Tom learned that:
>...Steel rims are much more difficult to straighten than alloy wheels.
>
I thought the opposite? In my jeep days guys would swap out stock alloy
wheels for steel wheels for off-roading because steel wheels were easier
to repair. Maybe that was only when driving on remote boulder covered
trails; there's no easy fix for a cracked alloy wheel in the field, but
you can probably straighten a steel wheel enough to hold a tire and get
back out.
I understand that alloy wheel repair has taken off as a mini-industry
thanks to absurdly expensive aftermarket wheels and the wider
availability of alloy wheels as standard or upgrade. Maybe the
difficulty in steel wheel repair is a money thing since one shop I
googled says "We do not repair steel wheels, as it is more economical to
replace a bent steel wheel than to repair it." That doesn't necessarily
apply to Triumph wheels though I've spent an average of $20 per wheel
(including shipping) for my couple sets of TR4 wheels. Anyway, if my
brother was an alloy wheel guru, I'd use that as an excuse to get alloy
wheels -- think of all the money you'll save if you ever need to have
your Panasports repaired!
Steven Newell
Littleton, CO
'62 TR4 with lots of reasonably straight steel wheels
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