Alloy or steel pinions for off-road?

[kaszal]

Which 48d.p. pinions should I be using for 1/10 off-road, steel or alloy?

Both are about the same price from Schumacher.

The spur gear is exposed like the photo below. Will steel keep its smoothness for longer and therefore make the spur last longer?

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m134/kaszal/IMG_9727.jpg

[Belsten]

steel all the way, alu just get chewed as soon as a grain of sand ends up there

[bigred5765]

as above steel all the way

[kaszal]

Thanks