[rjordan393]

I have a 2004 Toyota 4Runner in excellent shape with 72,000 miles on it.
My wheels are steel that are covered in aluminum and corrosion has set in.
I am thinking of changing over to all aluminum. Most of my driving is at speeds of 45 to 50 mph. The question is: Would it be ok?

 

[lenaitch]

Can't say I've seen steel wheels capped with aluminum but I'm really not up on it. Are you sure you don't mean aluminum painted?
Would it be ok? Why not - alloy wheels adorn all sorts of high performance vehicles and aftermarket manufacturers make them for all sorts of models. It's just bling - painted steel is cheaper.

 

[Windows on Wash]

Post up a picture. I think they are cast aluminum and you are seeing aluminum oxidation.

 

[Old Thomas]

On a 16 year old car I would glass bead blast the wheels and paint them. Your idea would be work, though.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... In my experience, aluminum wheels always leak, either at the bead, or at the shrader valve,.....
I've got aluminum wheels on my truck, 'n always have new tires , 'n valves glued with tire glue when mounted,......
By the time the tread is fairly worn, most of the time, they also have slow leaks by then,.....

Steel wheels, you can mount a tire on, blow it up, 'n it'll still be holdin' pressure 10 years later,......

I too, have never seen an aluminum clad steel wheel,......

 

[rjordan393]

Windows on Wash.
You are correct. When I put a magnet to it some years ago, I must have place it too close to a lug nut late at night. Naturaly it stuck to the wheel. If I were to clean them up and paint them, it would be subject to corrosion from road salt much sooner then new wheels.

 

[Windows on Wash]

All depends on how pretty you want to make them. I have a spare set that you can have if you want them and you can get those blasted and powder coated.

 

[rjordan393]

I just checked some prices on aluminum wheels and I was looking at a high of 194.00 for one wheel. That's more then I want to afford. I'll ask my auto repair man about getting them cleaned up and powder coated and the expected time before corrosion sets in.

 

[mark sr]

n my experience, aluminum wheels always leak, either at the bead, or at the shrader valve

I have to disagree. My jeep is 10 yrs old and the only leaks I've ever had was one nail and later when I replaced the tires the tire shop messed up one of the valve stems and it leaked until they repaired it. My wife had a merc for 12 yrs with alloy wheels which never leaked down.

 

[SPS-1]

In my experience, aluminum wheels always leak, either at the bead, or at the shrader valve,.....

I have to disagree with that also. Four sets of aluminum rims since 2005 and no problems with leaking.

However, one time I bought an aftermarket set of chrome plated aluminum rims. About 8 years in, the chrome plating started coming off, including internally. Those constantly slow leaked (and looked bad) then, until I got rid of them. My fault for buying cheap rims.

 

[lenaitch]

I just checked some prices on aluminum wheels and I was looking at a high of 194.00 for one wheel. That's more then I want to afford. I'll ask my auto repair man about getting them cleaned up and powder coated and the expected time before corrosion sets in.

You might find it's not a whole lot cheaper.

 

[Bondo]

I have to disagree with that also.

Ayuh,..... No problem,......

I've been in the biz since the late '60s, 'n never heard of tire glue til aluminum wheels became Oem popular in the '80s, when we/ I started gluin' the tires onto aluminum wheels because of slow leak come-backs from customers,....

You can believe anything you want,....
I always post what I've found to be true, in My life's experiences,....

 

[3onthetree]

Not specific to Toyada, just alloys in general and salt exacerbating what gets under any clears or coatings. Know someone who just had some powder coated cost $600 all in.

Don't go steelies, though, unless you like that look of the spare tire. Too much unsprung weight.

 

[Clutchcargo]

I'm with Bondo on this; it's a matter of time before aluminum wheels corrode but my experience is the same. They eventually leak. For me it's always been at the bead.

 

[rjordan393]

After talking it over with my auto service guy, I am reconsidering purchasing new quality aluminum chrome plated rims. I also talked to a fellow who runs a high performance auto parts store. It will cost more but I expect to keep the toyota 4runner for at least 8 years or more because of the low mileage and condition of it. I am just like everybody when it comes to sticker shock.
I guess I am not keeping up with the times.

 

[ajaye]

should have no problems with Alloy rims, either on speed, weight etc etc as long as you replace like for like, i.e. 19" x 7.5" get the correct offset or onset

majority of cars now come out with Alloy rims anyway,,

not sure who said they get leaks, 20 years driving with alloys on different cars no leakage, unless the tires or valves are fitted badly

 

[rjordan393]

Thanks for the replys concerning leaks at the bead.
But I wonder if that is the fault of hitting too many potholes. speed bumps or inadquate training by the installer of new tire valves or those who purchase after market and do not have new valves installed.

 

[ajaye]

Leaks in order (of liklyhood)

1> puncture
2> valve
3> Tire bead
4> potholes etc

I've never really seen this kinda thing with 4 TBH, if no puncture, I would take the tire off, reseal it properly, fit a new valve as well.

I had a VERY slow leak, was a screw LOL

Thanks for the replys concerning leaks at the bead.
But I wonder if that is the fault of hitting too many potholes. speed bumps or inadquate training by the installer of new tire valves or those who purchase after market and do not have new valves installed.

 

[Windows on Wash]

What are we doing here again? I thought just replacing the wheels?

Have you checked the bolt pattern of the current truck? Bolt pattern and wheel size are basically the same forever it seems like.



https://www.wheel-size.com/size/toyota/4runner/


I would look around for some take off on FB marketplace or Craigslist. I have found brand new wheels, with brand new rubber (i.e. take offs that someone put fancy wheels on in place of) for next to nothing. Don't quote me, but I think I paid $4-500 for a set of 4 (literally brand new and wrapped in plastic) wheels and tires and the tires still had the nipples on them.



https://www.facebook.com/marketplac...y=4runner wheels&vertical=C2C&sort=BEST_MATCH

 

[rjordan393]

Wheels on Wash,
About the bolt size, the high performance store owner told me that I would need to purchase new lug nuts on the new aluminum wheels because they are smaller then what is oem. However, it is not clear if the outside diameter only changes or if I also would need new bolts installed.
Understand that I am not savy about automotive talk on some subjects.
Also as noted earlier, I have reconsidered my position and now plan to buy new aluminum wheels to replace the old aluminum wheels.