Steel or aluminum wheels?

[MarkyMarksJeep]

On a budget, mostly road driving, what's the pro and cons to each?

 

[SteelHeadz]

Aluminum is lighter than steel. Steel is more resilient from blemishes, the outer rim can be bent back if you hit a rock hard enough to break the tire off the bead as aluminum is likely to crack. Steel tends to rust if not properly cared for. Aluminum can tarnish as well if not cared for. Mmmm, i picked steel. More durable IMO.

 

[HiHood]

:yeah-that: And one thing you mentioned that goes a long way . . .BUDGET. Steel wheels are CHEAPER

 

[54cj3b]

:yeah-that: And one thing you mentioned that goes a long way . . .BUDGET. Steel wheels are CHEAPER

And can be painted if they get too badly scratched up
I have alum look better but suck on rocky trails hopping not to bust the rim on the rocks , metal rims if you bend it you could prob bang out most of the bend in the rim and repaint alum crack trash replace

 

[jps4jeep]

If your never going off road, aluminum, less rotating mass=better fuel economy.
If you wheel, go with steel.

 

[Jeeper99]

Also, if you go with steel, you can fab up your own beadlocks too.

 

[06TJ]

Many pros to steel, and my preference too- I'm running the Pro-Comp steel with the black finish- easy to clean and touch up, and they look great on or off the trail..

 

[Jeeper99]

fuel economy.
.

:roll: What's that? :lol:

 

[xjmarc]

I used to run aluminum till I cracked one wheeling. Bought a cheap set of steelies and was good to go. Did have to bend the bead back out with a crecent wrench once but it holds air and rides fine to this day. Just got a new set of steel wheels in the 8 lug variety for my XJ and didn't even consider aluminum. And yes weld on beadlocks are a plus. Got a set coming.

 

[Mooseknuckles]

I run Cragar steelies for my summer rims. Can't use 'em in the winter with Michigan salt is one minus, but that's what I've got the stock aluminum's for anyway.

 

[wrangler76]

I run aluminum though I do appreciate the advantages of steel and would go with that if I were a regular high desert type rock crawler but I mostly do trails/logging roads here in the Cascade Mtn range which expose my rig mostly to Mud, Dirt and Snow.