Why many prefer steelies...
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Originally Posted By: 123Saab
Originally Posted By: Stu_Rock
I also favor steel wheels over aluminum alloys in most cases. They are so much more rugged. If they get damaged, bend them back and repaint.
The one exception would probably be for my Park Avenue. For one, it's a "fancy" car that would look a little odd with steelies. But more importantly, weight is an issue. I tracked down a rare 17 inch steel wheel for a full size spare, and the thing is heavy, whereas the OE alloys are very light. The car otherwise has very low unsprung mass, and I wouldn't want to counteract that with heavy wheels (not to mention the backaches that I would get whenever I'd remove a wheel).
+1
Look at what Rally cars use.
I grew up in Finland Rallying Ford Escorts, Fiat 800's and Saab 99's and The toughest wheels for that were alloys.
They held up much better on the very rough hole filled gravel roads we used to race on.
(and the ditches we ended up in too)
I fully agree that alloy wheels can be made stronger, but sometimes the flexibility and toughness of steel is better.
I think almost any level of oval racing has a steel wheel rule as loosing a right front at the wrong time can be very painful, and also with the close crowds, they can't have wheels coming off or breaking the centre out of them.
I know even for the local tracks, even the fwd 4 cyl classes need to run a heavy race duty right front steel rim. OEM alloy and steel wheels don't stand up to the bumping and heavy loading.
Originally Posted By: Stu_Rock
I also favor steel wheels over aluminum alloys in most cases. They are so much more rugged. If they get damaged, bend them back and repaint.
The one exception would probably be for my Park Avenue. For one, it's a "fancy" car that would look a little odd with steelies. But more importantly, weight is an issue. I tracked down a rare 17 inch steel wheel for a full size spare, and the thing is heavy, whereas the OE alloys are very light. The car otherwise has very low unsprung mass, and I wouldn't want to counteract that with heavy wheels (not to mention the backaches that I would get whenever I'd remove a wheel).
+1
Look at what Rally cars use.
I grew up in Finland Rallying Ford Escorts, Fiat 800's and Saab 99's and The toughest wheels for that were alloys.
They held up much better on the very rough hole filled gravel roads we used to race on.
(and the ditches we ended up in too)
I fully agree that alloy wheels can be made stronger, but sometimes the flexibility and toughness of steel is better.
I think almost any level of oval racing has a steel wheel rule as loosing a right front at the wrong time can be very painful, and also with the close crowds, they can't have wheels coming off or breaking the centre out of them.
I know even for the local tracks, even the fwd 4 cyl classes need to run a heavy race duty right front steel rim. OEM alloy and steel wheels don't stand up to the bumping and heavy loading.
Originally Posted By: Kestas
For those that think aluminum alloy wheels are superior, why don't police cars use them?
They do.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/21/nyregion/21cars.html?_r=1
Aren't those the same aluminum alloys that come on the street Chargers? Every NC SHP Charger that I've seen wears those same wheels.
For those that think aluminum alloy wheels are superior, why don't police cars use them?
They do.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/21/nyregion/21cars.html?_r=1
Aren't those the same aluminum alloys that come on the street Chargers? Every NC SHP Charger that I've seen wears those same wheels.
I don't mind steelies, it's the cheap plastic wheel covers I can stand. If I have a car with steelies I usually remove the wheel covers and throw them away. I think they look better without them. I'd probably end up losing one or more of them anyway.
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