Wheels - recommendations please - Steel vs Aluminum

[Jim]

Well, the 5-wheel tire replacement, with the thought of doing 5-wheel rotations, has me pausing at - I have a mixed set of wheels. The spare is an aluminum wheel. The running four are chrome steelies - with some rust.

If I do a 5-wheel rotation with existing wheels - one of the wheels is an odd-man-out. Perhaps it's time to change to a new set of 5 wheels.

But do I go with the old-school, rugged and "repairable" steel type or go with the newer and lighter aluminum wheels.

Yes, lighter weight is desirable but that's certainly in second place to being rugged / durable.

Go aluminum and be happy?

What say ye?

EDIT: Hmmm - do I change from 15" to 17"

[derf]

Honestly, a lot of the steel vs aluminum argument is over hyped. Get the wheels that you like.

17s will give you a bigger selection of tires but 15s appeal to me on older Jeeps.

[Rocrawlr]

I like steel. I ran these for a lot of years with no issues. The reason why I picked them was because they have a 3.75" backspacing and they are cheap. Most other steelies and aluminum have 4.0 backspacing and tuck too far in for me.
https://www.quadratec.com/p/cragar/series-365-black-v5-wheel-jeep-vehicles-5x45-bolt-pattern
That being said, I'm running aluminum beadlocks now because steel beadlocks would be too heavy.
I really the old school steelies, but they are expensive:

[open_circuit]

Forget wheels, I want to know more about that tan safari style soft top. I've never seen one like that before on an LJ.

[Jim]

:lmao:

[FINOCJ]

Honestly, a lot of the steel vs aluminum argument is over hyped. Get the wheels that you like.

Agreed....I tend to like alloy wheels best - I also think the weight savings in old jeeps that have trouble getting out of their own way might be helpful - but it probably isn't significant. I've run allow wheels on my cj7 and now my cj5 - they've been used pretty hard - and never had an issue with durability. I am running mag slots from the 70's right now! I think there are some application where steel wheels are appropriate for aesthetics or 'just look right' etc... choose the wheels that are the right look and price for what you want. Honestly, I'd polish up your steel wheels and keep using them with a 4 tire rotation. You know me, I am kind of cheap, but I'd buy 4 new tires and put them on, and take the best of the used etc and put it on your spare and call it good.

[TyTheJeepGuy]

For what its worth I let my girlfriend drive the 2020 Jeep once and it slid sideways into a rock. It seems that the wheels took more out of the rock than the rock affected the wheels. I think the new ones are aluminum or some lighter material than steel. I (like Jim) would be more comforted by steel but so far these seem pretty tough.

[Jim]

I'm leaning 5-wheel steel (matched set, making for easier rotations if I do it myself, lower purchase cost over aluminum). Before making a purchase, I'll look at aluminum - heck - I could see what a junk yard might have.

At this point I think I'll hold to my original schedule - spring - to ride out the remaining trail miles on this set (frugality). I did get a set of traction boards (read: generic), should the SW Utah trip find them of need.

[The StRanger]

I picked up five white spoke wheels for the Ranger and spray painted them satin black...
if I scuff one I spray it, if bend one, I just pick up a new one...