Steel wheels or alloys?

[Bat21]

What is the general feeling here on preference of wheels for serious off road.

The White 8 spoke steels I used for Morocco for the last Two trips locate on the center boss of the rear and on the hubs of the front. The fit is so good that even after removing the rear wheel nuts they take some getting off, usually means lying under the jacked up rear and giving them a size 9 booting.

The problem is they have no offset and cause the big Patrol to roll somewhat on the bends due to the narrower track.

The alloys I have on now with the new 33 x 12.5 x 15 BFG AT's have a negative offset which makes the truck more stable. The problem is they do not locate on the center like the steels so are in effect located by the nuts, meaning the studs will be taking all the pounding

Should I change them for some decent steels with a -30mm offset or will the alloys be fine?

The only ones I can find are these but at 10" wide will the tire be more susceptible to coming off the rim when aired down compared to the 7.5" width alloys?

 

[extreme-4x4]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....m=190271459263&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=009


there you go boss :bow

 

[Terranosaurus]

Your current rims sound a bit narrow to me Paul. BFG recommend 8.5 - 11" wide rims for 33/12.5s so 10" should be fine.

Personally for what you're going I think I'd go for steels. If you damage one you stand a chance of hammering it straight. Most alloys are made out of some funny coloured siler cheese/blamonge substance. Unless you spend a lot of money on proper forged competition alloys they'll just break at the first sign of a decent size rock.

If you're worried about pulling em off the rm you could always get beadlocks fitted - I assume you're already using tubes?

 

[nellie]

Alloys

Hi Bat 21,
As you may of seen, I have got some (compomotive alloys) on my y60 swb,
When i ordered them i asked for a 34et offset which is as much as you want really as they stick out of the arch an inch or so with a 33-12.50-15 kL71 mt kumos
You have to order them from (west coast off road), sorry cant find the no right now.
Have a look at there web sites, there,s two types to choose from.
And yes there very strong & look good too.
Dont get me wrong 8 hole white steels are good & strong, but after a year they look taty, & at £35 plus each not that cheap.
But i did manage to get some with a bigger off set than my last ones depends who makes them.
I paid £99 each for the alloys & hubs plus wheel nuts, 6 months of offroading & still look great, very happy with them, But you might get a better deal now?
Let me know what you think?

Nellie 11.

 

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

sure ive read that steels tougher off road, plus can be used as a jack pad for
a hilift and survive better than an alloy.

 

[zippy656]

sure ive read that steels tougher off road, plus can be used as a jack pad for
a hilift and survive better than an alloy.

and cheaper

 

[NNMan]

For any kind of offroad use steels are far more compatible.

Paul I have 15x8 white 8 spoke rims they have an off set of -25 mm and cost £20 from 4x4at.com. Strong ade cheep thats what I like!

 

[floyd500b]

Strong ade cheep thats what I like!

Always a winner:thumb2

Graham

 

[cssuk]

there are 2 arguments really alloy is ultimately stronger then steel weight for weight however its brittle whereas steel bends, as already mentioned if you bend a steelie in the middle of nowhere you can at least hammer it back to shape, cant do that with an alloy and your life may actually depend on that factor