Steel or Aluminum wheels???

[dksix]

I'm ready to buy wheels for my 200x. I had planned on buying aluminum wheels but when looking at used wheels, they all seem to be bent. I'll be riding in the mountains, that's gotten me thinking that maybe steel would be the better option. The price is better and they should stand up to the area better, but they are heavier. Would steel be a better choice or is the aluminum wheels strong enough for rough rocky area's?

[leviblue]

you can buy a new set of 8in alum for the same price as ebay used. look on CL or ask on here.. if your set on steel i have a set $10 plus shipping

[ironchop]

I was actually pondering the same question on the same model trike

I got some Douglas blue labels for my son`s 200x...they came with a warning tag and they mean it....these are THIN and not made to withstand much abuse...the stock X wheels were way better and the weight difference was a few measly ounces...not much to worry with for a deep woods trike and the stock wheels are 4 times as strong

I do have a red label Douglas on the front and it`s pretty stout for it`s weight

I bent the new wheels trying to mount a new set of fast trekkers (old stock and STIFF)

I built all our X`s to race so unsprung weight was an issue, which is why I chose aluminum initially...We also want to trail ride as a family as well and I need a seperate set (actually THREE more sets) of wheels and tires to run on trail rides...cost being an issue for myself, I noticed that the steelies from ITP were like $29 for an 8x8 saving me a few bux over the ITP aluminum 8x8`s which are about 60$ each...the weight diff between the two materials to me felt tlike the steelies weren`t that much heavier and I`ll have some protection in deep woods riding from broken beads from bent wheels.

steel rims can be beaten back into shape on the trail with relative ease (a hammer)...aluminum can be pounded out as well however aluminum tends to develop stress cracking when it`s bent and then bent back the other way weakening a wheel

I would think that steel wheels in your case would save you money, be easy to safely repair ("hammer out") on the trail should you bend a bead, and will offer you the protection yer definitely gonna need if you ride rocky and mountainous terrain...and a stronger base for beadlocking if you wanted to do it the old fashioned way (like back when ya just screwed thru the wheel and tire..member those days?)

Cliffnotes version of this post: I say go with steel

[dksix]

I should have posted the size I want to buy, 9x9 with 3+6 offset. What I've seen on ebay is that I'm looking at about 120 shipped for a set of aluminum in 9x9 and a set of new steel wheels are about 50 a set. I looked through the classifieds here last night and I didn't see any wheels listed for sale and 2 WTB 200x wheels, so I didn't figure anyonw had any for sale since there was no responses. If anyone wants to sale on a set of 9x9 3+6 4/110 wheels for sale at a good price let me know. I'll be ordering a set this weekend, I just need to decide what and from who. As far as the performance difference that can be felt from riding- I'll never be good enough that I could tell the difference between steel and aluminum. My intent is just to have a 100% reliable, trail ready trike. I'm too old for a work on it all week so I can ride it on Sunday bike, I've had those before. lol If I buy new, I'll buy steel but if anyone has any 9x9 steel or aluminum here let me know and I'll get them.

[Mr_RPM]

i used the blue label super thin rims on my 400ex and didn't have any problems. so buying the thicker red or black would probably be pretty safe. the riding i did with the 400 was small jumps, and fast trail riding. i ended up bending one in a crash, but my back broke with it so i wasn't to concerned about the rim, probably would have done damage to my axle if it wasn't the rim.

[harryredtrike]

if your going to be in rock or boulder country or hitting tree stumps,id go with the steel wheels

[D-dub]

How about Hipers carbon fiber wheels

[dksix]

How about Hipers carbon fiber wheels

I looked those up and none of them will fit








into my $1200 budget lol

[cr480r]

i use douglas blue labels on my paddles.. way too thin for trails... my buddy bent a set of rears on his kfx just unloading it from his pickup... then I bent the fronts for him on a 4 foot jump... oem wheels are usually a good compromise of strength and weight..plus narrow wheels are less vulnerable to outer bead damage on trails.. i see you are looking for 9x9 wheels.. Are you doing it for looks? for floatation? or for the added 1" of track width? None of that matters on trails..

[dksix]

i see you are looking for 9x9 wheels.. Are you doing it for looks? for floatation? or for the added 1" of track width? None of that matters on trails..

I'm looking at 9x9 with 3+6 offset, wouldn't that be 4 inches wider over all ? I'm not sure where track is measured . The why is all of what you said, but mostly I like the look of the flat shorter tires. I'll probably have a couple extra sets, the 8x8 with 22 inch tires that were on it aren't that bad but I want a wide short set for it too. I've even looked at 10x8 with 3+5 offset.

[cr480r]

yeah it would be 4" overall (I forgot 200x wheels are 4+4).. i was thinkin 3+5... anyways.. what is the area you ride like? if there is alot of ruts and roots, rocks, etc.. I would keep 8" wide wheels for trails.. I would stay away from 10" diameter wheels.. too little side wall imo.. I have several sets and I hate them. I would look for a 20-11-9 3+5 package of take-off tires and wheels from a newer honda, suzuki, or kawi quad.. perfect all around play setup

[dksix]

When I rode bikes around here it was rough mountain trails, but I'm older and the trike is wider so there will likely be allot of logging roads. I've saw several sets of rear wheels with tires on ebay, take offs from ex and 450r quads. What size and offset are the wheels from quads like the 300ex, 400ex and 450r ? I have some pretty good 22x11-8 and 20x10-9 tires and a set of 8x8 steel wheels. I don't have to have tires if I buy 9inch wheels and I can PC the 8x8 silver that would be a close match to the OEM front. By buying a set of 9 inch wheels and remounting the 8 inch wheels will give me 2 sets for the cost of the 9inch wheels. I hadn't planned to use the 8x8 because they are steel and now I realize that steel may be better for my purpose. Thanks for your help, you've talked me into keeping 2 sets of rear wheels and tires, lol.

[cr480r]

What size and offset are the wheels from quads like the 300ex, 400ex and 450r ?

9" 3+5 4/110... same with suzuki z400, and kawi kfx 400/450, arctic cat 400, and others... i have wheels from a ltr450 on my 200s.. they are 8" diameter and very tough, but the 18" tires are worthless...