do snows/salts really give damage to wheels?

[Tokyo Drift]

I'm about to get a set of wheels and wondering
if snows/salts in winter really make some damages to wheels :loco

(If I get new wheels, I think I will keep them in winter too)

[PlatMS6]

As long as they are quality wheels, you shouldn't have any problems....however wheel finish plays a big role

[Skarbro]

I ran alloy wheels in the winter for 6 years. Never again. The salt will get everywhere. It got to the point where the seals were failing because the salt was eating the alloys at the seams. You can stay on top of it by hosing them down every time they get salt though.

Snow itself does nothing to the rims. It's when snow has salt in it that the damage is done.

I'll only run steelies in the winter now.

[Caz]

I would get a set for winter with some nice snow tires and a set with performance tires for the warm months.

[yearoftherat]

Coming from Manitoba aka:Winterpeg, I can't believe how much salt the province uses in the winter.
Steelies ftw !!!

[JonsMazda]

Hmmm, I guess my snowflakes rims gotta go during winter :S

[Azi]

get the steelies....cause alloys will end up rusting. and the open space will allow the salt to get into the brake/suspensions areas more easily.

[b3GS]

I'm definately gonna pick up a set of steelies for winter

had alloys in the past on previous cars, and they finish got completely ruined through the winters :(

gotta find a place to store my alloys though.. condo living is not so good for that

[-RJ3-]

I had my winter stocks for almost 3 years.... Had brownish discolouring, but after deciding to have them painted, they look like new again...

[sp3GT]

Salt definitely can't be good for alloy wheels, I tried that for 1 winter with a civic with alloys and after winter there was this crap that you coudln't wash off.

[Fuman]

Salt definitely can't be good for alloy wheels, I tried that for 1 winter with a civic with alloys and after winter there was this crap that you coudln't wash off.
shiet that blows!!
I always had steelies for winter.
edit: and boy does it rust fast. it was rusting after 1/2 a season. (brand new steelies)

[WLS ZMZM]

steelies are definitely a wise investment.... the salt corrodes the rim... and because they are alloy if the salt finds a hole in the coating of the rim it will eat away at it underneath... leaving this beautiful chipped look.... if you are running rims through the winter... I tried this once on the advice of my buddy... give them a coating of vaseline... especially around any hard to reach areas... it will help protect them.. but it is a pain to do.. and the rims get really dirty.. really really fast... and of course whenever you wash the car you'd have to reapply it... not really worth the effort... besides not recommended to run "all season" tires through the snow anyways.

[SpeedBaby]

steelies are great for multiple reasons:

1. they dont rust. and if they do, who cares - they're steelies!

2. by getting your winter tires on a separate set of rims you are reducing the chances of damaging your alloys while taking tires off and putting them on.

3. you don't need to worry about curb rash when half of the curbs are snowed in and you don't even know that it's there.

4. and finally, if you dont like the plain look of steelies, you can always make a quick run to crappy tire and pick up a set of those 'chrome' spinners hub caps! LOL

[Tokyo Drift]

is there any pic of damaged wheels caused by salt?

[marchz24]

I had a 1995 Z24 with alloys and I drove them in the winter time for 11 years. No salt damage what so ever. I find that aluminum rims that are painted hold up pretty good in the winter. However, aluminum rims that are not painted and just clear coated will get damaged. I had a friend with aluminum rims and it was just the end of winter. He had a flat tire on his steelies so he said he might as well put on this summers. Anyways to make a long story short, it snowed and salt was put down and his rims got ruined. It almost looks like the salt gets in behind the clear coat and screws them up. Anyways, even though the 3 has painted rims I'm still going to get winters. Just because the all seasons suck and it's worth the investment. Especially if they prevent you from getting into trouble.

[rallyboy]

Used to run the OEM alloy painted wheels as winters on my Merkur XR4Ti. They were painted and plastic coated but the salt eventually worked its way through to the alloy and as it corroded, it swells. I was grtting air leakage UNDER the plastic (between the alloy and plastic) and resealing the bead on the tire did nothing to stop it. HAd to replace or re-finish.

[-RJ3-]

steelies are great for multiple reasons:

1. they dont rust. and if they do, who cares - they're steelies!

2. by getting your winter tires on a separate set of rims you are reducing the chances of damaging your alloys while taking tires off and putting them on.

3. you don't need to worry about curb rash when half of the curbs are snowed in and you don't even know that it's there.

4. and finally, if you dont like the plain look of steelies, you can always make a quick run to crappy tire and pick up a set of those 'chrome' spinners hub caps! LOL


Good points... Looks like i'll buy steelies for my winters.

[RedRaptor]

Meh. I've ran steelies in the winter time for the past 3 seasons. I bought stock 16" Mazda3 rims for winter use this year. Steelies were great but I hardly doubt they protect the brakes and rotors anymore than alloy rims would. Salt is everywhere in the winter and just because the steelies don't have an open face, it doesn't mean salt won't get in.

I'll be selling my Tires23/Toyota in a few months.

[Virgy]

Steelies also tend to pick up less ice and snow one them. You can run into tire balancing problems if your run rimms that like to pick ice up. Especially if you live or do alot of driving north of hwy 7.

[blue3]

+1 happened to me once , car shook after 80 km .. ice had snow had built up inside the wheel