O.T. Steel automotive wheels?

JF in MI · Feb 21, 2013

I’m looking at replacing my wife’s car next year. Seems that these days most new cars come with aluminum wheels which I would assume are for weight/fuel savings. For every car owned I’ve always kept a set of snow tires mounted on separate steel wheels. Mostly because they are cheaper and I don’t relish the idea of sliding on ice and smacking a pricey aluminum wheel into a curb. When I look at the specs of a new car I also research substitute wheels and can’t find any for a 5 x 105 mm pattern (plenty of aluminum ones however). Are steel wheels dead or does anyone know a source?

Jim

RayP(MI) · Feb 21, 2013

Salvage yards? Those guys would probably know what might fit.... Many cars used to cross wheels.

MarkB_MI · Feb 21, 2013

Steel wheels are pretty much dead in the US. One of the main drivers is sound: steel rims make a lot more noise than alloy rims, and car buyers today expect a quiet car.

Pitch1 · Feb 21, 2013

I always buy snows mounted steel from tire rack when I get a new car. I actually checked with GM for my daughters 2012 Cruze, they wanted about 90 per if I remember correctly.

JF in MI · Feb 21, 2013

For steel? Are you saying they exist for that pattern? (Actually I was considering a Cruze)

Pitch1 · Feb 21, 2013

Yep that was what they wanted,she passed on em and we just mounted her studs on the alloys. Cruze comes with steel on the base model.

bobs old iron · Feb 21, 2013

just get one of those wheel plastic gauges from local parts shop that measures bolt pattern, then you can go to local bone yard, or c-list to look for steel wheels,, as stated, its a fuel/weight saver from mfgr, and cheaper then steel...

charlie n · Feb 21, 2013

It's probably got 17 or 18 inch wheels.Good luck.

retired farmer · Feb 21, 2013

Just too bad they don't make a quiet car. I been in a few newer ones and you can't even hear yourself think.

John B. · Feb 21, 2013

Get ready to part with some money if you do find steel wheels which I doubt but the price to put Air Pressure Sensors in them. All new cars are required to have them. I haven't heard anyone having an extra set of wheels and tires for snow for the past 45 years. With front wheel drive vehicles now days I wouldn't worry about an extra set of snow tires.

Hobo,NC · Feb 21, 2013

(quoted from post at 04:27:17 02/22/13) Steel wheels are pretty much dead in the US. One of the main drivers is sound: steel rims make a lot more noise than alloy rims, and car buyers today expect a quiet car.

I am not buying into your statement but have no info to discredit it so you may be dead right,,, I believe its a strength issue... The way they make wheels now with so much offset steel wheels catch ELL!...

Rich_WI · Feb 21, 2013

http://www.discountedwheelwarehouse.com/Vehicle_Bolt_Pattern_Reference.cfm

That site will have all the vehicles and their bolt spacing. Just click on each different manufactor and make a list of cars that have the rims you are looking for. When you find a couple cars with the same rim bolt spacing pattern as you are looking for, google that car to make sure they have full sized spares, then take a trip to the junk yard. Or craigslist. I got all my spare steelies from there, usually 1 or 2 at a time. Its a little more of a pain that way but the price for singles is usually very low.

Steel wheels are on the way out but so are full sized spares. Makes getting a second set of rims kinda hard.

Adirondack case guy · Feb 21, 2013

I guess you don't live in the great North East. Many still run studded snow tires here. I have snows front and back on the wifeys 2wd ranger. It is a lot harder to stop and steer than to keep moving, and not get stuck.
Loren, the Acg.

504 · Feb 21, 2013

Ask at your local body shop, they will have a suppler of reman AL wheels, probably cheaper than new steel.

Pops1532 · Feb 22, 2013

You'll not only need to find the correct bolt spacing , but the correct rim width and back spacing, and of course diameter. A wrecking yard will have a Hollander interchange manual or software that should show if there are any OEM steel wheels that will fit your application.

Mike M · Feb 22, 2013

Snow tires on 4 extra rims with pressure sensors are the way to go. Regular all season tires are a joke !
I am learning the hard way. I tried just 2 snow tires on the front of my little car. It went good ,stopped good,but if you turned a corner as in town going slow the rear of the car would slide around !!!! Tried some weight no help.
So I got 2 more snow tires for the rear. Now it goes good. So after useing 2 extra rims with no sensors and not having extra rims for the others and had my tires swapped around on my good rims that are now getting bad from poor tire mounters and road salt.My TPMS light can't make up it's mind. I now see that trying to save some money is actually going to cost me more then if I'd of just bought a snow tire package from tirerack.com.

I also wish I'd of bought the steel rim version of this car too. I'm not an alum. wheel fan either. Many tires shops still don't have good equipment to mount and dismount tires without scratching them all up and then they don't have the proper balance weights or even stick on ones.

Anonymous-0 · Feb 22, 2013

Steel is available but I was told they are about as expensive as aftermarket alum. I bought a new low frills truck that had steel rims. Wanted to buy four snows and steel rims for the winter. Tire dealer said buy alum rims and we will switch tires. Also bought sensors and straps from Rock Auto. Ford dealer price for straps/sensors and factory steel rims are unreasonable. Tire swapped tires and installed the four new sensors on the new alum rims. So far everything works.

O.T. Steel automotive wheels?

JF in MI

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RayP(MI)

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MarkB_MI

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Pitch1

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JF in MI

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Pitch1

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bobs old iron

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charlie n

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retired farmer

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John B.

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Hobo,NC

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Rich_WI

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Adirondack case guy

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504

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Pops1532

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Mike M

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Anonymous-0

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