I was at my local offroad shop pricing some wheels and tires and they guy was telling me it was a terrible idea to get steel wheels because of the weight. I have a 3" rusty's lift and want to put 31x10.5 MT on cragers soft 8's. What do ya'll think... is it worth the money to get aluminum wheels?

 

the old debate continues...

steel wheels may have a little more weight to them, but they are inexpensive, and if you dent one, usually they are easily repaired.

aluminum/alloy wheels are usually light weight and relatively strong, but they do cost much more, and if they get damaged, usually the wheel is dead'n'done.

with your wheel size you are looking at, steel wheels will be fine. you are not throwing a massive tire on it, so the slight extra weight from the steel wheel is not going to kill you. i'd say if you had a bigger lift, and looking at running 35's or larger, might not be a bad idea to go aluminum to help shed some weight helping with braking. but, for what you are looking at, steels will do you good.

 

Thanks, I was hoping that was the case. Can't wait to order em' up!!

 

that and the sales guy might have been trying to muster up some commission on the alloy wheels

even then, lots of guys run steels on the larger tires anyways. it really just comes down to how much coin you want to drop on some wheels.

 

MPG's will drop with the steel wheels. when i put mine on i lost about 3mpg. i now have mickey thompson classic locks......

 

I am going with steel and 31's. I don't think it will hurt to much with MPG's. But i've heard its better to go with steel if your not gonna go with a huge tire.

 

you've heard that? from what source? and why? i am running 31's and it hurt my mpgs greatly.

 

Go with what you want to, it is your rig.

 

HEY, im just trying to help....i've already been down this road....i was only saying it uses more gas with steel. I dont care what yall do, i'd do what gives the most power and saves gas...but then again.....I understand their only like 40 bucks a piece (thats cheap), and i spent 151 a piece but hey its only money, why not...

 

I appreciate all the feedback. I guess I'll have to see if I can afford aluminum and if not steel it is!

 

I just bought a set of cragar soft 8's for my 33's and i love them. I dont care if they are steel or not. Its all about what you want to do really. I have another set of wheels that are aluminum american racing wheels for my 31's and i cant really tell that much of a difference in mpg. But i would go with cragars cuz if you damage one you know you can get one for sure and cheap. With aluminum wheels the manufacture could discontinue your wheel and have to buy a different set. Thats just a thought.

 

31's steel with fake bead locks.. so thats added weight.. and im right were i think i should be with gas milage... 17-19 or so..if that helps

 

After I cracked an aluminum wheel almost in half I went to steel and my mileage didn't change and I run 35s. When it actually sees pavement I get about 15mpg which isn't bad running full widths, 7" of lift and 35s.

 

i paid $350 for a set of 15x8 cast alloys shipped to my door with two installation kits. steelies might be about 70 to 100 dollars cheaper than that, but i guarantee you that you will pay that much difference in gas in the first 3 months. you gotta figure that the XJ was designed for 27.7 tall regular tires, so 31" 8-10 ply tires are already gonna put a dent on your mileage. add to it steel wheels, you might move from 18-20 to 12-14. my 4.5" lift and 31x10.50-15's cost me 5mpg, and i drive like a grandpa. i have bought every aftermarket bolt on to make that difference up. i just don't like to be driving a 10 mpg vehicle. before i put the new wheels and tires on, i weighted them. the stock alloys with 235/70-15 were 44 lbs. then new 15x8's and firestone destination a/t tires weighted 61 lbs. a piece. just to give you an idea. and i also know that the steel wheels bend slightly easier than the aluminum alloys. not to say that the force that would be exerted on them, wouldn't trash either one. just an idea.

 

why would you have 8-10 ply tires on your xj?