I know this is kind of an off-topic question, but what's with the steel wheels on new Elantras and Accents? I thought Hyundai did away with hub caps in 2014?
Was this on a lot? Could be just shipping wheels. Toyota used to do this on cars imported from Japan. Keeps the good wheels from getting damaged in transit.
Can confirm that no US model 2014, and i believe no 2015 had steelies. Started from 15" alloy up to 17" alloys. Didnt know they brought it back for 2016. Maybe just cheaper that way since it's the last year for this generation?
I guess so. I remember in 2014 Hyundai was making a big deal on their website that they were no longer using steel wheels, and all models would have alloys, including those ugly twisty ones on the Elantra SE. Now, it appears that the SE now has steel wheels. That's just cheap! I'd still rather have those twisty 15s!
I also noticed a base model 2015 Accent with steelies. I guess they found it a little bit cheaper to use the steel wheels.
Can confirm that no US model 2014, and i believe no 2015 had steelies. Started from 15" alloy up to 17" alloys. Didnt know they brought it back for 2016. Maybe just cheaper that way since it's the last year for this generation?
Up here in Canada the Elantra L (base model) has 15" steel wheels and the Elantra GL (one up from base) has 16" steel wheels. While I love my Limited, currently Hyundai Canada is selling the Elantra L for $12,995 cdn ($4,032 off the MSRP) and had they been selling the L for that price when I was buying, I'd probably have bought the base model and spent a few thousand dollars to upgrade the wheels, tires, suspension, and add some personal touches.
I don't have a huge problem with steel wheels; if you don't like them you can just buy exactly the alloy wheels you want and save the stock steel wheels for snow tires.
Probably what I'll do with my Sonata. My cousin recently upgraded to 19s on his Genesis coupe (they look awesome!), and I might be getting his old staggered 18s for my Sonata. Probably going to save the 16" steel wheels. The tires have a whole lot of life left.
The 15" twisties aren't that great anyway. Less than 5,000 miles and these things have more scratches than my last car with 180,000. Had a long scratch after the first week and thought the dealer did it somehow but soon realized it was the cheap wheels. Very soft paint or whatever the finish is.
I can't stand the look of 15" wheels, I'm envious of every Elantra I see with the stock 16" alloys. I would even take 16" steel with hubcaps over what I have any day.
Dumb question, but what is a twisty/twistie wheel? Is that a reference to the way the wheel looks? A reference to the strength of an alloy wheel vs steel?
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