steel wheels vs. alloys
08-07-2001, 08:56 AM
#1
hi everyone. i have a 95 gle with 14-spoke oem rims & i'm thinking about getting steel wheels/covers for winter driving. is there any difference in how the car handles/rides between the 2, or is it just cosmetic? thanks for any help- i really appreicate it. ps- i also posted this in the general discussion forum. hope that's ok?
maury
maury
08-07-2001, 09:42 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,601
Originally posted by Maury
... i have a 95 gle with 14-spoke oem rims & i'm thinking about getting steel wheels/covers for winter driving. is there any difference in how the car handles/rides between the 2, or is it just cosmetic? ...
... i have a 95 gle with 14-spoke oem rims & i'm thinking about getting steel wheels/covers for winter driving. is there any difference in how the car handles/rides between the 2, or is it just cosmetic? ...
Less unsprung weight ==> better handling.
Less rotating mass ==> faster acceleration.
You may be able to get a set of used "steelies" at no cost, from a Maxima owner who replaced them with alloys. I did.
08-07-2001, 01:45 PM
#4
All YOUR grammer belong to me
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,400
Tip
I have a 95 SE. I had the 8 spoked alloys. When I got my 17'' Konig's, I took the stock wheel/tire and weighed it. It only weighed 39 pounds. I then took my 17x8 Konigs wrapped in NanKang tires, weighed them, and they only weighed 41 pounds! The rims by themselves only weigh 20 pounds each also, same as stock.
BUT, much to my dismay, I felt I lost a tad bit of high end power. As I was driving on the highway, I turned off the overdive and floored it. It was responsive, but not as responive as when the stock wheels were on.
So heres my point. Even if you find a light bigger wheel, your max still has to work a lil harder to turn them becuase of their size. It sucks, but its the price you have to pay for good looks.
BUT, much to my dismay, I felt I lost a tad bit of high end power. As I was driving on the highway, I turned off the overdive and floored it. It was responsive, but not as responive as when the stock wheels were on.
So heres my point. Even if you find a light bigger wheel, your max still has to work a lil harder to turn them becuase of their size. It sucks, but its the price you have to pay for good looks.
08-07-2001, 02:39 PM
#5
Re: Tip
Originally posted by Craig Mack
I have a 95 SE. I had the 8 spoked alloys. When I got my 17'' Konig's, I took the stock wheel/tire and weighed it. It only weighed 39 pounds. I then took my 17x8 Konigs wrapped in NanKang tires, weighed them, and they only weighed 41 pounds! The rims by themselves only weigh 20 pounds each also, same as stock.
BUT, much to my dismay, I felt I lost a tad bit of high end power. As I was driving on the highway, I turned off the overdive and floored it. It was responsive, but not as responive as when the stock wheels were on.
So heres my point. Even if you find a light bigger wheel, your max still has to work a lil harder to turn them becuase of their size. It sucks, but its the price you have to pay for good looks.
I have a 95 SE. I had the 8 spoked alloys. When I got my 17'' Konig's, I took the stock wheel/tire and weighed it. It only weighed 39 pounds. I then took my 17x8 Konigs wrapped in NanKang tires, weighed them, and they only weighed 41 pounds! The rims by themselves only weigh 20 pounds each also, same as stock.
BUT, much to my dismay, I felt I lost a tad bit of high end power. As I was driving on the highway, I turned off the overdive and floored it. It was responsive, but not as responive as when the stock wheels were on.
So heres my point. Even if you find a light bigger wheel, your max still has to work a lil harder to turn them becuase of their size. It sucks, but its the price you have to pay for good looks.
08-07-2001, 04:03 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,835
Re: Tip
Originally posted by Craig Mack
I have a 95 SE. I had the 8 spoked alloys. When I got my 17'' Konig's, I took the stock wheel/tire and weighed it. It only weighed 39 pounds. I then took my 17x8 Konigs wrapped in NanKang tires, weighed them, and they only weighed 41 pounds! The rims by themselves only weigh 20 pounds each also, same as stock.
BUT, much to my dismay, I felt I lost a tad bit of high end power. As I was driving on the highway, I turned off the overdive and floored it. It was responsive, but not as responive as when the stock wheels were on.
So heres my point. Even if you find a light bigger wheel, your max still has to work a lil harder to turn them becuase of their size. It sucks, but its the price you have to pay for good looks.
I have a 95 SE. I had the 8 spoked alloys. When I got my 17'' Konig's, I took the stock wheel/tire and weighed it. It only weighed 39 pounds. I then took my 17x8 Konigs wrapped in NanKang tires, weighed them, and they only weighed 41 pounds! The rims by themselves only weigh 20 pounds each also, same as stock.
BUT, much to my dismay, I felt I lost a tad bit of high end power. As I was driving on the highway, I turned off the overdive and floored it. It was responsive, but not as responive as when the stock wheels were on.
So heres my point. Even if you find a light bigger wheel, your max still has to work a lil harder to turn them becuase of their size. It sucks, but its the price you have to pay for good looks.
Yep, high speed acceleration is definitely slower with my 17"'s than with my stocker 15's. I remember getting up to 120 was no problem with the stockers, but with my 17's, the acceleration slows noticably at around 110, and then slowly slowly climbs from there. But then who goes 110 anyways. The tradeoff in performance 17's vs. 15's is dramatic and worth every penny.
08-08-2001, 03:09 AM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 792
Originally posted by Daniel B. Martin
Stock Maxima 15" steel wheels are light. They weigh 20 pounds each, including the valve stem. This is lighter than some models of stock Maxima alloy wheels. Therefore "steelies" may actually perform better than alloys.
Less unsprung weight ==> better handling.
Less rotating mass ==> faster acceleration.
You may be able to get a set of used "steelies" at no cost, from a Maxima owner who replaced them with alloys. I did.
Stock Maxima 15" steel wheels are light. They weigh 20 pounds each, including the valve stem. This is lighter than some models of stock Maxima alloy wheels. Therefore "steelies" may actually perform better than alloys.
Less unsprung weight ==> better handling.
Less rotating mass ==> faster acceleration.
You may be able to get a set of used "steelies" at no cost, from a Maxima owner who replaced them with alloys. I did.
Less unsprung weight ==> better handling AND RIDE due to the wheel assmbly being able to react more easily to irregularities in the road....
Less rotating mass ==> faster acceleration AND deceleration
(i.e. braking)-V
08-08-2001, 04:32 AM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,601
Originally posted by vmok
Ahem... I think you forgot to mention....
Less unsprung weight ==> better handling AND RIDE due to the wheel assmbly being able to react more easily to irregularities in the road....
Less rotating mass ==> faster acceleration AND deceleration (i.e. braking)
-V
Ahem... I think you forgot to mention....
Less unsprung weight ==> better handling AND RIDE due to the wheel assmbly being able to react more easily to irregularities in the road....
Less rotating mass ==> faster acceleration AND deceleration
(i.e. braking)-V
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