workhorses, you should go for steels.

Alloys :
1. The aluminum/nickel alloy is much lighter than steel and makes for more agile performance and better acceleration.
2. A car with alloys on is generally much more fun to drive.
3. Alloys do tend to bend easier than steels under road impacts, and have a tendency to crack if bent too far. Alloys are generally not repairable, once it gets bend you may repair it but it has to be used as spare for safety reasons.
4. The degree to which an alloy wheel is pliable or brittle depends greatly on how much nickel is added to the aluminum to make the alloy – more nickel adds weight and tends to make the alloy more brittle, less means a lighter wheel that is softer and tends to bend more easily.

This is where the alloys are risky because at a speed of 80-100KMPH on the highway if the alloy develops a crack and the air goes out then you very well know the consequences.

Steel :
5. Steel wheels are heavier than aluminum, so when you put steel wheels on a car that has had alloy wheels, you tend to find that the extra weight dampens acceleration and agility and is hard to manoeuvre.
6. Steel wheels are significantly stronger than alloy wheels. It takes greater force to bend steel wheels, and it is almost impossible to crack them. But steel wheels are subject to rust and proper care needs to be taken to prevent then from rusting.
7. Steels are also usually 75-80% less expensive than alloy wheels, making them great for a second set, and inexpensive to replace if badly damaged.

Ultimately your choice of wheel type will depend on your individual aesthetics and your motoring aspirations. No matter what you choose, make sure you research all the options.

I have used tubeless tyres on steel wheels in my earlier Santro for more than three years without any issue.

@Giriji hope this helps you in taking the dicision.

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