Steel vs. Alloy

[BenL]

My wife has a 7-year-old Mazda Protege (smallish car with 1.8L engine). After seven years of dealing with pot holes, the alloy rims are warped and need to be replaced. TireRack.com lists many types of alloy rims, but it doesn't offer any sort of clue how long they'd survive when driven on city streets (I even tried calling them to ask). So I'm beginning to wonder about giving up on a sexy set of alloy wheels and get a boring set of steel wheels (which probably would be heavier, and might affect handling).

So does anyone have any suggestions?

Buy the steel wheels ($114 each)? Buy a set of cheap alloy rims (~$80 each) and expect to replace them periodically? Get a good set of rims (from who?)?

 

[JohnC]

Bent wheels are becoming more common with the 19" and 20" wheels that are becoming popular, and because of the rubber band profile tires these wheels require. They have little or no sidewall, and no cushion for the really bad bumps.

OK, so with a Protege your problem probably isn't 20" wheels, but perhaps it's still related to the lack of sidewall on your tires.

You could increase your profiles up a size or two to cushion your wheels a bit more? It would probably give the car a more comfortable ride as well, although it would throw your speedo off a bit.

John

 

[Dave Bilyk]

Ben, some useful comments from my own experience. I have Subaru Impreza Turbo with sports (stiffer than standard) suspension. History :
1 Original 16" Wheels no problem.
2 Upgraded to 5 Spoke 17" wheels. These repeated went out of balance an the inner rim would tend to bend. Sometimes if I hit a pothole just right between spokes, it could dent the outer rim too.
I try not to make a habit of hitting potholes, but in the dark it can be difficult, and even 20mph is enough to cause damage. I think I caught 5 in 8 years.
3 Upgraded to 7 spoke 17" wheels. No damage to outer rim but inner rim still an issue.
4 Did some more research. Some wheels are made from a different grade of alloy which is hardenable. I found a set of 11 spoke 17" wheels advertised as hardened alloy wheels used in touring car racing, and no problems since I got them.

I think they are called Pro Race One so I suggest you check these out and look for a high grade hardened type.
hope this helps

Dave

 

[aji]

It depends where you are planning to drive. In the city tears stuff up.

Go to the Junk Yard and get 5 mazda steel wheel that fit you car, most likely $ 15 - 20 each with tire. Paying $114 for a steel wheel is like you need the steel wheel now to get you rolling again, which is not the case!

You can also get good used aluminum rims if you want.

best

 

[Chris Kouba]

I used American Racing alu wheels on my rally RX7 for ~3 years and only bent two- one from a rather violent encounter with a railroad crossing and one got severly rearranged from sideswiping a tree at 40mph or so (I got a heli ride out of that incident). In other words, I'd say alu should probably do you fine.

They were the 7 spoke simple design which I can't find a picture of now but they did the trick. They got pretty torn up due to the nature of rallying but I'd say they held up respectably. I think they were called Type 76's but I could be wrong.

Chris