What for the winter - aluminum or steel wheels?

Many drivers are wondering whether to change aluminum wheels to steel ones in winter. Contrary to popular belief, the former may be the best choice.

The main argument for using steel rims in winter is that alloy rims corrode faster in difficult weather conditions and in contact with salt. However, steel wheels are actually more prone to rust. This is due to the fact that we often draw them, for example, putting on hats.

In addition, aluminum rims are better protected. They are covered not only with the main color, and later with colorless varnish, but also with anti-corrosion primer. As a result, an aluminum rim is better protected from rust than a steel rim, which does not have as many coats of varnish. Remember, however, that if not cared for properly, it can also be damaged.

An oft-repeated argument in favor of steel rims is that in the event of even a small skid, when the car stops, for example, on a curb, the rims can be damaged, and aluminum models are more expensive to repair. It's hard to disagree with this. Repairing aluminum rims is certainly harder and more expensive, but let's not forget that they are also stronger and therefore harder to damage than chainstays.

In winter, be sure to avoid complexly patterned aluminum rims because they are harder to clean and maintain. Also, do not rely on heavily polished or chrome models. Due to the shallower protective layer, they are much easier to damage, and in winter conditions they can undergo accelerated corrosion.

It's also not entirely true that aluminum wheels should be more expensive than steel ones. For the latter, we need to buy a few accessories such as screws and caps, so the final cost can be higher than with the cheapest aluminum rims.

So what to do? The ideal solution would be to stock up on two sets of not only tires, but also disks - separately for the summer and separately for the winter. In this way, not only will you be able to avoid additional replacement costs, as we can replace the wheels ourselves. – The cost of buying a second set of wheels is similar to the cost of a seasonal tire change for about 4-5 years. With a second set of tires, we can change them ourselves at our convenience and balance the wheels in the off-season when there aren't such long queues,” says Philip Bisek, Oponeo Rim Department Coordinator. sq.