by Dan Chambers on Mon May 18, 2009 10:03 am
Keith:
Your 993 C4S is probably in the 3000-Lb. + weight range. Add the lateral stress, temperature stress, and harder weight-shifting mechanics to your wheels when driving a "track event" and ... yeah, I think you know the answer. Now, that is just my perspective.
For my P.O M. (peace of mind) I wouldn't even consider a $500.00 "savings" of repaired or "low-cost" wheels a good bet when dealing with high-speed safety issues. Let me expand on that: at the Q-DE's you can reach some very impressive speeds with your car, especially with a DOT soft-compound tire like an RA-1. Maybe speeds near triple-digits. With high speeds, a really good "bump" across the swale (usually 2 bumps per lap) lap after lap, heat, weight considerations of a C4S, and the fact that a suddenly failed rim/tire can put you in a big spin with limited braking capabilities (only three competent tires to stop your car if your wheel fails) ... and light posts surrounded by concrete pillars at the base scattered across the parking lot ... I just wouldn't take any chances. Again, that's just me.
With so many wheel-purchase opportunities out there, I would invest in the safest options I could find when dealing with performance driving, or "spirited" mountain road driving. Sure you can save $500.00 or $1000.00 now. And, what's the cost-savings if the wheel fails? What's the cost of a fender replacement, a rear-panel and engine components ... and heaven forbid ... a high hospital bill?
I think high-performance driving is like big-wave surfing. The difference between surfing 2' ankle-nippers at La Jolla Shores vs. paddling out at Sunset Beach in Hawaii can be dramatic ... and if not properly prepaired, traumatic. I always tell surf-buddies if you can't swim out to the line-up and back in again, you shouldn't paddle out at that break on that day. Go home and get properly prepaired.
IMHO: Choose wisely, choose safety.
Just my rant.
Dan Chambers"It's
just a "well prepared" street car ... or a very, very well-mannered track car."
1983 SC #91 3.6L, "Black Pearl" Livery
1987 944 (gone but not forgotten)
, then I found a set of "perfect" (seller's words...) flat-black powder-coated MY02s that were the right price, so I thought.... Turns out many emails later, the My02s had been repaired (looks like radial crack on the inner rim edge, just like the one on my rim), not to mention other questionable not-so-rounded edges. So it seems that cracked wheels are following me... 
).
