Traditional steel rims - are they really inferior to aluminum ones?

It is enough to look at the catalogs available on the Internet to notice that steel wheels are several times cheaper than aluminum counterparts. Therefore, especially in older models of cars, where alloy wheels would simply be a significant part of the cost of the car, "feathers" feel great. How to choose such discs for your car and what you need to know about marking?

Steel rim - what is it made of?

We won't reinvent the wheel by saying that steel wheels are made of steel. After all, their name comes from the material. They are easy to distinguish from aluminum wheels by color, but they are also distinguished by the pattern applied by the manufacturer.

And this is a very interesting question - “why are alus often so sophisticated, and why do “feathers” invariably appear in repeating patterns over the years? Steel is not as easy to shape as aluminum. Design patterns are mostly reserved for light alloy products such as aluminium, magnesium and carbon fiber.

Steel wheels - why are they still used today?

Contrary to popular belief, steel wheels are often comparable in weight to aluminum counterparts. Of course, there are high performance aluminum rims on the market that are made from very light materials or with very thin spokes. Such wheels are actually lighter than steel wheels, which are almost completely closed.

It is not true that all alloys reduce the unsprung weight of the vehicle. This is done only by those that are clearly lighter than steel. Their size is also important. The larger the diameter of the rims, the more difficult it is to control the vibrations transmitted to the body.

The price of steel rims is a key parameter

If you don't know what it's about, it's about money. This also applies to the rim. Take, for example, 16 steel discs. This is a very popular size for many passenger cars (city and not only). How much will you pay for a set of new wheels? You can get good quality items for less than 8 euros apiece.

Steel rim - price of aluminum competitors

And how much will you have to spend from your wallet on the same aluminum wheels? For the price of 8 euros. You can only buy a used model of the popular Alus. For the new 16″, sometimes you have to pay up to 30 euros (per piece).

Steel rims and everyday use

To make the appearance of steel disks more attractive, they are put on caps, i.e. folk hats. They come in every shape and can be tailored to the size and style of the car. They are not too expensive, but their disadvantage is that it is difficult to replicate the look of aluminum wheels.

Repair of steel discs

There is another point that speaks very strongly in favor of steel wheels. We are talking about the cost of operation, but in fact - the repair. Feathers are very easy to restore to working condition, even if they are damaged or bent. They are also relatively easy to balance. And if they need to be replaced, then it will not hit the wallet as much as in the case of alloy wheels.

New steel wheels and their selection for the car

In Polish road conditions, it is customary to drive on patterned rims in summer and steel rims in winter. This is a very common solution when someone uses two sets of tires. In order not to expose the "alus" to scratches during a visit to the vulcanizing plant, they have a ready-made kit prepared for the spacer.

However, in order to be able to put the right steel wheels on your car, you should know all their parameters well.

Where is the marking on the steel wheels?

Let's say you are interested in steel wheels with a diameter of 15 inches. What should you know about them other than that they are 15 inches outside diameter? Key values:

● PCD - the number of mounting holes and the diameter of the circle in which they are located;

● OC – inner diameter of the centering hole;

● rim flange profile;

● type of rim section profile;

● ET - weaning.

To explain the symbols above, let's take the example of 7J 15H2 ET35 CH68 4×108 rim. What is it about?

Flange section profile, i.e. parameter J

The designation "J" allows the use of steel wheels in passenger cars. Each type of vehicle has its own flange and these parameters should not be used interchangeably. And what does the number “15” mean next to the shelf profile rating? This is the width of the rim in inches, in this case 7.

Rim profile type and size

These values ​​indicate which rim design in the rim section the manufacturer has chosen. In the code we adopted, the designation "H2" indicates two humps. They affect the rigidity of the rim.

The number of this parameter present in the company is simply the diameter of the rim, i.e. 15 inches.

ET, or weaning (not to be confused with bookmark)

The value is measured in millimeters, which means the distance between the mounting plane and the axis of longitudinal symmetry of the rim. In practice, this parameter indicates how far the rim goes into the wheel arch. If you want the wheel to protrude closer to the contour of the body, choose a small ET.

Remember not to overdo the parameter in either direction. Too little ET will cause the tire to rub against the sharp outer edge of the wheel arch. On the other hand, a size that is too large can interfere with assembly and cause the wheel to get caught in the suspension.

CH 68 and 4 × 108, what in principle?

The first marking is the outer diameter of the central hole, which must be identical to (or greater than) the diameter of the hub. Original steel rims match the hub perfectly, while replacement rims are often larger and need to be matched with centering rings.

4×108 is the PCD designation, i.e. number and distance between mounting holes. In this case, the rim is fastened with 4 bolts located along a circle with a diameter of 108 mm.

What to choose - steel or aluminum wheels?

A lot depends on how the car is used. If you don't care about looks and fancy patterns, feathers will suffice. You will appreciate their low price and low repair or replacement costs. However, remember that they are less resistant to corrosion. This is a feature of mostly used specimens with already noticeable traces of rust.

Alloy wheels – aesthetics and durability versus repair costs

You can choose very beautiful and durable alloy wheels. Contrary to popular belief, they are not as fragile, but damage to them is associated with higher repair costs. If one of the disks is damaged, it will not always be easy to find an identical copy. A steel rim in even worse condition can simply be closed with a cap.

Steel rims for the winter and aluminum rims for the summer?

The best compromise is to prepare two sets - you will install steel wheels in winter and aluminum wheels in summer. Then you don't have to worry about tire cycling. In summer, when the car is more often used for recreational trips and simply needs to be more aesthetically pleasing, an "alus" would be more appropriate. However, in winter it is better to rely on narrower feathers.

As you can see, steel rims can be a very good choice for winter driving. You can choose from 17" steel rims or slightly smaller. Make sure the rims fit the car. The price of steel wheels and the ease of their repair, of course, encourage choosing them. If you are not afraid of rust, you can choose steel wheels.