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Registered
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Iowa
Posts: 1,020
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strength of steel vs alloy wheels ??
I always thought steel wheels were stronger. But last week when I was buying my wife a new Forester, the salesperson told me that alloy wheels are stronger (not just lighter). I got the "X" model anyway (steel wheels), but just wondering ...
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John C 1988 911 Carrera coupe 2002 BMW 530 |
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04-05-2004, 02:15 PM
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You do not have permissi
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: midwest
Posts: 39,864
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I'm only a wanna-be engineer... but mabye for daily-driving the steel is heavier, more flexible and more consistent in returning to it's original shape, but the alloy has a better lightweight surface hardness for skidding across a consistant surface and cracks under impact resonance.
Hardness and flexability are supposed to be inverse. Are the new wheels a combination of the two...?
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Meanwhile other things are still happening. |
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04-05-2004, 06:29 PM
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Information Junky
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: an island, upper left coast, USA
Posts: 73,189
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Re: strength of steel vs alloy wheels ??
Quote:
FWIW, there is strength, and there is toughness. Steel is tougher (by weight) than aluminum. An aluminum wheel may be stronger (by weight) than a steel wheel . . .it's all on what you consider "broken" to be. Lets say that at 5000 lbs load the steel wheel gets a small bend. And, at 6000 lbs load the steel wheel gets a medium bend; but still drivable. Then, lets say, the aluminum wheel cracks into pieces at 5200 lbs load. (just above where the steel version starts to bend) The aluminum wheel would be considered stronger, but not tougher, than the steel. (which is usually the case.)
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Everyone you meet knows something you don't. - - - and a whole bunch of crap that is wrong. Disclaimer: the above was 2¢ worth. More information is available as my professional opinion, which is provided for an exorbitant fee. 
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04-05-2004, 07:26 PM
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