2019 HiLux N80 build gets a set of Dynamic steel wheels

It’s new rolling-stock time for the secondhand Lux. With the tyres sorted, we thought we’d let a little more of the budget loose and upgrade the wheels at the same time.

There’s nothing exactly wrong with the factory steelies, but we’ve got a bunch of cosmetic upgrades in the pipeline for this rig, so the wheels could definitely use some sprucing up.

We wanted something super strong. This is an off-road rig first and foremost, and we can’t be worried about gouging a wheel that’s worth more than an air locker. They also needed to look the part. We can’t be rocking up to camp with something heinous that looks like it’s fresh out of Auto Salon 1997. We also didn’t want to worry about checking wheel-nut torque every 1500km. We were after something that was set-and-forget.

After a brief search, we came across an old favourite: Dynamic Wheels (↗). We’ve used the company on a bunch of previous builds, and its steel wheels are still the ones to beat. A quick phone call later, we had a set of Dynamic Imitation Beadlock Sunraysia steel wheels (↗) that well and truly ticked the looks and toughness boxes. 

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Why we chose steel 

It’s the age-old question: Steel wheels or alloys? While neither is necessarily the right or wrong choice, both have their pros and cons.

In our case, we wanted something tough that could take an absolute thrashing on the tracks without losing its shape or damaging a fancy anodised finish. Even if you do manage to seriously dent a steel wheel off-road, you can usually knock it more or less back into shape with a hammer and a little Sydney-rush-hour-traffic level of aggression.

Then there’s the fact that this remains a budget build. While a nice set of alloys is definitely a great choice for plenty of people, steelies are significantly less of a blow to the bottom line in our case, and the savings free up funds for more important things.

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The difference is in the details 

We live in an age of cheap imports and corner-cutting to maximise profits. We went with Dynamic Wheels because the company has been around in Australia for decades and its products are well proven.

Features include centre bores machined twice to ensure a precise fit and help the wheels balance properly, along with 3.5mm- or 4mm-thick outer rims that are stronger than those used on many cheaper alternatives. Dynamic also offers an extensive range of vehicle fitments and backs its wheels with a lifetime warranty.

While the beadlock-style ring isn’t a functional locking ring – which would make it illegal for road use in Australia – it does provide an unexpected benefit by helping protect the inner spokes from rock damage… which gives our egos a boost when people ask, as we’re airing down, whether they’re legit.

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Putting them to the test off-road 

Outside of a functional beadlock, wheels don’t do much to improve a vehicle’s off-road capability.

Still, our wheel-and-tyre package balanced up nicely and, despite being subjected to mud scrapes, rock abrasions, ruts filled with sharp shale, branch-strewn water crossings and just about everything else you can imagine, the Dynamics still looked like new after a post-wheel hose-down. There wasn’t even a paint chip to report.

On top of that, we reckon they look killer against the HiLux’s white paint and work nicely with the black Bossco canopy. It’s still hard to beat a white ute with black highlights, if you ask us.

Overall, we’re stoked – not only with the Dynamic steel wheels, but with how our Luxy is shaping up. There’s plenty more to come, though, folks; we’re only just getting started.

Pricing

• Dynamic Imitation Beadlock Sunraysia steel wheels (17×8) (↗): $170 (each)