The time has come to stop steel wheel discrimination

"this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata" (fantastic-mr-foxbody)
02/27/2015 at 17:06 • Filed to: rimrights

Let us not force our humble aluminum deficient friends to hide behind plastic facades, a shameful parody of their elitist alloy brothers. What they may be lacking in added lightness, they make up for in character, history, and thrift. There is no shame in a base model, my good wheelies and wheeltlemen.

Thus, I call on every set of steelies in the land to join me in fighting this vicious cultural oppression, forced upon us by cruel alloy supremacists. Tear away your flimsy silver masks! Feel the sunlight of freedom shine upon your face! Roll proudly upon our Gov given asphalt, and proclaim to the whole world that you are two percent carbon and proud of it!

#SteelPride #WheelDressingIsForWimps #StopSteelism

Allow me to present and honor a few brave wheels who are already openly steel.

DISCLAIMER: This is not meant to be a negative parody of human rights movements. I'm not trying to belittle the struggle of women, people of color, or the LGBT community. There is a parallel though, in that car culture has evolved certain expectations and stereotypes which have turned a perfectly serviceable, affordable, and handsome wheel into something to be ashamed of, hidden, and discarded.

DISCUSSION (52)

Jcarr > this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata
02/27/2015 at 17:11

Yes!

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/20-steelies-20…

Rainbow > this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata
02/27/2015 at 17:13

Wait, what? I think the time has come for people to stop acting like steelies are superior.

this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata > Jcarr
02/27/2015 at 17:13

Yes.

Travis, Senna of The High Seas > this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata
02/27/2015 at 17:14

#SteeliePride

Kanaric > this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata
02/27/2015 at 17:15

Kinja'd!!!

Wheels like this IMO look good. That and like phone dials in general like on that BMW an old Alfas as well. I would like some for my Nissan.

What car are these from?

this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata > Rainbow
02/27/2015 at 17:16

They're not superior, alloys are clearly lighter and stronger and can be better looking. I'm just saying it's ridiculous to cover steelies up with plastic because they look better like that than when they're doing a really bad job pretending to be shitty alloys. They're perfectly fine for 95% of cases, look pretty good, and are cheap so you don't have to worry about damaging them so much. Why hide it.

Scary__goongala! > this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata
02/27/2015 at 17:16

I think a wheel made out of aluminum but cast/forged in the style of a steel wheel would be the shit. My complaint about steelies is the weight, not the appearance really.

HammerheadFistpunch > this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata
02/27/2015 at 17:18

You forgot the best use for steelies.

Kinja'd!!!

this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata > Kanaric
02/27/2015 at 17:18

Those might be aftermarket, judging by the offset, Diamond Racing or something.

Rainbow > this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata
02/27/2015 at 17:18

I just think it's stupid how everyone (especially the street racers and stance bros) will "upgrade" from stock alloys to steelies. It makes the car look cheap and it's just a pointless trend.

this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata > Scary__goongala!
02/27/2015 at 17:19

Yeah, obviously steel wheels are not performance wheels. But does your base model daily driver really care if theres a bit more unsprung weight?

crowmolly > Rainbow
02/27/2015 at 17:19

I lost 13 lbs per corner going from steel to aluminum wheels. Same size, same tires.

If all you've got are steelies then rock them with pride. I just don't really see the point in swapping from aluminum to steel for performance purposes.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata
02/27/2015 at 17:20

My Talon is on steelies cause winter

this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata > HammerheadFistpunch
02/27/2015 at 17:20

THIS. Steel wheels with chunky tires look so badass.

HammerheadFistpunch > this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata
02/27/2015 at 17:21

and practical, since you can repair a bent steel wheel and it isn't likely to shatter if you hit a rock wrong.

this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata > Rainbow
02/27/2015 at 17:22

I'm not sure this is a huge trend, but maybe I'm in a different corner of the internet. I can imagine going with a steely swap if the alloys are tiny with high offset, and getting steelies to put more rubber on the ground or fill up your fender if you're a stance guy is way more affordable than an alloy option.

this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata > HammerheadFistpunch
02/27/2015 at 17:23

Good point. I wonder if they made steel bead lockers, haha.

Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen > this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata
02/27/2015 at 17:25

Bring back Rostyles!

Kinja'd!!!

Also: unless they're some superspec forged racing jobs, ally wheels are normally heavier than steelies. Their big advantage is that they're rounder and stiffer.

HammerheadFistpunch > this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata
02/27/2015 at 17:25

Kinja'd!!!

yup

HammerheadFistpunch > Scary__goongala!
02/27/2015 at 17:27

Its been attempted, but aluminum needs to be much ticker for the same strength, so its hard to achieve the look.

this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
02/27/2015 at 17:28

Nice. My girlfriend drives a beater '91 laser, and lost a wheel cover so I told her to just take them all off. It looks great I think.

this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata > HammerheadFistpunch
02/27/2015 at 17:31

Oh my. That is making me feel... things.

wkiernan > HammerheadFistpunch
02/27/2015 at 17:31

Exactly what I was going to say. More than once I have returned a curb-damaged steel wheel to usability with a few whacks with a four pound hammer. You can't do that with alloys.

duurtlang > this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata
02/27/2015 at 17:32

Agreed. I own this. They're not really steelies I believe, but the 205 GTI wheels do have a steelie look to them.

Kinja'd!!!

this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata > duurtlang
02/27/2015 at 17:35

There are so many kinds of win happening here. Well done.

duurtlang > this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata
02/27/2015 at 17:36

Just wait until you drive it. The most fun you can have behind the wheel in a FWD car, especially within legal speeds.

472CID > this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata
02/27/2015 at 17:37

'round here they're plenty accepted. I don't think the general population notices them enough to discriminate.

this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata > 472CID
02/27/2015 at 17:41

Well I find Oppo is the exception to the automotive rule, most of the time. This is more a complaint registered towards the manufacturers that put on the wheel dressings, and the public that doesn't take them off.

this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata > duurtlang
02/27/2015 at 17:44

Are you saying I can drive your 205? ;)

Kinja'd!!!

yamahog > this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata
02/27/2015 at 17:44

thank you so much for your support, hopefully Oppo can continue to be a safe space for us steel wheelers:

Kinja'd!!!

duurtlang > this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata
02/27/2015 at 17:46

Sure, as long as you're at least slightly gentle with the 27 year old girl. I bet I don't live too close to you though.

this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata > duurtlang
02/27/2015 at 17:47

Haha, yeah I doubt it, are you even in the US?

A guy can dream though...

duurtlang > this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata
02/27/2015 at 17:48

Nope, the yellow license plate you see is a Dutch one. It's on there for a reason.

this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata > duurtlang
02/27/2015 at 18:00

Kinda figured, you don't seem like the fake euro vanity plate type. Wait, I'm in Seattle, legal weed, kinda the same as Amsterdam right?

langadamd > this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata
02/27/2015 at 18:09

This is excellent. Makes me want to ditch my alloys.

Scary__goongala! > this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata
02/27/2015 at 18:14

No certainly not. Unless you drive something like a miata and more unsprung weight makes a noticeable difference haha

this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata > Scary__goongala!
02/27/2015 at 18:17

Oh no question. If when I buy an NA it will be wearing a set of RPF1's faster than you can say reduced unsprung rotational mass.

Scary__goongala! > this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata
02/27/2015 at 18:19

God I want RPF1s so fawking bad.

this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata > Scary__goongala!
02/27/2015 at 18:26

A guy I know has an NSX on RPF1's, the widest he could fit without modification. They look fantastic. He lets me and my friend drive it around and wash it now and then.

Kinja'd!!!

JeepJeremy > HammerheadFistpunch
02/27/2015 at 18:44

man....

that GMC Safari pic might be the best photo in this entire thread!

HammerheadFistpunch > JeepJeremy
02/27/2015 at 18:46

Lifts are cheap and easy for those, find an AWD model, gut the interior and re-camper it, drop in LS...win.

JeepJeremy > HammerheadFistpunch
02/27/2015 at 18:47

you're a genius!

FalconHoon > this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata
02/27/2015 at 19:04

In Australia, "steelies" or "stockies" or "interceptors" (or most likely "septahs") are worn with pride.

Kinja'd!!!

Most often found in 15inch size (which are often the smallest, cheapest tyre you would put on a FalcoDore) they make ideal burnout rims.

Kinja'd!!!

Often you will find cars that look like they have worms due to the fact they are running 20in at the front and stockies at the rear. 20inch tyres are expensive brah.

Kinja'd!!!