Hey guys,

Just wondering what your thoughts are on running a set of aftermarket wheels during winter where they will be exposed to snow and salted roads.
My reason for asking is because I have a set of wheels sitting in the garage just collecting dust and I was planning to buy a set of AT tires for them. I was going to run the stock wheels in winter, however AT tires would be much better in the snow than the stock Goodyears that came with the truck and I could run them year round. I'm just worried that the salt would damage the finish on the wheels. The wheels are clear coated if that makes a difference.

Thoughts/comments?

 

I dont see an issue with running aftermarket wheels in the winter as long as you wash them every couple days.

 

i run mine, they get nasty sometimes.

but if they are clear coated you should have no issues, just like the stock wheels.

 

i run my stock aluminum rims during the summer months and a set of stock steel rims in the winter from a jeep wrangler. same (stock-235) tire size on both wheels. the winter rims have pep boys dakota futura a/t's on them (tread pattern very similar to the bfg a/t-just less $) and the summer wheels have uniroyal liberators. just keep the salt rinsed off them and you should be fine. i ran a set of chrome-spokes one winter with a thin coating of grease on them, looked horrible by spring, but a little gasoline and they cleaned up nicely.

 

i outta try cleaning mine with gasoline. They have brake dust and evil winter hate baked onto them.

 

I haven't had any problem running mine in the snow, salt, and winter.

 

Thanks for the replies guys. I was thinking it would be OK, especially since the wheels are clear coated and I generally wash my truck at least once a week even in winter.
I was going to put some AT tires on those wheels anyway, so it just makes sense to use them in the winter also.

 

Wash em every week, or when after an area was bad with salt and slush and you will be fine

 

wax them before it snows and then every time you wash your truck

 

You can use petroleum jelly (KY) (vaseline) it'll stay on as long as nothing touches the rim, and comes off easy in spring.

 

Why not just get some steelies for the winter? Would look nice with the OWL outline.
But seriously now, I have run 17" black clearcoated rims in the winters month here in Montreal. No problem what so ever, they look as good as they did new after the winter. And salt? There so much salt here the racoons lick the streets at night.

 

because you need tires too, so thats like 500$ just for winter wheels

 

Of course you haven't, there isn't enough snow, or salt around here, if any, in the winter to do any damage.

 

Well, originally I was going to put some winter tires on the stock wheels and AT tires on the aftermarkets. But then I would have to buy 2 sets of tires (I don't like the Goodyears that came on the truck, they are the most useless tire ever!). Since AT tires are almost as good as winter tires in the snow, I was thinking to just run those all year (which is probably what I will do).
And I know what you mean about the salt, it's just as bad here in Ottawa.

 

I just went down the same path, wanted black steelies for something pure winter and all terrains on my stock rims. I ended up giving up on the winter rims idea, hoping the a/ts are as good as everyone says.

 

LOL, that's what i was thinking!

 

BFG All terains are winter/snow rated tires and they handle dry pavment just as well. Plus they get great milage

 

other then ky or vaseline what is there to protect my wheels from the salt and crap from the roads? i dont know if mine are clearcoated or not. their boss rims.

 

AR wheel wax

 

ok guys here is my 2 cents. i grew up in winnipeg and northern manitoba. we got tons of snow up there and they switched from salt on the roads to pure calcium about 10 years ago, and it usually took quite a few years to do any damage to the rims. even with me driving down 30 miles of gravel at times for work. as far as your a/t tires in snow. i used bfg a/t's and i will never waste my money on them again. they really suck bad on ice. i found firestone destination m/t or a/t work ok but from my experience dunlop radial rovers work great. at least they did for me.