PCA SDR

I have questions related to a cracked wheel.... I've got one , 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...

Can wheels be reliably repaired? How much is dependent on the quality of the repair (ie do the welds fail often)?
Are repaired wheels "trackable" ie DE or other? (I think I know the answer here, but I'm curious)
How much less is a repaired rim worth? Is it worth $0 in reality?

Back to searching (or just pony up the $500 for a replacement at Wheel enhancement ).

keith

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.

AMEN !!

While others can offer paragraphs on the sins of sub-standard wheels, consider this 30-second video when we had a wheel crack
while at Lowes in Charlotte (going about 130).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQMAimfHA7I

Ouch!!

Here's a quick math problem for you:

Cost of a replacement wheel, $500. Cost of a replacement car, $30k +. Cost of a replacement self????

mrondeau wrote:Ouch!!

Here's a quick math problem for you:

Cost of a replacement wheel, $500. Cost of a replacement car, $30k +. Cost of a replacement self????

Well, of course I'm PRICELESS!!!!
Some might say "hard to assign a value to"....


Ok, so you all gave me the answer I expected regarding track/DE applications. How about the average person commuting to work on a repaired rim?

Theoretically speaking of course, as I have a lead on a full set of 993 Turbo hollows....UPGRADE!
(Of course still hunting for a rear solid spoke 10x18ET40 993.362.140.03 to make my original set complete again.)

I think it depends upon the piece of mind you want. If you want to drive around on the street with a wheel that you know has a flaw in it even if it is repiared, then I guess you are willing to take that risk. I personally would not drive on the street with a wheel that has a known issue, let alone the track, which would be out of the question.

It is kind of like head and neck devices when they came out for racing, most people really did not think they were necessary, but then how much is your head worth to you? Same with a wheel and your physical safety.

pdy wrote:While others can offer paragraphs on the sins of sub-standard wheels, consider this 30-second video when we had a wheel crack
while at Lowes in Charlotte (going about 130).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQMAimfHA7I

Wow! Enough said.

Dan Chambers wrote:

pdy wrote:While others can offer paragraphs on the sins of sub-standard wheels, consider this 30-second video when we had a wheel crack
while at Lowes in Charlotte (going about 130).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQMAimfHA7I

Wow! Enough said.

Well it appears from the video that the driver over corrected for the failure. Tough to tell whether it was rear or front wheel but looks like rear with an over correction which caused the wall hit. Banking will always spin the car downward toward the infield. Here is a video of something closer to home at fontana with a tire failure at 130 MPH in turn 2.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-P_8bNCcQc