Steel wheels for race car/track days? Tin top

[Henry Fiddleton]

Hi Chaps,

Doing some research into my next purchase.

I know alloys are stronger than steel wheels, but does anyone know if steel wheels are ok to use for say track days (testing) and may be 15 lap races?

Tin top is less than 1000kgs and will run on list 1/b tyres.

I "think" I have seen race cars of steels- Peugot rally for example.

HF

[Classic Grad 98]

I prefer steel wheels on my racing car. They're often lighter and they don't crack if you bang wheels with someone. Just look at all the Formula Fords running 13" weller racing steels

[Henry Fiddleton]

Yup- thought they were lighter.

I am aware of some of the cooling issue (brakes), but think I could get away with shorter races.

Just worried about the rim itself falling!

Thanks for the tip so far,
HF

[Classic Grad 98]

I may be wrong, don't know much about tin tops, but I don't think you'll notice any difference in cooling. Don't they tend to duct air to the inside of the wheel arch from the front bumper? I can't imagine any appreciable air flow is possible through a quickly rotating wheel hence they tent to be cooled from the inside.

[Henry Fiddleton]

You're selling the concept well

(Heads straight to eBay...)

[Carnage]

I have steelies on my historic FF1600 and also had my wets on steelies on my Ginetta G27R. Never had any dramas.

[Jerry Can]

i have a 106 rallye race car. it has steel wheels, As others said, alloys won't make any difference other than to its looks. the good thing about steelies is that if you damage them over a kerb or something you just need a big hammer to knock them back into shape, whereas an alloy will be damaged beyond repair.

[kev b]

Steel wheels weaker than alloys? That's why buses and trucks all have alloy wheels then! In my experience alloy wheels are often no lighter than steels, it's only very expensive forged alloys that are significantly lighter.

[onomatopoeia]

kev b said:

Steel wheels weaker than alloys? That's why buses and trucks all have alloy wheels then! In my experience alloy wheels are often no lighter than steels, it's only very expensive forged alloys that are significantly lighter.

My three piece compomotive TF in 13x10 and 13x8 are massively lighter than 13x5 steel wheels, can't even imagine a 13x10 steel to be honest.

One piece alloys often are heavy, my 13x5.5 THs are, but they are intended for stages.