Why do some new cars have steel wheels ?

Djene

Over the past few months I've noticed that quite a few new cars are going around with steel wheels ? Like basic wheels that you would find under hub caps. I'm seeing these mostly on brand new BMW's, Merc's and Skoda's. These are cars that clearly come with alloys as standard and it's confusing why they have steelie's.

Surly it can't be because of wheel theft as even my Corsa has locking wheel nuts.

Any guesses would be great, it's just niggling at me

Inner_Zone

Winter tyres and smaller wheels?

Hotspur

I'm guessing that more people are swapping to winter tyres on steel rims during the Winter months and back to alloys for Spring to Autumn.

colino

Simply cheaper and the fitting of alloys was brought about from sound engineering principles, to reduce unsprung weight. However most alloys are now for style only and weigh considerably more than their pressed steel equivalent.

Djene

Fair enough. Thanks. I personally don't see the point on switching to 4 winter tyres on a 64 plate car with brand new tyres anyway. Unless they were thrown in as part of a deal.

Gloomendoom

Djene wrote: »

Fair enough. Thanks. I personally don't see the point on switching to 4 winter tyres on a 64 plate car with brand new tyres anyway. Unless they were thrown in as part of a deal.

:huh: I suspect thet they will put the original tyres back on when the weather warms up.

That's what most people do.

Iceweasel

Djene wrote: »

Fair enough. Thanks. I personally don't see the point on switching to 4 winter tyres on a 64 plate car with brand new tyres anyway. Unless they were thrown in as part of a deal.

The point is grip at low temperatures - and in snow and icy conditions.

It's all about grip due to the rubber compound and tread pattern - new summer tyres just don't cut it in the winter like a true winter tyre does, especially on a powerful RWD car.

I have 2 sets of alloys - I want my car to look good all year round - I think the bare black steel wheels are ugly.

Some folks do cover the steels with wheel trims to make them look like alloy.

agrinnall

Because without any wheels the hubs cause a lot of sparks when driving.

PS I use trims on my steel wheels with winter tyres then switch back to my alloys once the weather warms up.

Inner_Zone

Iceweasel wrote: »

The point is grip at low temperatures - and in snow and icy conditions.

It's all about grip due to the rubber compound and tread pattern - new summer tyres just don't cut it in the winter like a true winter tyre does, especially on a powerful RWD car.

I have 2 sets of alloys - I want my car to look good all year round - I think the bare black steel wheels are ugly.

Some folks do cover the steels with wheel trims to make them look like alloy.

As Iceweasel said. I have 18" alloys for summer and 17" alloys for winter use.

harveybobbles

Or, some new carsa ACTUALLY come with wheel trims rather than alloys.

Even BMW's.

motorguy

harveybobbles wrote: »

Or, some new carsa ACTUALLY come with wheel trims rather than alloys.

Even BMW's.

What new BMW comes with wheel trims?