Author Topic: Aluminum vs steel rims (Read 16931 times)

locked 4x4 · « **on:** Oct 12, 2009, 11:53:33 AM »

I was just wondering what the advantages/ disavantages are for running steel vs aluminum rims? I just turned 2 of my steel rims into tacos and Im debating trying to hammer them back, or I got a spare set of alumin rims laying around I could throw on their. Im running 35X12.5 bfg mudder. Ive heard that the almunin rims dont perform as well in the snow. Any truth to that?? I never had good luck running real low pressures with the steal rims anyway, are the aluminum going to be worse??

TacoRunner · « **Reply #1 on:** Oct 12, 2009, 12:15:17 PM »

Aluminum brakes steel bends

I've had the same four Aluminum rims for over 10 years. I've seen more damaged steel rims than aluminum. I will always buy aluminum unless my pocket book tells me other wise.

This only my opinion.

If you are knocking your rims against rock often, you may be running to low of a tire pressure. My trucks weights about 4300lbs fully loaded and I run at 12lbs on a 15"x8"x3.5"bs rim and 37"s. Then again you may also have a rim that is to wide for your tire.

88_Pathy · « **Reply #2 on:** Oct 12, 2009, 12:23:19 PM »

I would say run aluminum, the lighter the rotating mass the better. I have not lost a bead yet on 12.5in wide tires and 8in wheels.

madhunt · « **Reply #3 on:** Oct 12, 2009, 01:02:56 PM »

i run 10 wide steels have yet to loose a bead and i run at 8-10 psi with a 37x12.5x15 on a 15x10 steel wheel. steel you can hammer back. have not tacoed a rim yet.

NorCalToy · « **Reply #4 on:** Oct 12, 2009, 01:40:08 PM »

I have never personally ran Aluminum wheels but I also havent had any problems with my steels. Iv run down to 3psi on 10" Wide steel wheels without any problems at all. I was always told steel wheels hold a bead better at low pressures than aluminum wheels.

I dont know if its true but thats what iv always heard.

bigarms23 · « **Reply #5 on:** Oct 12, 2009, 03:54:34 PM »

just remember aluminum shatters and you can beat on a steel rim forever when you bent an alumium rim it wont hammer out like steel

pumkin toy · « **Reply #6 on:** Oct 12, 2009, 05:41:25 PM »

Quote from: bigarms23 on Oct 12, 2009, 03:54:34 PM

just remember aluminum shatters and you can beat on a steel rim forever when you bent an alumium rim it wont hammer out like steel

shatters!?

you must have encountered some really crappy cast aluminum if you have seen aluminum shatter!

bigarms23 · « **Reply #7 on:** Oct 12, 2009, 08:09:13 PM »

yeah i was with my friend brian in his 874runner and i think they were procomp aluminum rims and we at the hammers and he hit hard coming down backdoor and the rim shattered luckly he had a spare

pumkin toy · « **Reply #8 on:** Oct 12, 2009, 08:21:14 PM »

wow thats crazy! never heard of that happening

locked 4x4 · « **Reply #9 on:** Oct 12, 2009, 08:31:26 PM »

Thats good news to hear. Im really just trying to get through the winter on the aluminum rims. Get a dozen or so snow trips in on them and Id be happy, then switch back to steel. Im just worried bout how they will do in the snow running the low pressure. I would like to get down to 3-4 psi but last year on the bfg's I kept popping off the rims if I went below 6 psi.

lilbuddy · « **Reply #10 on:** Oct 12, 2009, 08:47:10 PM »

Austin my bro has aluminim wheels and they blow ass. He cant go below 10 psi or the bead will slip. I know of 3 others that had the same problem.

Kiyul used to have them when he had yota axles and he went down to 5psi all the time. When he got steel wheels the beads awlays blew. Probably was partiall from soaping the bead to get it on the wheel.

I think its all luck.

Id just buy some steel wheels, sand down the bead to bare metal and there you go, custom bead locks. haha...

kneedownnate · « **Reply #11 on:** Oct 12, 2009, 08:57:22 PM »

Aluminum will absorb an impact more than steel. Steel is more likely to bend. Aluminum will not usually break unless you try to bend it back like you would steel. There's a method to properly straightening aluminum and an industry built around it.

Steve_925 · « **Reply #12 on:** Oct 12, 2009, 09:28:19 PM »

i run 15x10 aluminum with 39.5x13.5 iroks. i aired them up to 6-7 psi in the spring and never checked em since. havent lost a bead or even heard them loose air. but theres chunks broken out all over the ring of the rim. i would like to get some steelies and atleast put some rims stiffeners on them.

jrock · « **Reply #13 on:** Oct 12, 2009, 09:39:04 PM »

I believe, it takes less effort to bend a steel rim than it does to break an aluminum. And if I am able to break an aluminum I would have taco'ed a steel. I run my rims on the road as a DD so bent, unbent or broken, it's all the same, I wouldn't run it. I like aluminum cuz it's lighter.

89sastoyo · « **Reply #14 on:** Oct 13, 2009, 09:12:02 PM »

I ran really ugly aluminum directions on my 2nd gen with 33s they didnt have a lip like most wheels it was like a rounded finish. I ran those for a year with no problems I even wedged stuff between the tire and the beat wheeled them in rocks and just tore little chunks out of them. I dont see a problem with aluminum unless you were wanted to run bead locks... With that said i think it goes either way and its personal opinoin i don't think it really matters to much depended on what your wheeling in.

seabass · « **Reply #15 on:** Oct 14, 2009, 12:06:20 AM »

cast aluminum will break
forged aluminum will bend, & you can hammer then back to shape, had enkies that I abused baddly....these liked to pop beads in the snow, likely due to an odd bead retention shape.

I now have 10" rims 2.75bs, weld on bl & run 3-5lbs and 47: ltbs, no bent rims or poped beads yet, 3 rubby trips

79coyotefrg · « **Reply #16 on:** Oct 14, 2009, 11:28:22 AM »

ive run these eagle alloys for a few years now and i really like them when i had the 32-1150's on they seems to get a good bit of rock rash but since getting the 35-12.50's ive not had much in the way of scratches, i had my local tire shop run them on his tire balancer and all 4 wheels were perfectly balanced

in my wreck my pass front took one helluva hit, bad enough to make it go flat, however after airing it back up it held air fine

NorCalToy · « **Reply #17 on:** Oct 14, 2009, 01:48:48 PM »

Quote from: 79coyotefrg on Oct 14, 2009, 11:28:22 AM

what does that mean? you run aluminums? that doesnt really explain much glen.

79coyotefrg · « **Reply #18 on:** Oct 14, 2009, 04:32:10 PM »

Quote from: NorCalToy on Oct 14, 2009, 01:48:48 PM

what does that mean? you run aluminums? that doesnt really explain much glen.

i know not what you mean

Joey88RUNR · « **Reply #19 on:** Oct 14, 2009, 07:01:36 PM »

I vote for aluminum rims, lighter for les stress on everything else

axled89 · « **Reply #20 on:** Oct 14, 2009, 11:01:03 PM »

i thaught that alcoa is the way to go. even after the lug nut holes wallooed out and the studs sheared off
and the wheel went flying off the truck coming home from wheeling. to me it's a toss up.

fs620 · « **Reply #21 on:** Oct 15, 2009, 10:14:50 PM »

i vote for steel

79coyotefrg · « **Reply #22 on:** Oct 16, 2009, 08:53:27 AM »

Quote from: axled89 on Oct 14, 2009, 11:01:03 PM

i thaught that alcoa is the way to go. even after the lug nut holes wallooed out and the studs sheared off
and the wheel went flying off the truck coming home from wheeling. to me it's a toss up.

ive had that happen to me twice in my life, both times was a steel "stock type" wheel

el picas82 · « **Reply #23 on:** Nov 02, 2009, 10:40:16 PM »

Quote from: TacoRunner on Oct 12, 2009, 12:15:17 PM

Aluminum brakes steel bends

I've had the same four Aluminum rims for over 10 years. I've seen more damaged steel rims than aluminum. I will always buy aluminum unless my pocket book tells me other wise.

This only my opinion.

If you are knocking your rims against rock often, you may be running to low of a tire pressure. My trucks weights about 4300lbs fully loaded and I run at 12lbs on a 15"x8"x3.5"bs rim and 37"s. Then again you may also have a rim that is to wide for your tire.

here is one of my rims bent....

its aluminum