As the winter season approaches, it is time to replace your summer tyres with winter tyre variants. The advantages of this change are well known to drivers, but some difficulties arise in other areas. One issue that often comes up is whether it is possible to use aluminium rims in the winter.
Most drivers use steel rims in winter, as this is the most economical solution, well suited for drivers without excessive requirements when it comes to their car’s appearance. Yet many drivers also wonder if this is the only possible solution for the winter season.
Those against using aluminium rims in winter insist the metal corrodes too quickly when it comes into contact with salt, grit and other chemicals used on icy roads. Yet, on the other hand, rust is much more of a danger for steel rims. This problem occurs because a hubcap causes scratching every time it is put on, and this produces a base area for corrosion to start forming. In the winter, especially, small stones can often get caught between the hubcap and rims, causing further scratching.
A hubcap scratches the surface of a steel rim, making the wheel more susceptible to rust.
How To Protect A Rim From Rust
First of all, you should be aware that steel rims have fewer layers of lacquer, thus offering a lesser degree of protection against corrosion. Steel is also more susceptible to corrosion when compared with aluminium. This is because, after casting, an aluminium rim is painted with an anti-corrosive undercoat, then painted its target colour and, finally, a layer of colourless. This protects the paint, making it resistant to corrosion, which is something many drivers are not aware of.
However, it is always worth remembering that even aluminium rims will be damaged if they are not properly washed and conserved. When heavy dirt remains for a long period of time, it can scratch the surface of the rim, which can cause damage to the protective layer, leading to oxidation. For these reasons, it is recommended that you take care of your rims, whether they’re made of steel or aluminium. This applies for both summer and winter driving.
A corroded steel rim should not be fitted for another winter.
Which Rims To Choose
While it is expensive, the most convenient solution is to have two full sets of wheels, using aluminium rims for the summer and steel rims for winter driving. This also removes the need to que at tyre workshops or garages, as you can change the wheels yourself.
However, you still need to remember to have the wheels balanced after they have been in tyre storage for a whole summer. Yet the cost of balancing is still lower than changing the tyres. Regardless whether you invest in one of two sets of rims.
Anyway, whether you invest in one set of rims or two, remember to always choose brand products. Cheap chinese products - similar to Chinese tyres - do not have the appropriate safety features. As a result, they can often crack, which poses a serious risk of accident and puts you and other road users in danger. It is much better to invest once in a good set of rims, rather than having to eat into your savings later when you need to repair multiple vehicle parts following an accident caused via your unstable wheels.
The structure of an aluminium rim is more damage-resistant than a steel one.
Steel And Aluminium Rims
Another common argument, often heard against the use of aluminium rims in winter, is that aluminium rims are most more susceptible to mechanical damage during the colder months of the year. In reality, however the structure of aluminium rims is stronger than that of steel rims.
Naturally, extreme road conditions are often encountered in winter and a car that enters into a skid usually comes to a halt when it comes up against another object, such as the kerb. An aluminium rim damaged in such circumstances will proof expensive to repair and sometimes may no longer be usable. Repairing a steel rim, on the other hand, is certainly much cheaper and simpler. The same also applies when buying a new set - steel rims will always be cheaper than aluminium variants.
The classic five-spoke aluminium rim is the best solution for winter.
Winter Rims - What Are They?
In terms of technical advantages, there are no rims on the market designed exclusively for winter use. If you see the term “winter rim”, this may be applied to aluminium rims with simple designs - such as five spokes - and a silver colour. These features make the rims much easier to wash and conserve, which is more difficult do during winter. Theoretically, it is best to fit rims with more adventurous, complex shapes in the summer, leaving the simpler designs for winter. In either case, proper conservation is important. Just like your car tyre storage you should know how to properly store your wheels in between seasons.
However, there is a particular subset of aluminium wheels that are not recommended to be used during winter. Highly polished aluminium rims, often with polished edges or spokes, as well as chrome-plated models, have a much thinner protective layer and, as a result, they are more sensitive to the effects of adverse winter environments.
For more reading, you can also read our guide on how to read wheel markings, as well as close look at wheel spacers.