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Offset alloy rims in 15x7 for sierra?
Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 11:45 pm
by alien
Hey all
Im running 15x7 speedys atm and thinking of reducing wheel weight to gain a little power/economy... anyone know if theres a matching offset in an alloy rim? i've seen a few 15" alloys around on zuks but i dont know brands or pricing...
Cheers
Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 6:33 am
by Gwagensteve
I'd bet most cast alloy rims aren't light enough for you to feel any difference.
You'd need to look at a forged rim like a weld alumastar or old school centreline, to get a genuniely light alloy, but I'd wager they'll be pretty soft, and tey are so thin around the bead lip they don't last long.
Steve.
Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 6:46 am
by cj
When I weighed a Suzuki Factory steel and a Factory alloy rim of the same size I think there was about 3 to 4kg difference.
Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 7:06 am
by GRPABT1
My speedy's aren't that heavy, I doub't you'd find a commercially available rim for a zook that is much lighter or has the right offset
Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 7:14 am
by Gwagensteve
cj wrote:When I weighed a Suzuki Factory steel and a Factory alloy rim of the same size I think there was about 3 to 4kg difference.
Yep but factory steel rims are a fair bit heavier than a speedy for instance.
however 16X4.5" factory steel sierra rim might be lighter than air.... and about as bendy
Steve.
Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 8:12 am
by alien
fair enough - thought it was worth looking into =) now i know its not... haha
Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 8:20 am
by Gwagensteve
Interestingly, Jimmy Nylund (used to write for US fourwheeler in the 80's/90's) ran 15X10 forged centerlines on his flatty for maybe 20 years (or more) in rocks.
Many years ago he had them refirbished as they were discontinued and he really liked them.
In any case, they were so badly chewed up the wheel builder had to build the bead lip area back up by welding.
He swore by the low weight in his light flatty ( alloy rover v8 etc) so the idea is sound, but it's just that the cost and longevity of the rim will be the problem.
Cast alloys aren't all that strong either - My dad had a 16X7 performance alloy crack between the spokes on his 80 series, despite no significant impact damage.
Steve.
Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 8:32 am
by cj
The CSA 4x4 series aren't too bad. I've got some that have taken some pretty hard hits on rocks with no issues where the steel would have been bent in the same situation. Just had a look on their website and my particular design seems to have been discontinued.