Steel vs. alloy wheels for winter tires

So, with my new 128i DD I will also need to acquire a set of winter wheels and tires, as the set I had for the now-departed 525i 1) went with it, and 2) wouldn't fit the new car.

Pricing sets from TR (looked at a few other sources too, but in this case TR is coming in marginally cheaper), there isn't a lot of difference in price between steel (17") and alloy (16") setups. Steel is going to be heavier, but alloy options are limited and none seem to have quite the right offset (at least on the cheap end of the scale). If those are the only options (which they aren't, but let's not over-complicate this), which do I want?

Oh, and if someone wants to sell me a set of 5x120 ET47 BMW wheels for cheap, I'm all ears.

I think steel has some advantages in winter. The biggest one to me is a slight slide into a curb is not going to crack a steel rim like it has the possibility to do with an aluminum one.

However, I would also prefer to run a smaller diameter wheel in winter so there is more tire to protect the rim in case of those inadvertent slides into things.

In your example I think I would go with the 16" setup if it was me.

I much prefer a narrower tire for winter, it is hard to get a narrow tire on a large diameter wheel.

I'm surprised that your options are 17" steel and 16" alloy, that's the opposite of the normal way of things.

Bear in mind that the common inexpensive "US Wheel" steel wheels are VERY HEAVY. And somehow, 15" steel wheels have negative clearance over my Volvo's 280mm brakes but 15" alloys clear just fine. (Not hard contact, just some annoying grinding that wears away after a few hundred miles)

I had a -2 setup for winter on the 525i (235/45-17 summer, 205/60-15 winter), but the 128i will not let me go smaller than 16". I do tend to prefer the smaller diameter (helps to soak up the enormous craters that tend to develop in the roads around here), plus the tires are usually cheaper.

I have no idea why I can't find 16" steel wheels to fit, but they don't seem to be out there, at least not new. Ideally I think I'd prefer a set of OEM alloys - guaranteed to fit, generally high quality - but as noted, steels do have some advantages. I've been checking CL, but the local pickings are slim and most people don't do useful things like listing offsets (sometimes I can figure it out with some detective work, sometimes not).

Which ever is cheaper. I bought a set of Contour wheels for $50.

I have the tire rack 17" steel wheels on my 135i and could not be happier with them. They went through the winter with no signs of rust or discoloration.

drdisque wrote: I have the tire rack 17" steel wheels on my 135i and could not be happier with them. They went through the winter with no signs of rust or discoloration.

Are they very heavy compared with the stock wheels? What tires did you go with, and in what size?

On a related note, how is the 128i as a freeway machine?

Erich wrote: On a related note, how is the 128i as a freeway machine?

I've only had it a few weeks, but so far I have no complaints. It's happy to cruise at whatever speed you ask it to. Sixth gear gives a useful drop in engine speed vs. the five speed I had in my 525i; 75mph is 2500rpm in the 128i vs. 3000rpm in the 525i. The broad power band means you don't need to downshift as often as with earlier BMW inline sixes, where the power tends to come above 4000rpm. Relatively quiet and comfortable, really the only downside is the short wheelbase, which can lead to more abrupt chassis movements (at least that's what it feels like) than in the E39.

From a technical standpoint no clue.

From a superficial standpoint I have seen a few 128s and 135s in Philly running 17in steel rims painted silver in the winter and and thought the setup looked fantastic, good enough to look great even in the summer.

I have a cheap set of BMW wheels that I would like to get out of my barn. Shipping might even be an option.

Where are you located?

Woody wrote: I have a set of BMW wheels that I would like to get out of my barn. Shipping might even be an option. Where are you located?

PM incoming. Thanks.

It doesn't seem to matter. The wife bent three factory steel Fiat wheels and three cheap Tire Rack alloys.

I bought a set of 16" Sport Edition (a TireRack house brand) wheels for my Subaru a few months ago and I've been very happy with them. I actually use them as my summer wheels and use the ugly factory wheels as the winter set. The Sport Editions are an inch wider, same diameter, and weigh slightly less than the factory wheels. I believe they were about $90 each.

I'm not opposed to steel wheels but something about the Tire Rack and Dorman steelies looks very ugly to me. Maybe it's the convex dish or placement of the holes but they just don't look right to me. Plus there's no way I could ever put 25 pound 16" wheels on a car not destined for off road use.

02Pilot wrote:

Woody wrote: I have a cheap set of BMW wheels that I would like to get out of my barn. Shipping might even be an option. Where are you located?

PM incoming. Thanks.

BMW Style 55, ET 46

A local tire shop says you need alloy wheels for winter, because steel wheels warp from the heat.

I don't think it's the wheels that warped from the heat here.

SkinnyG wrote: A local tire shop says you need alloy wheels for winter, because steel wheels warp from the heat. I don't think it's the wheels that warped from the heat here.

Wow .... they really seem to be on top of their game

Personally, I have used Tire Rack sourced steel wheels and Blizzak combo packages on last three Accords and current GTI with absolutely no issues. On the GTI, factory alloys are 18" and steels are 16", which clear with no problems. I sort of like the softer ride the 16's give me in the cold of winter to be honest.

17x7.5 ET41

$100 plus shipping from 48377

Missing one center cap

Used, some light scuffs but no bends or cracks.

I'm not personally a fan of steelies. At all. They're heavy and as rallycross shows, it's possible to tear one off right over the lug nuts in a side impact (like sliding into something in the snow). Oh, and while they're easier to fix if you bend one, they're also easier to bend on potholes and such in the first place.

I use alloys partly because they're lighter for me to lug around at tire changing time.

On my '15 Miata, I ran Enkei YS5s in 16x7 shod with Xice3s in 195/55-R16 because I didn't want the car to look ugly 5 months out of the year.

Thanks for the offer, Angrycorvair. I'm very likely going to end up with the wheels Woody posted earlier - he's local, so there's no shipping to worry about. If for some reason that doesn't happen, I'll let you know.

I like to use the factory wheels for winter, and something bling for summer.

Gee, just to think all the years with steel wheels and no problems. Maybe they are using softer steel now days. For what is worth, there is very little difference in the weight of OEM alloys and steel and really what does it matter for a winter tire.

I have used both and have not had any issues either way. Whatever you can get cheaper.