Maruti Jimny is in its 4th generation, whereas the Gypsy represented the 2nd generation of this iconic SUV that has been around for over half a century.
An owner of a brand-new Maruti Jimny has replaced the stock alloys in his SUV with the steel rims from a Gypsy. You must have heard about people replacing their old steel wheels with modern and stylish alloys. However, this is quite the opposite and there is a specific reason for that. Jimny is the newest entrant into the lifestyle off-roading market in India. In this five-door guise, it offers an edge over its competitors like the Mahindra Thar and Force Gurkha, in terms of practicality and affordability. Gypsy was the first lightweight off-roading SUV that attained legendary status among off-roading enthusiasts. Let us get into the details of why this owner installed steel wheels on the new SUV.
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Maruti Jimny’s Alloys Replaced by Gypsy’s Steel Wheels
This video has been uploaded by Raftaar 7811 on YouTube. It captures a unique case where the new Jimny is seen with old-school steel rims borrowed from the Gypsy. The reason is quite simple. Steel rims have been around for ages for their durability and off-roading characteristics. Generally, these have thicker sidewalls and high-profile tyres have better shock absorption qualities compared to low-profile tyres. Modern alloy wheels generally have slightly low-profile tyres and are geared more toward aesthetics rather than practicality. Hence, one could understand why you would want steel rims for off-roading adventures rather than alloys.
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Specs
Maruti Jimny has a 1.5-litre K15B naturally aspirated petrol engine under its upright bonnet that produces 103 hp and 134 Nm of peak power and torque. This engine is mated to either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic transmission. There is a dedicated ALLGRIP PRO 4×4 drivetrain with a low-range transfer case and locking differential enhancing hardcore off-roading capabilities. The ground clearance is 210 mm and the approach, break-over and departure angles are 36°, 24° and 50° respectively. It ranges from Rs 12.74 lakh to Rs 15.05 lakh, ex-showroom.
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What We Think
While there are not too many differences between steel wheels and alloys in regular usage, in off-roading environments, these things could make an impact. In fact, off-roading tyres have specific tread patterns that maximize traction across various terrains like sand, snow, gravel, stone, etc. The thick sidewall offers better bump absorption and ride quality to its passengers. Therefore, we can completely understand the advantages of slapping these steel wheels on instead of the regular alloys.
