No more rumors. Have *YOU* ever cracked an aluminum wheel?

Please only reply if you have first hand experience.

I've always heard that, if you're building a rock crawler, you should stay away from aluminum wheels because they crack while steel bends. Steel will be more likely to hold tire pressure and is easier to repair.

But I've never actually seen or heard *first hand* of a cracked wheel. (Other than the obvious, "I slid sideways into a curb at 40mph.")

I'm trying to decide if I want to get steelies to replace my stock TRD/OR aluminum wheels at the same time I up-size the tires.

A Discount Tire "expert" told me that aftermarket steel will be nothing but headaches. He said he's seen them hard to balance, cause vibrations, etc. But, notice I put quotes around "expert." I just had a vibe this guy was full of crap and trying to up-sell me to aluminum.

Please only reply if you have first hand experience with cracked aluminum or troublesome steel. (And no, I am not going to mount steel spares or ugly base model wheels. Blech.)

 

If you are building a rock crawler I wouldn't worry about having a perfect balance on your wheels. I have bead locks which are hard as hell to balance. I would say if youve cracked a wheel sliding into a curb @ 40MPH i would consider the other option. You might find your self sliding into a rock about the same speed.

 

Sounds like a preference to me. That is like saying Red trucks are faster than Black trucks. Non- sense.

 

I dont think thats a fair comparison. Steel vs Aluminum is something to consider when you are beating on your truck.

 

I know this isnt first hand, but im pretty sure monkeyproof busted one about a year ago. He posted pics if I renember.

 

I have dented an aluminum wheel years ago and it could not be repaired. It did not crack though.

 

I've never broken an alloy wheel into pieces...

But have bent the outer bead so bad that the wheel was toast...
wouldn't hold air and a spare is the only correctable recourse.
There is no field remedy for repairing a bent alloy wheel.
Trying to straighten a bent lip on an alloy wheel in field...
would likely cause that to crack apart.
Sooo... a bent or cracked alloy in the field can ruin your day.

That said... I ran steel wheels for years after rolling alloys...
of which time, I was rolling every rock garden muh junk could run.
I usually air'd down fairly low in the rocks 6-8 psi...
But generally ran 15 psi for most trail work.

On several occasions when aired low.
Hit a rock and bent the steel wheel's bead...
but I was able hammer those straight enough to hold air.
Was cheaper to replace damaged steel wheels,
then to have them professionally re-trued.
So usually I bought another if I couldn't correct it myself.

Steel wheels are generally cheaper then alloys...
so the loss of a steel wheel is easier to swallow when it costs less

Currently I swapped back to alloy wheels...
primary reason was for the weight savings, due to larger tires.

Some tires are designed to better protect the wheel's bead.
whereas some tire bead designs offer little protection.
So choosing the right or best tire design for fitment is an exercise.
My current tires have a wheel bead protection design...
so that helps a little in protecting a alloy wheel bead.
Still no guarantee tho'

Most alloy's are stiffer and less malleable then a steel wheel.
This comes with advantages and disadvantages.

Alloy is tougher then steel when it comes to initial impact...
But more brittle and less malleable if it does get booger'd,
so field repair is usually a fail and a spare must be on hand.

If I were wheeling far away from civilization...
and intended on getting home without assistance...
I'd prefer to be rolling steel wheels.

Besides... with steel wheels you tend to care less about them.
With alloys... yer likely concerned about marring them.

IMO... the last thing one needs to think about when
wheeling in a dangerous off road situation is... bling wheels

 

Never bent or broken one. That I know of. Been running the same stock TRD/OR aluminum wheels since new in 2005.

 

Where's jberry813 at? I know he has.

 

chris nfs257 bent two at once!!

 

i was in my friends FX4 F150 and nailed a curb in the rain and cracked it.

 

ive cracked aluminum

 

I toasted a rim while on the rocks..caught a rock just right which tore off a large section.. I also actually cracked a one randomly, I was airing down and noticed a crack all the way through..




All of the KOH rigs all run aluminum bead lock rims as do the trophy truck teams for desert racing

 

i was their for the first picture Crazy how the rock peeled off the edge of the rim.

 

cracked wheel

 

It is because you eat crap on your quad in glamis

 

you shut up

 

<3

 

doing what ^ jw