5160 vs 9255
These two grades are listed as equivalents of each other: their chemistry windows overlap and they serve the same applications. They are not always identical — check the differences below before substituting, especially in certified designs.
5160
Alloy & Engineering Steel
5160 is the classic chromium spring steel of the Americas, standard for vehicle leaf springs and agricultural blades. Its 0.60% carbon with chromium gives deep hardening, high fatigue strength and forgiving heat treatment.
Standards: DIN 1.7102 (54SiCr6 is Si-type; 5160 is Cr-type, near) · AISI 5160 · JIS SUP9 (near) · GB 60CrMnA (near)
9255
Alloy & Engineering Steel
9255 is a Si-Cr spring steel combining the sag resistance of silicon with chromium hardenability. It serves coil and leaf springs that are too thick for plain Si-Mn grades to harden through.
Standards: DIN 1.5026 (55Si7 family, near) · AISI 9255 · JIS SUP7 (near) · GB 55Si2Mn (near)
Chemical composition compared (%)
| Element | 5160 | 9255 |
|---|---|---|
| C | 0.56–0.61 | 0.51–0.59 |
| Si | 0.15–0.35 | 1.20–1.60 |
| Mn | 0.75–1.00 | 0.70–0.90 |
| P | ≤0.035 | ≤0.035 |
| S | ≤0.040 | ≤0.040 |
| Cr | 0.70–0.90 | 0.70–0.90 |
Properties compared
| Property | 5160 | 9255 |
|---|---|---|
| Hardness (spring temper) | 38–48 HRC typical | 40–48 HRC typical |
| Tensile strength | 1200–1500 MPa (Q&T spring temper, typ.) | 1200–1500 MPa (Q&T spring temper, typ.) |
| Density | 7.85 g/cm³ | 7.85 g/cm³ |
Sourcing either grade?
Nasteel stocks both families from Shenzhen with EN 10204 3.1 mill certificates by heat number.
Ask for a quotationSee full data sheets: 5160 · 9255. Substitution decisions for certified parts stay with the design authority.