Are steel wheels lighter than oem wheels? If so I could gain some mileage/performance at higher speeds. Or is it a complete waste of time?
Mitch
Mitch
steel or oem wheels, which is lighter? (1 Viewer)
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Heavier. and waste of time from a mileage standpoint. 
Hardcore wheelers generally like steel wheels 'cuz they can be repaired a lot more easily if they are dented.
Alloy wheels will usually crack if hit too hard and are more difficult to repair effectively/safely.
Alloy/aluminum wheels are almost always lighter...reducing unsprung weight (wheels & tires) tends to improve mileage and ride quality.
-G
Alloy wheels will usually crack if hit too hard and are more difficult to repair effectively/safely.
Alloy/aluminum wheels are almost always lighter...reducing unsprung weight (wheels & tires) tends to improve mileage and ride quality.
-G
Are you sure about steelies weighing less than alloys? I just found this post from a Toyota dealer that says the steelies weigh twice as much as the alloys. Are you talking about different steelies?
- Thread starter
- #6
I'm talking about the black spoke steelies
Yeah, the wheels Dan is likely talking about are the heavy duty steel wheels for the 80 but that's unusual as those are designed to a military standard. That weight still amazes me, but Dan knows of what he speaks - he sells them.
I doubt that things have changed much in 20 years, but I read a chart by the big OEM wheel makers association regarding weights of steel vs aluminum wheels that showed the weights of various OEM wheels. Except for high end alloys (3 piece BBS wheels, high end Italian stuff, etc) designed specifically to reduce unsprung weight for max performance, the alloys were heavier. The pedestrian stuff (factory alloys) was not made to maximize the weight advantage due to its being subject to road damage when you went for minimal weight. High end cars and their buyers got lighter wheels because they expected it and would tolerate the odd bent wheel in pursuit of ultimate performance.
Aftermarket stuff was all over the board, but OEM wheels were pretty consistent in optional alloys being heavier than the standard steel wheel.
It would be interesting to know if that is no longer the case today due to advances in design, manufacturing, and the different costs versus 20 years ago.
DougM
I doubt that things have changed much in 20 years, but I read a chart by the big OEM wheel makers association regarding weights of steel vs aluminum wheels that showed the weights of various OEM wheels. Except for high end alloys (3 piece BBS wheels, high end Italian stuff, etc) designed specifically to reduce unsprung weight for max performance, the alloys were heavier. The pedestrian stuff (factory alloys) was not made to maximize the weight advantage due to its being subject to road damage when you went for minimal weight. High end cars and their buyers got lighter wheels because they expected it and would tolerate the odd bent wheel in pursuit of ultimate performance.
Aftermarket stuff was all over the board, but OEM wheels were pretty consistent in optional alloys being heavier than the standard steel wheel.
It would be interesting to know if that is no longer the case today due to advances in design, manufacturing, and the different costs versus 20 years ago.
DougM
wildsmith
SILVER Star
The 16x8 OEM steel wheels I have are easily twice as heavy as my OEM 16x8 alloys. A steel wheel without a tyre mounted feels as heavy as an alloy with a 36x12.5 Simex tyre mounted on it!
I have never had the steels on the car so I don't know what effect it might have on fuel consumption yet. The OEM alloys seem very sturdy, mine have cirtainly had some knocks, so maybe they don't have the breakage problem of other alloys.
Jon.
I have never had the steels on the car so I don't know what effect it might have on fuel consumption yet. The OEM alloys seem very sturdy, mine have cirtainly had some knocks, so maybe they don't have the breakage problem of other alloys.
Jon.
The OEM wheels on an Aust spec 80 are steel and weigh about double that of the rare OEM alloy rims.
Most guys who actually take their truck off road ditch the alloys and try to get the steel ones. Steel OEM 80 rims are very hard to get and are nearly always more expensive than the OEM alloy rims.
Most guys who actually take their truck off road ditch the alloys and try to get the steel ones. Steel OEM 80 rims are very hard to get and are nearly always more expensive than the OEM alloy rims.
