Which are better? I currently have steel (kinda ugly) rims on my Chevy Blazer right now, and my roommate has some aluminum alloy rims that will fit that he wants to sell me. He hates my steel rims so much that he's willing to sell me the alloy ones for $100.Should I take it? Or just stick with my steel ones?
A heavier rotating mass is harder on the brakes so the aluminum are better mechanically but they will shatter if you hit a curb or pothole to hard where the steel is malleable . Since you are using this vehicle for personal transportation the pretty aluminum rims will be your best choice . If it were a pick up truck being used for construction I would use the steel . Of course we are really talking extreme hypothetical because either set will do you just fine , we are really talking looks here .
If they are the correct size for your Blazer, I'd go with the aluminum rims, especially at only $100 bucks. They are lighter, which will help with handling and will definitely be better looking. I would not be too concerned with potholes or damaging them from curbs as with an SUV you will most probably have a higher profile tire (probably a 65-70 series sidewall) which puts more rubber between your rim and the road. One more thing, aluminum rims CAN crack and damage easily, so before handing over your cash, I'd check the outside surfaces as well as the INSIDE surfaces for any damage.
This Site Might Help You. RE: Steel or aluminum alloy rims? Which are better? I currently have steel (kinda ugly) rims on my Chevy Blazer right now, and my roommate has some aluminum alloy rims that will fit that he wants to sell me. He hates my steel rims so much that he's willing to sell me the alloy ones for $100. Should I take it? Or just stick...
Aluminum rims are a whole lot better on the mechanical stand point, they are lighter, usually stronger (depending on the alloy) and they allow for better heat disapation. Lighter rims will save gas money (nothing you will notice, maybe an extra mile/tank, if that). Depending on the alloy used in the aluminum rims, they are usually stronger and can take more froce abuse, just as long as they don't get scuffed up, ect. With the better heat disapation. When the brakes heat up, the heat is sent out ever direction, mostly through metal. Aluminum (alloy) is a great conductor of heat. So when the brakes heat up, the aluminum rims will absord much of this heat, and the outside air will be able to cool the rim faster then the brakes themselves, but the brakes will stay cooler this way. Brakes that are running cooler, will last longer then brakes running hot. You will have less of a chance of brake fade a condition where the brakes get to a point of being to hot, they don't function at all, or its hard to stop the vehicle. It will also extend the brakes over all life, in some cases up to 40-50%. I had stock steel rims in my truck, small rims for a small truck, and whenever I was doing highway driving, i would get brake fade under high speed braking. When I switched to aluminum rims, I have not had brake fade since, I don't know about the life on the pads, as I switched the rims, before I wore a set down. I picked up a set of 4 5spoke rims from an Explorer and put them on my ranger, I paid $80 for the 4 and they look in pretty good shape, little corrosion. A down side to aluminum rims is corrosion, they corrode easier, and can cuase discolouration of the rim itself, or can cause leaky tires if it corrodes around the bead seat, which it usually does. Its a fair trade off however.
