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It’s a simple question with a much less straightforward answer: in the battle of alloy vs steel wheels, which emerges victorious? Judging by the amount of new cars that now come with alloy wheels as standard here in the UK, you’d assume alloys were the clear winner. But the reality is th
It’s a simple question with a much less straightforward answer: in the battle of alloy vs steel wheels, which emerges victorious?
Judging by the amount of new cars that now come with alloy wheels as standard here in the UK, you’d assume alloys were the clear winner. But the reality is that both alloy and steel wheels still have their place, and both materials have their own advantages and disadvantages.
To help you decide which style of wheel is right for your car (and crucially, for the type of driving you do), we’ve put together a quick, simple and jargon-free guide explaining the pros and cons of both steelies and alloys.
While alloy wheels are forged from a mixture of metals such as aluminium and magnesium, steel wheels are composed of just one element: steel. The first mass-market cars, such as the Ford Model T, used steel wheels and their tough yet flexible characteristics made them a great fit as the wheel of choice for the iconic Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor. Today, they are still used as entry-level wheels for affordable compact hatchbacks, saloons and SUVs. If a vehicle has plastic hub caps or wheel trims, it’s likely that it’ll have steel wheels behind the trim.
By breaking down the pros and cons of alloy wheels and steel wheels, we can start to see which is the better option for you. This section dives into each aspect to consider when deciding on your new set of wheels, from performance to fuel economy to cost, and pits the two wheel types against each other to see which comes out on top.
Alloy wheels are not only much lighter than their steel counterparts, they provide better heat conduction by taking brake-generated heat away from the discs more efficiently than steelies.
Lighter wheels also greatly improve the operation of the suspension, which also increases fuel efficiency and safety, on top of the fuel saved by the weight reduction alone.
From a performance standpoint, alloys are the clear winner yet again.
The aforementioned lightness of alloy wheels also provides benefits when it comes to fuel economy. Alloy wheels lower the unsprung mass of your vehicle by around 20kg compared to steel wheels, and this means less power is used moving the vehicle. Alloys shave off fuel consumption, and when fuel prices are at such a premium, every little helps.
Steel wheels have a reputation for being tough, durable and easy to repair. Sure enough, alloy wheels don’t have the flexibility that steel wheels have and this heightens the chances of alloys bending or cracking. However, alloy wheels can easily be repaired by reshaping the alloy back into its original strong position. This requires specialist equipment, but at LK Performance’s state-of-the-art fitting centre, we have all the facilities needed to restore the integrity and strength of a bent alloy wheel, so you needn’t worry.
However, the reputation steel wheels have for being durable quickly falls apart when considering rust and corrosion. Because alloy wheels are made of a mixture of elements, the strong bond means it has excellent corrosion resistance. On the other hand, though the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor used steel wheels, the company had to recall over 100,000 cars because of wheels that rusted prematurely. Steel wheels are more prone to rusting on the surface when facing tough weather conditions or grit, which is a huge negative.
Unlike steel wheels, alloys are die cast, gravity cast or forged. Forging is by far the most expensive method, but the resultant wheel is also lighter and stronger than any other wheel, justifying the additional cost - especially in racing, where weight is such a concern. Casting in general tends to be more costly than stamping sheet steel too.
So, in summary: alloy wheels are significantly lighter than steel wheels and are more rigid too, making them less likely to suffer damage. If they’re good enough for top-level racing cars, that says a lot!
This is a subjective one, but most would agree that alloys look more attractive than steel wheels.
Yes, steel wheels look right at home on a rugged off-roader, but on a regular road car, alloys tend to look better. They have a more premium, sporty look than steel wheels, which is one of the reasons why they’re so popular nowadays. Image matters, after all.
Alloys only used to be fitted to the highest trim level of a given car model, or were reserved exclusively for luxury or sports cars. This long-running association with flagship models has made them much more desirable than steel wheels.
Alloy wheels can add to the resale value of a car - and putting alloys on your car won’t necessarily add to your insurance premium at all, although it’s necessary to declare the change to your insurance provider.
With all that said, it’s here that steel wheels begin to claw back a bit of an advantage. They’re significantly cheaper to manufacture and buy than alloys, and when they do get damaged, they’re much easier and cheaper to repair too.
This explains why base model cars often come with steel wheels (albeit with plastic wheel trims covering them up) instead of alloys. It also explains why off-road vehicles rarely use alloys; because they’re driving over rough terrain, they’re going to damage wheels anyway - and steel wheels can be hammered back into shape with ease.
It’s a small wonder why alloy wheels are the preferred choice for high-spec compact and midsize hatchbacks, sedans and SUVs. Compared to steel wheels, alloy rims outclass in every aspect and will leave a leaving a lasting positive impact on your vehicle. From performance to durability to even style, alloy wheels are undeniably a more advantageous choice when deciding on what to put inside your tyres.
If you’re searching for a new set of alloys, we stock hundreds of types of quality alloy wheels from the finest aftermarket wheel-smiths in the world. LK Performance is home to a range of alloy sizes that are guaranteed to fit your vehicle no matter how large or nimble it is. It’s all there on our online store for your choosing.
We recognise that it can be daunting to find out which wheels fit your vehicle model exactly, which is why our site uses a free online fitment checker that automatically filters out the alloys that don’t fit your wheelbase across the site. Best of all, if you buy with us, you are entitled to our wheel and tyre fitting service, so you can save the hassle and leave it to our exceptional fitting team. Browse our alloy wheel store today and you could be driving in a gleaming new set of alloy wheels that will change how you see your vehicle.
Questions about fitment, finance, or an order you have already placed? Our advisors know these wheels inside out and are happy to help.
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Aftermarket alloys are typically lighter than their stock counterparts, reducing unsprung weight and improving the performance of your car. They’re also available in larger diameters and widths, allowing larger brakes and wider tyres to be installed for increased cornering performance and stopping power.
Alloy wheels have a far longer lifespan than steel wheels. When well cared for, they can last for decades - and they can be easily refurbished and restored to look as good as new.
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