Steel rims for winter tires?

[Och]

Trying to locate a set of inexpensive steel rims for 2013 Grand Vitara for winter use with snow tires. I understand the specs are as follows:

Bolt Pattern: 5x114.3
Center Bore: 67.1
Hardware:12x1.25 Lug
Offset: 35-45mm

I can't seem to find any site that sells steel wheels. Tirerack has aftermarket alloys that are inexpensive, but I don't want aftermarket wheels - they are nothing but trouble, and often have bigger than needed center bore to fit more vehicles.

Factory allows are expensive, $150 per wheel and up. Thus I'm trying to find something cheaper.

[Drareg]

What's your location? This is world wide forum, and your location is important when giving you a reply. If you're Canadian, try Canadian Tire, or Costco.

[Och]

I'm in USA

[geevee]

duplicate post

[geevee]

You can get oem rims from wreckers, or refinished ones from various places. I got a set (4) of perfectly good 17" oem alloy rims, shipped across the continent, for $400 total. And that was while the particular rim was still sold on new GV's.

Since alloy rims are heavily promoted as being superior to steel rims, I always wonder why people would settle for having steel rims half the year. I suppose the black rims make a statement that one is a responsible citizen using winter tires, but I'm not going to worry about people mistakenly thinking I don't have winter tires because I have alloy rims. In addition, I know the fit is perfect, and I have spare rims in case I damage one.

For example: Suzuki Grand Vitara Rims | eBay

[Drareg]

Alloy rims suffer from salt damage more so than painted steel wheels, and being they're usually more expensive, their useful life is short.

[Drareg]

In the Lower Mainland, where you are, salt isn't used much, unlike Ontario, or Quebec, and most of the north eastern US states.

[geevee]

Originally Posted by Drareg

Alloy rims suffer from salt damage more so than painted steel wheels, and being they're usually more expensive, their useful life is short.

In the Lower Mainland, where you are, salt isn't used much, unlike Ontario, or Quebec, and most of the north eastern US states.

This would be a valid point if we did our winter driving within the Lower Mainland. But we go skiing etc. a lot, not to mention churning around in slush/gravel mixes on unplowed logging roads. We seldom get deep dry cold like the prairies.

Every time I swap wheel sets, I touch up any nicks on the rims, and that keeps them in nice shape. Keep in mind that of the alloy GV rims, the early 17" ones like ours were the most prone to corrosion.

I do see alloy rims on vehicles used the same way we use the GV, that are badly corroded because they get no upkeep. Rusty steel rims also. The worst are chrome-plated alloy rims. There's no way to maintain them.

Our GV's original rims are now 7 years old, and they have only a few small touched-up spots on each. We recently disposed of a car with 22-year old alloy rims, and they'd been refinished (by me, for about $20 and a few hours work) once.

Bottom line is that corroding alloy rims is only a problem for zero-maintenance people.

[annfan]

I use the Suzuki OEM steel wheel for my winter tires. It is the same as your spare tire wheel except it is silver, not yellow. When I got them, Suzuki had a deal where you got the fourth wheel free when you bought a set. I think they where about $100 each. Try Ebay too, there are usually steel GV wheels there.

[AC_B777]

Sometimes if you search your local classifieds websites, you can get a really good bargain. I bought a nice used set of 17" alloy rims from a 2002 Nissan Maxima a few months ago for my 2010 GV. I only paid $160 for them. They were in really good condition. I just gave them a quick shot of paint to brighten them up.
Then I found 4 Dunlop Grandtrek SJ6 tires in perfect condition with very little tread wear use and got them for $40 for all four! So for $200 I outfitted my GV with alloy rims and tires that are in near mint condition.
Steel rims work well, but the problem I have with them is they rust super fast if you live somewhere where they use salt on the roads.
I bought brand new steel rims for my 2010 GV two years ago and there is plenty of rust on them already.
I looked at my local Suzuki dealer when buying my steel rims two years ago, and they wanted over $400 for them. I ended up buying them at Costco for $40 each.