Black konigs in New England Winter??

[CoutureCoupe]

I have an interesting topic for all of you Wheel experts...

I live in the Boston area where we tend to have pretty nasty winters and I am interested in picking up some Konig within/unkowns/trouble (have not decided yet).

What threat, if any, does the snow/salt/sand combination pose to black rims in the winter? If I get an all season tire should I be ok for the winter here?

I know it seems like a silly question, I really dont want to put back on my ugly stockers for the winter. Thanks for your input

[gotak]

All seasons aren't as good as winter tires for winter. At around 7C (whatever that is for F) that's the cross over point in their dry grip due to the different compounds. At that temp the all seasons becoming less effective then the softer compounds in the winter tires. And in snow and on ice the differences in like night and day.

Also a lot of people only think of whether they'd get stuck with all seasons in the snow. Well in some cases they work well enough you don't get stuck. However, you also might find a need to stop quickly and that's where the winter tires really comes in by letting you stop better. One crash might cost more to repair and in insurance premium rise then a set of winter tires.

In general driving alloys in winter time is a bad idea for many reasons. First of all if you hit pot holes, slip and hit a curb you can damage your nice wheels and alloys cost more to fix or replace. That's one of the big reasons to use steel rims in the winter. Also the salt and sand they use on the roads will slowly ruin the finishing and can even be bad enough in some cases to cause the rims to start leaking air. Most air planes are make from aluminum much like a lot of alloy rims and for them to operate near or on salt water they need special corrosion protection.

So think about it. Some people still use alloys for winter wheels but personally I have steels.

[CoutureCoupe]

This may be another silly question, but does anyone make the corrosion protection for car wheels? Or something similar to that type of product?

[BigMACKenzie]

First of all *golf clap* x1000 bc you have impeccable taste in rims good sir/madam. I love the trouble and Unkowns and if I was going more show than go i would def pick some up (also being un-broke as ball$ would help too lol) but like gotak said, the Boston winter is going to maul your beautiful black rims. I would try some all weather tires on your stock rims and try painting them or powder coating them. I know they won't be your konigs, but I just don't see them looking that healthy or cool for very long up there, salt and other road crap included. Or alternatively you could head to a junkyard and find something else in your rim size and bolt pattern for very cheap and paint them instead if you really hate the stock look that much. I encourage you to get the konigs but remember that they are primarily show pieces and tend to be on the heavy side, and esp if you go all the way to 18-20's you will be seriously jacking with your gas mileage and brake pad life span.

[CoutureCoupe]

well thanks guys for your responses but you have done quite a thorough job scaring the sh*t out of me in getting these rims. I'm seriously debating if its even worth getting the rims. To spend over $1000 on these to only use them for part of the year seems like a waste to me... Im so confused lol

[BigMACKenzie]

what size unkowns or troubles are you getting for a G? GD at that price I am inclined to say Phuck it lol well that and my idea for panted steelies or throw away alloys would prob add up to about $300-400. I still say get something mildy attractive for the winter that you wont worry about destroying the finish on or curbing in a icy slide around the corner and rock those Konigs till the doors fall off in the summer time baby!

[CoutureCoupe]

I would be getting 18's from discounttiredirect.com... I swear I am like bipolar, Im obsessing over this and I keep changing my mind like every 5 seconds. btw, that honda quote in your sig is great

[BigMACKenzie]

well thats a pretty good deal and the rims will def look sick on your car, and as long as you are ready for the possible heartbreak later, do what ever you want too ^^ your car will be the ballz until then