MGB: Winter snows on regular Aluminum rims... OK or nay.

I have found a set of brand new Bridgestone Winterforce tires for the Mazda3 for less then half the price the stores are selling them for now. They were on my friend's car last year and have only 2,000 km on them. These are the rims I have on the car now:


Should I get 4 steelies to put the winters on or will these rims be OK for the winter? I really hate the looks of black steelies on a car.
Whatdya all think.
(those in Arizona need not respond :) )

Paul

How 'bout TX?

If you're planning to keep the car for several years, invest in a set of steel rims. Buy a set of hub caps. You'll save on wear and tear on the tires and rims with switching tires twice a year ($$$) plus the corrosion on the alloy rims. Or look into picking up a set of used alloy rims for the winter tires if you really can't stand the idea of hub caps.

blundgren Wrote:

I wonder if my spare set of Rostyles will fit the bolt pattern? :D

Thank you so much. What, does the salt used on the roads affect the aluminum alloys????

Yeah, when they get 2" they call in the army. Oh, hang on a minute, that's Toronto, not Texas!

http://archives.cbc.ca/environment/extreme_weather/clips/12772/

blundgren Wrote:

Buy steel wheels, but forget the hubcaps. They just trap more crap, and rust the wheels faster.

I have black steel wheels with snows on my cars and I don't worry about the look.

I worry more about getting to work in the winter and being safe on the road.

Derek up North Wrote:

Well, Paul lives North of Toronto up near Barrie, which is in a pretty good snow belt. So I'll cut him some slack.

blundgren Wrote:

blundgren Wrote:

Paul i agree the black rims look like crap, but it is usually snowing enough or too cold for people to unbundle their hats, coats, scarves, etc to see them. Seriously though, as Derek said, if you paln on keeping the car for a while go with Steel. Our fleet manager has told us to use steel wheels on the company vehicles, to save the wear and tear


How do you like the Mazda3??

Ken

Get the steel wheels.
Then you can change back and forth yourself for a few years without lugging them to a tire shop.