So here's a question .
I have been thinking of up-grading my 15inch alloys to either 16inch alloys .
however the 16inch steels look quite good .
What would you do ? change from 15inch alloys to 16inch steels and what
would the benefits be or are there any downsides to doing this kind of swap ? .
Graham
I would choose 16" steel because they are lighter then the same in alloy.
For example : The FIAT Bravo 7x16" offset/ET 31 wheels are the best size-wise.
The Bravo wheel is available as a steel wheel (
https://www.oponeo.co.uk/steel-wheel/alcar-kfz-9087#21067382) and as a OEM alloy wheel, both with exact the same specs, 7Jx16" offset/ET 31, 4x98 PCD, 58.1 centre bore.
The difference is weight, steel is lighter, because it's stronger, and therefore less steel needed.
Alloy is the lighter material, but to get the same wheel strength you need a lot more of it, and it's ending up weighing heavier.
With the Bravo wheel, you can run : 195/45R16", 205/45R16" and 215/40R16", without any issues, like rubbing, even not with lowering, and i'm 40mm down.
On the front axle you could even run 225/40R16" tires on the 7jx16" ET31 Bravo wheel, without issues, but that gives to much front axle grip IMHO.
I'm running on the 7Jx16" ET31 Bravo wheels a 215/40R16" Falken Ziex ZE310 Ecorun summer tires at the front and a 205/45R16" Falken Ziex ZE310 Ecorun summer tires at the rear, giving great grip, and a 2.1% front rake.
I further have Bilstein Gas shocks, and 40mm Novitec lowering/sport springs.
Another positive outcome with running 16" wheels is, that the shocks will start to work much better compare to 14" or 15" wheels, and giving a much better ride.
The more tire there is, the less work the shocks do, at the end you get a much better driving Panda with 16", IMHO.
