Differences between steel & alloy rim of the same diameter?

[Mercury00]

Perhaps a silly question: Would an alloy wheel and steel wheel of the same dimensions definitely be interchangeable? I ask because I'm wanting to fit 15" winter wheels to my car. I'm fairly sure that 15" alloys fit but I'm worried that steel wheels may not fit because of the folds and curves which add strength to their face, whereas an alloy is flat on the inside face.

Another question: A 15" wheel will fit over a 280mm disc and caliper, yes?

[DonkeyApple]

If offsets etc are identical then there is no reason.

As it is only quite recent that alloys were an option on most cars and hubs didn't differ.

It's really just about swapping like for like. I've often kept a set of winter tyres on cheap steels and taken the alloys off for winter.

[Jader1973]

Check the brake clearance - steels may not clear the brakes.

Some cars have steel spares that can't be fitted on the front for example, so a front puncture involves swapping the good rear to the front and putting the spare on the rear.

And you may need different studs/nuts.

Only way to know for sure is to try

[isetta]

when you look at the back of a steel wheel there are usually more folds/curves like you say but bear in mind that the metal on steel wheels is a lot thinner than with alloy wheels so whilst the space in the back of the wheel might be uneven there is possibly still more space compared to the back of the alloy wheel.
also think about was that model of car ever available with steel wheels as a basic model.
Also if you tell us the car then some people might know from specific experience

[Dannbodge]

On most cars there will be a steel wheel that fits as that's what would be given as a spare instead of an alloy.

My old corsa had 16" alloys with 280mm brakes from factory and the spare was a 15" steel

[gp3000000]

15" wheels only just foul 300mm brakes on my Focus. As I found out while trying to fit 15" winters. I reckon you'll be fine. Make sure you get the correct offset wheels and the correct nuts with the right taper for steel wheels, unless they are the nuts with two washers like on Fords.

[TooMany2cvs]

Mercury00 said:

Perhaps a silly question: Would an alloy wheel and steel wheel of the same dimensions definitely be interchangeable?

Not necessarily. Sometimes, when a rim size's borderline, one style will fit and one won't.

[Mercury00]

Thanks for the replies so far.

Yes, my worry is that the wheels won't clear the brakes. The car is a Suzuki Swift Sport, only available with 16" - 17" alloys wheels from the factory. I'm trying to buy a steel wheel + winter tyre package but websites don't have my car listed. The Sport has different hubs to the standard Swift, five-stud as opposed to four, and larger brake discs.

I've found some info on forums and people have fitted 15" alloys to theirs, but no steel wheels have been tried as far as I'm aware. I'm trying to buy them from Mytyres.co.uk but you can only buy a package by selecting your car, and of course mine isn't listed.

[TooMany2cvs]

Mercury00 said:

The car is a Suzuki Swift Sport, only available with 16" - 17" alloys wheels from the factory.
The Sport has different hubs to the standard Swift, five-stud as opposed to four, and larger brake discs.

Same PCD/offset/centrebore as anything common? If so, have a bimble down a scrappy and try something.
Or buy a scruffy set of alloys and have some fun with a rattlecan...

[Mercury00]

It's the same as a Toyota Auris, Corolla and Verso. You'd think there'd be millions of them in scrapyards to pinch the steel wheels off but they seem to be scarce and prices on Ebay seem to be a bit steep. I've found a Toyota Previa in a scrapyard about 45 mins away and have enquired about the wheels but I'm not sure how much is fair for them. I'll have to pay to get rid of the old tyres as I assume the scrappy won't have the facilities to take them off or want to keep them.

[Jader1973]

doogz said:

The space saver on my sisters EP3 Civic Type R was like this IIRC. Wouldn't clear the front brakes, so a puncture on the front meant jacking up one side of the car, putting the rear tyre on the front, and the space saver on the rear.

Yes, it would have been. I worked at Honda when we found that out ....wasn't just before start of production, honest

[RizzoTheRat]

Try tyres-pneus-online, they also do packages like MyTyres. If you can find the PDC and offset for your existing wheels you should be able to find what other cars they also fit and then search for them.

doogz said:

The space saver on my sisters EP3 Civic Type R was like this IIRC. Wouldn't clear the front brakes, so a puncture on the front meant jacking up one side of the car, putting the rear tyre on the front, and the space saver on the rear.

The space saver that came with my Octavia wouldn't fit on the front or back :rollseyes: