Are steel wheels better?

I read about weight, unspring weight, etc, etc.

Does this apply to trucks? And would I feel or notice the difference? Let's use (Gen3) SR vs SR5 both 16".

I also read, that the heavier steel wheel is better for trucks, because it lowers the center of gravity, as the weight is at each corner.

Or is weight always the enemy?

Educate me. TIA

 

Steel wheels are heavier and more prone to corrosion than alloy wheels. Adding more weight, especially unsprung weight is never a good thing. All heavier wheels will do is decrease acceleration, increase braking distances and lower miles per gallon. Steel wheels can be stronger than alloy wheels, but not always.

 

If you rock crawl, steel wheels will bend under heavy impact and can be reshaped on the trail with a hammer. Aluminum will either break or not be able to bent back into shape. Other than that and steel wheels are typically cheaper(as far as I've seen) I don't know of any advantages steel has over aluminum.

The weight of the wheels will be insignificant compared to the mass above them, so no, they wouldn't have much impact on COG.

In response to your first question, Yes all of that pertains to all vehicles, put a heavy ass tire and wheel on a vehicle and it takes more energy to spin it. It's as simple as that.

 

Physics applies to all vehicles.

Steel wheels are going to weigh around 32 pounds and 19 pounds for alloy. Give or take that's an additional 50 pounds of rotating mass. You will feel that in acceleration, braking, and gas mileage.

Weight is the enemy. If everything is equal lighter is better, but everything is never equal. Strength/weight/cost is a balancing act. Pick 2

Want strength and low weight expect high cost
Want strength and low cost expect high weight
and so on​

I've always run alloy wheel on my off-road vehicles because weight is the enemy. Things get plenty heavy with off-road modifications so everything you can do to reduce is a good thing.