If you’re considering getting a set of winter tires for your daily driver, it’s very likely that you’ve also been recommended to purchase steel rims for mounting said tires. Steel rims, steel wheels, winter wheels, or steelies, are the names given to wheels made from steel and not aluminum. Aluminum or alloy is the most common type of car wheel these days.

The question we need to answer is whether it’s worth it to buy new rims for your new winter tires. Let’s find out.

What Are Steelies?

Steelies is a common term used by automotive enthusiasts to describe steel wheels. As previously mentioned, the most common type of wheel on cars today is made from aluminum or alloy. Steel wheels are cheaper and generally stronger than alloy wheels. How do you know if you have steel wheels? If your vehicle has hubcaps or wheel covers, there’s a good chance that you have steelies. Off-road vehicles and work vehicles often ride on steel wheels.

Why Do People Like Steelies?

There are a few reasons that people buy or recommended steel wheels. For off-road enthusiasts, steel wheels are more durable than alloy wheels. They can take a lot of abuse, but they’re also cheap to replace and easy to repair. 

For winter driving, steel wheels paired with winter tires make a lot of sense. Road salt is very damaging to aluminum wheels and can destroy them eventually. If you pair your winter tires with steel wheels, you have more protection for your wheels, and it’s also a much easier swap. Instead of going to a tire shop and potentially even damaging your tires by removing them from one rim and fitting them to another, you simply swap the wheels and tires as a set. 

For DIY mechanics, this is particularly appealing as you can easily do this in your garage. If you’re someone who procrastinates in putting on your winter tires, making it easier can reduce this.

What’s the Difference Between Steel and Alloy Wheels?

Alloy or aluminum wheels are popular on modern cars because it’s much easier to make them look nice and unique. They’re also quite light, so that allows for better handling, better fuel economy, better acceleration, and less weight. 

Alloy wheels also come in a wide variety of sizes. Steel is quite a bit heavier than aluminum, which means that steel wheels are also heavier. The weight rides on your vehicle unsprung, which means that your suspension is not supporting it. 

Unsprung weight ultimately affects handling and performance. For some vehicles, even a small amount of extra weight can be problematic.

What Are Some Pros and Cons of Steelies?

The primary positives for steelies are that they’re easy to repair, they’re cheap to replace if necessary, and they can be painted or covered with hubcaps to make them look better. For cons, steels do add unsprung weight, they are susceptible to rust if you don’t properly paint them, and they do have certain size limits.

Why Get Steelies For Winter?

Getting steel wheels specifically for the winter driving season along with winter tires makes a lot of sense for several reasons. If you paint them properly, they will strongly resist rust from road salt. If rust does become an issue, they’re still easy to repair and cheap to replace. 

Having steel wheels and winter tires as a set makes it easier and faster to swap your winter setup when the time comes. Consider too that you won’t need your vehicle’s agile handling as much in winter driving conditions, so if that’s a concern, you can only use steel rims for your winter setup.

Steelie FAQ

Q: Are steel wheels safe?

A: Steel wheels are not any less safe than alloy wheels. In fact, when it comes to resisting rust, they can be safer.

Q: Are steel wheels superior to alloy wheels?

A: Steelies are definitely superior in some ways, such as durability. However, for performance vehicles and those looking for aesthetic appeal, they fall short.

Q: Should steel rims be painted?

A: Definitely. Steelies should be painted for two reasons: it helps reduce the risk of rust, and it makes your wheels look better. Black steel wheels are very striking, for example.

Q: How much do steelies cost?

A: One big benefit of steelies is that they’re quite inexpensive. General costs for one wheel with no tire range between $55 and $95.

Rely on Action Car and Truck Accessories for a great selection of steel wheels for sale as well as a wide variety of other parts and accessories for your exterior, interior, suspension, and much more. Search our website for what you need, or visit your local well-stocked store for expert advice and installation on select parts.