Construction

• Stainless steel tubes are made of steel alloy with at least 10.5 percent chromium content by weight. Aluminized tubing is simply rolled steel dipped into a hot bath of silicon-aluminum alloy.
  
  

Function

• Stainless steel and aluminized tubing both resist corrosion by developing a thin oxide coating when exposed to oxygen. These coatings are composed of chromium oxide (stainless steel) and aluminum oxide (aluminized steel).
  
  

Durability

• Stainless steel is stainless all the way through, so small scratches and nicks won't cause it to rust. The coating on aluminized steel is very thin, so any scratches or nicks that make their way through the coating are likely to result in rust.
  
  

Corrosion Resistance

• Corrosive elements like salt will eventually eat through the silicon-aluminum coating, especially around the edges of the tube. Stainless steel is unlikely to rust within your lifetime.
  
  

Appearance

• Stainless can be polished to a high shine for show-car good looks. The aluminum oxide coating that protects aluminized pipes has a flat, chalky appearance.