Replacing steel wheels with aluminum

[mrschwarz]

So...While researching new tire stems for my F53 chassis with 19.5 inch steel wheels, I came across some postings where people had swapped out their steel wheels with aluminum and were reporting significant ride improvements.

Curiosity got the better of me and I continued to look and have more questions than answers. Some complained that steel wheels cannot be truly round like a forged aluminum wheel is. Others made reference to unsprung weight improvement. Others spoke about a better ride when they replaced their tires and wheels, but that doesn't really speak directly about aluminum wheels.

Does anyone have any experience with changing steel wheels to aluminum without making any other changes? How was ride affected?

 

[gwinger]

I don't see where the aluminum wheels would make any significance, except maybe since they are heavier.

 

[TheBar]

A lighter weight wheel like magnesium and even aluminum gives a significantly better ride.

The reason is unsprung weight which is everything attached below the spring i.e. axle, brakes, wheels, tires. Less unsprung weight has less inertia so less shock is transmitted to the springs then to the frame going over bumps. Think of getting hit in the face with a baseball vs a bowling ball

 

[CharlesinGA]

My Dodge/RAM 2500 is a tradesman model. It had steel rims on it when I bought it. Later I acquired a set of 2009 RAM aluminum wheels from a SRW 3500 RAM with only 40K mi on them (still 3rd gen chassis) and swapped my tires to them. I could tell a difference hefting the rims, so I weighed them, and found the alloy wheels were 17 lbs (each) lighter than the stupid heavy steel rims. The first few times I drove it, I could feel the difference, but I became used to them and now its just normal.

With dually wheels, the inner rim usually remain steel as they are thinner and the studs are not long enough for both to be aluminum. It varies and in a few cases, all the wheels may be alloy. Alloy wheels are better balanced and run smoother.

Charles

 

[Old_Crow]

With dually wheels, the inner rim usually remain steel as they are thinner and the studs are not long enough for both to be aluminum. It varies and in a few cases, all the wheels may be alloy. Alloy wheels are better balanced and run smoother.

Charles

I always noticed the inner duals being steel but assumed it was a cost cutting measure on the part of the owner. Never really thought about the stud length being the limiting factor. Learn something new every day, even at 74.

 

[Rene T]

Learn something new every day, even at 74.

And you thought you knew everything. Well now you do.

 

[tlmgcamp1]

I would think that if a person is changing rims they are also changing tires. Upgrading tires could be part of the observed improvements. I just replaced the OEM tires on the DW's Rav4 and she immediately noticed a performance improvement. Replaced OEM with same size all-weather "SUV/Cross-over" style tires.

 

[PancakeBill]

Another advantage of aluminum wheels is brake heat dissipation. Interesting about the inners being steel, Never noticed before. I had aluminum on my Country Coach but never had the occasion to check out the inners.

 

[Utclmjmpr]

Just wait till your 84 Crow,, then you WILL know it all...>>>Dan

 

[mrschwarz]

Hey! I'm 75. Does that mean I know more?

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Another advantage of aluminum wheels is brake heat dissipation. Interesting about the inners being steel, Never noticed before. I had aluminum on my Country Coach but never had the occasion to check out the inners.

Luxury class coaches may have aluminum wheels for both of the duals. My 2004 American Tradition did. Since the chassis was factory equipped that way, the factory made sure the stud length wasn't an issue.

 

[mrschwarz]

None of mine had an aluminum inner: Itasca Meridian, Winnebago Tour, or Tiffin Allegro Bus.

Thanks for the responses. I'm still on the fence.

 

[TheBar]

The only real negative about mag or aluminum wheels is they tend to crack instead of bend when a side force happens. Like a sideways skid or really bad pothole.

 

[Jubilee]

Aluminum wheels are forged and therefore perfectly round and true.
Steel wheels are welded and frequently are not round or true, though they have improved a lot in the last few years.

 

[Old_Crow]

Just wait till your 84 Crow,, then you WILL know it all...>>>Dan

I've come to discover I don't need to know it all...that's what I've got you guys for.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

I knew it all when I was younger, but as my age advanced I found I had been wrong about some things. Now I'm getting back to the "know it all" stage, but am finding that some (much?) of what I do know is obsolete. Good primarily for trivia contests.

 

[Boat Bum]

The older I get the smarter my father was.

 

[tlmgcamp1]

Que Tom Chapin (Harry's little brother) playing "The older I get the better I was"

 

[weighit]

We bought a new 2018 Holiday Rambler 34 ft gas with steel wheels and those stainless steel wheel covers. I lost 2 of the covers within afew months, priced them out and for about $400 more was able to buy 4 aluminum wheels and have those installed. then sold off the remaining stainless covers to recoup some of the costs of the aluminum. We did feel the new wheels seemed to ride better inside the coach. Besides it looked nicer too with the aluminum over the stainless covers.