Bespoke Steel Wheels - Local Suppliers?

[Beatle]

I decided to start a new thread after some discussion on another thread about wide steel wheels I had fitted to an Alfetta GT many moons ago.

I don't know where these wheels were made, except that it was in Australia, probably Adelaide.  So, question is, where would one source steel wheels manufactured to your own spec.  i.e width, offset, diameter, centre hole diameter, PCD.   ?

To get things started I found some references to companies on the ExploreOz forums athttp://www.exploroz.com/Forum/Topic/74486/Specialist_Wheel_Manufacturers.aspx.  NOTE:  I have not confirmed these websites/links/addresses/numbers are still valid. I also have no idea if these companies will do what I propose.

Anyone have ideas, or actually KNOW of companies who do this work for reasonable price?  Surely it can't be too difficult to punch 4 or 5 holes into a wheel blank, then weld on a standard 6/7/8 inch rim to whatever offset a customer requires??

[Beatle]

Having problems adding pics to original post:

[vin sharp]

Not to tip a bucket on your thread but, WHY?? Steel wheels flex (and break, and are therefore banned from fittment of R-spec tyres in some circles), and they are SO heavy, especially when widened. For trailers maybe but performance cars? Cracked centres, bent rims, flogged-out bolt holes, fatigued or dodgey welds....... Personally I wouldn't go there and have passed several sets over the years on to the metal recyclers where they can be of some value.
cheers,
Vin.

[Beatle]

All valid points Vin.

I bought the car and it came with the wheels.  I've recently had quite a few enquiries about the wheels, but it was so long ago I couldn't recall details.  In fact I'm sure I couldn't have provided any info back then either.

I guess the idea has more relevence to road cars, and probably by those wishing to add a wider rim to an original centre.

Out of interest, have you ever seen a cracked steel wheel?  I can't say I have, at least not outside of accident damage.

[Jekyll and Hyde]

Define a 'reasonable price'?  There are a few companies listed in that thread you listed, one being Eastern Wheel works.  http://www.easternwheelworks.com.au/wheel-products.htm  When I was doing a bit of 4wding I lusted after a set of their steel wheels (the white one the guy has his hand on in the link, in fact), but they're not exactly cheap.

As Vin says, for performance cars, why would you really want steel wheels?  For a 4wd that sees rock crawling and hidden stumps etc in bogholes with only 15 (or less) psi in the tyres and at low speeds, steel wheels are perfect given that they normally bend/dent the outers (but still hold most of their air) on a heavy impact as opposed to cracking (and letting ALL the air out).  If you did completely destroy an outer, it's relatively simple to have it cut off and a replacement welded in, vs trying to find a matching alloy (given that most alloys are one piece).  For a performance car, they're heavy, don't stand up to the side loadings at racetrack speeds (didn't someone tear a centre out only a year or two ago with R's on steel wheels?), and the cost doesn't make sense when you can often pick up secondhand alloys for a fraction of the price.  

I can see the reasoning behind widening standard steel wheels, if you're trying to build a 'sleeper', but completely custom spec steel wheels?

[Sheldon McIntosh]

Not to tip a bucket on your thread but, WHY??

-Because they can look freakin cool.
-Because not all Alfas are used as 'performance cars', let alone track cars.
-Because you can't fit Moon discs on alloy wheels.

Not that I'd spend much on a set.....

[colcol]

On the 33 at Calder about 20 years ago, the steel wheels i had on it flexed so much, the wheel bolts kept coming loose, and then the centres cracked, mind you this is Calder where the G forces are about half at Phillip Island or Sandown, and this was on a day when it rained, imagine R spec tyres in the dry, went to wreckers and shelled out for some second hand  Speedlines, never looked back, steel wheels are a relic of the olden days, Colin.

[Beatle]

All good points guys if I had asked whether it's safe to use steel wheels in competition.  But that wasn't the purpose of the thread.

I've owned plenty of Alfas on steel wheels, OEM steel wheels, and yet to have one depart the vehicle.  I DID have one suffer loose wheel nuts, but that was due to my recently having painted the wheels and not cut the paint from the wheel nut bearing surfaces.   My first stock Alfetta spent plenty of time near redline in top gear on NT roads without any wheel issues, though I admit there weren't many sharp corners.

Also Col, steel wheels are relics, but so are the vehicles I'm talking about 

[Sheldon McIntosh]

steel wheels are a relic of the olden days, Colin.

As are carbs and drum brakes.

[colcol]

Hey Sheldon, wouldn't want drum brakes on a new car, cause they are so heavy, the 33 weighs nothing,[unlike its driver!], and its got a good handbrake, the carbs are obsolete compared to fuel injection, but geez they sound good and are fun to fiddle with and tune, steel wheels are most likely ok on a Toyota, but on a Alfa Romeo race car they are a no no, i was around and a witness, when all the grippy rubber started turning, and all the steel rims cracked, another reason i hate steel wheels, is that Alfa Romeo would have won the 67 Bathurst 500, if they hadn't cracked so many rims, too many pitstops after using grippy Pirelli Cinturos if i remember rightly, had to settle for a podium, Colin.

[Evan Bottcher]

...but on a Alfa Romeo race car they are a no no...

No-one suggested using them on race cars.  Paul's original enquiry was regarding use for a road car.

[Sheldon McIntosh]

steel wheels are most likely ok on a Toyota, but on a Alfa Romeo race car they are a no no

Not all Alfas are race cars Col.  No-one mentioned using steel wheels on a race car.  The slicks on Simmons wheels are just fine for my race car, I want to put steel wheels on another Alfa, one which will never set foot on a race track.

Is it okay for a concours 105 to have steel wheels?

[Jekyll and Hyde]

steel wheels are most likely ok on a Toyota, but on a Alfa Romeo race car they are a no no

Not all Alfas are race cars Col.  No-one mentioned using steel wheels on a race car.  The slicks on Simmons wheels are just fine for my race car, I want to put steel wheels on another Alfa, one which will never set foot on a race track.

Is it okay for a concours 105 to have steel wheels?

As I said in my post, I can why you might widen steel wheels for an original appearing road car, but I still don't understand why you would order completely custom built steel wheels - which, if you re-read the original post, was actually the question in the first place.

Considering their price vs cost of a set of alloy wheels (even new!), it seems strange to me at least...