Rep Power: 306

Just a quick question I have about rims in the winter. Why do you need to take them off? Is it because

1. sand and salt will ruin the finish?
2. potholes?
3. traction?

Im kinda ruling sand and salt out because there are cars out there that come stock with decent sz rims, like the is300 (215/45/17). Yet, there rims dont seem to get corroded (sp?) or anything like that. Or even SI wheels, it seems that the polished finish does get fcuked up, only over the yeeeeaaarrsss. Im just kinda wondering which it is, since I still have my rims on and im driving in snow, and salt. I plan on taking them off in 3 days though. So, which could it be? Or is it all three?

 
Rep Power: 347

probably traction a little but the sand and salt will ruin them.

 
Rep Power: 423

If you don't think salt ****s up wheels, why don't you ask me why after 1 winter I had to get my Si rims powdercoated. Oh yeah.... the clearcoat sucks and they started corroding.
No one usually cares about stock wheels because you didn't pay for them. However there are even some people who will buy a set of steelies or cheapos to keep their stock wheels in good shape. Salt kills wheels. It gets kicked up and chips the finish, when the road is wet you get that salt film all over the wheels and get into those little nicks and has lunch on the aluminum. It sometimes takes a while to notice it (since aluminum corrodes white, and most wheels are often shiny silver), but its there. You'll see it more on the backs of the spokes where stuff tends to collect and sit, and most people don't clean.
Part of the reason it traction. Most people buy wheels and put Summer Max performance tires on them. They don't do so well in snow and ice.

 
Rep Power: 0

Yes it definatley kills the wheels like Boilermaker1 said, had to spray my cheapo Primax wheels I have on my beater because they corroded heavily.

 
Rep Power: 288

Yeah, I left my white wheels on last winter and the salt started to turn them a yellowish color in certain spots. But I just took a toothbrush and gasoline to them in the Spring and the yellow came right off. They did get scratched up pretty good though, due to ice. Oh well. Maybe next year, I'll powdercoat them, cuz' I prolly won't take them off this winter either. Too Lazy!

 
Rep Power: 513

Yeah i take my wheels off mostly because I'm afraid of the salt messing them up, even if it's just a little bit. I also put on better tires in the winter cuz the roads around here suck when it snows.