Stock Wheels for Winter?

yzinger · December 10, 2021

Hey guys - winter is taking hold here in Eastern Canada. Have any of you had to protect stock wheels from the salt and ****** winter driving brings? I think they are protected and clear coated. Zero interest in steel winters or otherwise.

Also, the wheels would be under warranty for a few years anyways right?

2021 GMC Sierra Elevation (x31)

Edited December 10, 2021 by yzinger

redwngr · December 10, 2021

I like to find a set of factory 'take-offs' and have winter tires installed on them.

In the past I had several GM's that corrosion would start under a damaged spot in the clear coat.

They 'winter' ones don't have to be the same rims size. Any of the optional rims will work. If the winter's use the same size tire as they left the factory with, the speedo will be close.

Mine came on 20's.

Running as set of the18" rims GM uses with the duratrac option (but not on duratracs)

This pic has them sitting beside the truck, before I changed the Goodyears to a 3PMSF tire.

Gangly · December 10, 2021

The factory wheels have clear coating on them to protect them from the elements so it shouldn't be an issue for a few years. I generally buy factory take offs from facebook or craigslist. It's often times cheaper to get factory take offs than to purchase new tires and have them installed. If I was in the north, I wouldn't think twice about having a dedicated set of tires on the factory takeoffs and use them as my "get it done" wheels and tires for winter months, not worrying if they got torn up or trashed.

Edited December 10, 2021 by Gangly

CamGTP · December 11, 2021

I'd ceramic coat the rims for the best protection. It will take you a good amount of time to deep clean each wheel face and inner barrel and then do the coating but it should be well worth it.