Just traded my ‘11 SLT for a ‘16 Sport. I live in Illinois, all sympathy gladly accepted, and the brainiacs here use liquid salt to clear the roads in the winter. As of now I have the stock alloy 20” rims. Does anyone have any suggestions as to things I can do to help protect them this winter? Are the alloys more salt resistant?
I had MotoMetal chromes on my ‘11 and they were wrecked after one winter.

 

That's not just salt. It's a brine solution with beet juice mixed in. That stuff is really sticky. Frequent rinses with HOT water. Do the brake lines too as the brine solution eats them up quick. We don't rust as bad down here but it's still an issue.

 

I used to run 2 sets of wheels in upstate NY, they use the same liquid brine. Summer set with Summer treads, and a winter set of steel wheels with snow tires.

 

I've done that many times. I like black steel wheels. I've been running black wheels for 45+ years when possible. I haven't been able to find any for the '02 1500, but I'm looking.

 

It the rims have clips on weights (newer rams don't) when you get the aluminum rims balanced...only use stick on weights on the outside weight...clip on weights scratch the coating and that is where the rust starts. the inside weight doesn't matter as no one sees that part of the rim.

I have a 2006 Taurus will aluminum rims that lived thru 5 years of rust belt and 7 years of non rust belt. No corrosion anywhere

 

If it's a 4x4 it should have a full size steel wheel spare, but I could be wrong. My 05 2500 has a full size spare with a steel wheel. Just have to hunt a recycling yard for the spares lol. Or find a wheel, tire shop and see if they can get steel wheels might be kinda pricey though. I like the look of the steel wheel with the chrome beauty ring, old school.

 

Once that clear coat is compromised it's game over. I've seen it start on the edges from tire bars and where the tire machine rides around the outer edge, curb scratches, wheel weights, rock chips, corners of the lug nut hole where the socket chips at it, center hole is usually a prime spot, as with the wheel weights.

 

Surprisingly, at least to me, the spare says for short distances only. And yes, it is a 4X4.

 

Damn they're skimping on the spares on the 4x4s now. Guess it's to much to ask for a full size spare tire anymore. So what happens if you get a flat while towing or hauling a load in the bed?? Those cheapo spares can't handle the weight.

 

Back in '76 I bought my first car from a dealer. I'd gotten them at auction and private owners before that. I bought a '75 Dodge Royal Monaco 2 door hardtop. Due to a strike at the wheel manufacturer, I didn't get a spare at all. Nobody was getting them. New cars didn't have them and mine had gone into a new car going off the lot. I've never been a fan of argent colored wheels so I usually will head over the Rural King and get some black paint and just paint them. Everything I have now either has chrome or alloy wheels.