Winter wheels - worth it?

david burton · Post by **david burton** » Mon Nov 22, 2004 8:56 pm

Well, the salt is on the roads and we all know that it eats wheels..

I was chatting to someone tonight, and also saw a post on the porka forum... which got me thinking - is it pointless putting on winter wheels - after all, the car looks poo-er for about a third of the year! even more than that. I want BLING all the time. But of course, if they were very expensive....

I'm asking this on Teamshock too, cos I'm intrigued....

So, how much would your wheels have to be worth before you shove winter's on your motor?

CalvinGTI · Post by **CalvinGTI** » Mon Nov 22, 2004 8:59 pm

well i had he same thought dave, but im still yet to see a decent set of Ronal turbo's when i have the money. Always seems when i have the money there arnt any about, and then i have a bill to pay or somehthing so the money goes.

I personally think it would be great to have some winter wheels, its all about the money though, also its nice to have a change. Even if there Winter wheels, theres no reason why they cant be nice anywayz.

What wheels were you thinkin of?

Calâ„¢

carmadaaron · Post by **carmadaaron** » Mon Nov 22, 2004 9:10 pm

i dont really c the point.... i bought alloys so it makes the car loook better

its like winter here 364 days in scotland lol...

anyway, with all the cars manky, and our nice clean wheels stand out lol!

toXXin · Post by **toXXin** » Mon Nov 22, 2004 9:21 pm

I do it every winter as I had TT wheels which are very prone to corrosion, and are Â£400+VAT each to replace.

I buy a set of cheap but cheerful wheels, or put my standard alloys on, and then get some good grippy tyres for them. Last year I ran standard wheels and bent one on a kerb, as I did the year before.

david burton · Post by **david burton** » Mon Nov 22, 2004 9:37 pm

I think I'd do it if they were a special finish, like chrome or high polish with no laquer...

I've had some in the past that corroded - but I agree with carmadaaron - I want my car to look good all the time!

It would be nice to have some winters - but I'd only do it if my alloys were really expensive - and even then I'd want some nice winter ones!

I've only caught one of my wheels so far on a kerb - so I will be keeping an eye on it to see if corrosion starts - I did relacquer tho.

SteB · Post by **SteB** » Mon Nov 22, 2004 10:35 pm

it depends whether or not you can be bothered to clean them after every trip !

i dont think its just a matter of cost either - replacing rare rims may be too difficult, so why risk them ?

btw, does anyone know what salt does to magnesium wheels ??

Ste

Tahrey1043 · Post by **Tahrey1043** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 2:39 am

any alloy - if i could afford them

carmadaaron · Post by **carmadaaron** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 3:56 pm

Tahrey1043 wrote:any alloy - if i could afford them

fink the recommended time is max 2weeks for cleaning wheels.
(in the handbook )

Si_GTi · Post by **Si_GTi** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 6:52 pm

I'd would absolutely love to have a set of Winter wheels if I could afford them - the BBS's are doing OK at the moment, but I'll be refurbing them in the Spring, and won't want to have them exposed to salt/grit etc this time next year!!

Just a set of four 14" cheapy 5-spoke alloys off a 6n 16v would be brilliant - something for me to look out for I think!

At the moment, I clean the alloys every week - I'm not worried about the damage they already have with the usual corrosion problems, but i like to keep them as clean as possible.

david burton · Post by **david burton** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 6:59 pm

If anyone wants some mkiv steels, I have some for free

carmadaaron · Post by **carmadaaron** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 7:01 pm

hey guys

what bout expensive mercs and that? merc garages dont include a set of winter wheels!

Si_GTi · Post by **Si_GTi** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 7:10 pm

carmadaaron wrote:hey guys

what bout expensive mercs and that? merc garages dont include a set of winter wheels!

Merc owners probably have a Winter car, let alone Winter wheels!!

bstardchild · Post by **bstardchild** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 3:34 pm

Si_GTi wrote:
carmadaaron wrote:hey guys

what bout expensive mercs and that? merc garages dont include a set of winter wheels!
Merc owners probably have a Winter car, let alone Winter wheels!!

Hmmmmm - the polo is my winter car

But as for winter wheels I do have em but with snow tyres fitted trouble is they are 5 stud so won't fit the polo - but I do have a set of 13' steelies that if i can find a set of snow tyres cheap enough will be brought into action this winter if it snows

Other than that it won't need winter wheels - my cleaning regime is dead simple

The car is white

- if even the windows get dirty it gets washed and alloys get cleaned and get removed off the car every month to be cleaned inside and out....

Trick with keeping alloys from corroding is to avoid the double whamy

Salt is corrosive - so is brake dust

Kerbing marks damage the protective laquer so moisture carrying with it the salt and brake dust underneath and can really mess up the look of any wheel

So

Don't laquer - my BBS splities are now unlaquered polished rims

Clean frequently

Don't kerb em

carmadaaron · Post by **carmadaaron** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 4:47 pm

how long does it take salt to eat into the wheels of a kerbed bit? brake dust takes like at least a month of no cleaning...

Loonball · Post by **Loonball** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 7:23 pm

i said Â£500 however now i am considering saying none of the above, i would put winter wheels on my car if they were special to me regardless of the cost. However i have gone 1 step further, i have a winter car not just wheels~!

UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

Winter wheels - worth it?

What would make you put winter wheels on? (IGNORE tyre cost)

Winter wheels - worth it?