Does anyone have any first hand experience with the aluminum billet wheels? How do they compare to steel for strength against stumps and rocks?

 

i am also interested in this. I am looking at new set of tires for my atv(vampires or mudrunners) and have thought about the aluminum wheels as opposed to steel to try and make up some of the weight difference but i dont't want them if they are not as durable. My atv is used mostly for hunting so it goes anywhere and everywhere

 

altho I haven't used the new billet alloy rims yet, I have had considerable experience with Douglas Red Label and Blue Labels and generally speaking, they're not as strong as the oem steel wheels. Douglas Red Labels are .190 and the heavier gauge of the two, are lighter than steel but at the expense of more likelyhood of bending at the bead from rocks, holes, etc.
On a utility quad, I would think that steel would be the better choice for the strength advantage. On a sport or performance bike where weight is the prime concern, then the alloys are the answer. On my 97 Warrior I have replaced five alloy rims which were bent beyond repair from rocks mostly. My King Quad, a 96, still has the original steel rims altho dented & scratched, still don't leak.

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THE AZ HARD PACKER, calmiller@kachina.net

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[This message has been edited by hot_shoe_cv (edited 10-24-1999).]