This happened to an STi today at the PCA event at Spring Mountain.



More photos here:

http://www.timeattackforums.com/forums/gen....html#post35666

 

It would be interesting to hear what, if anything, people who suffer wheel failures find after inspecting their other wheels. If their other wheels have cracks or other signs of fatigue, that would suggest that these kinds of failures could be anticipated and avoided by frequent wheel inspection. On the other hand, if the wheels look good until the moment they fail, I guess the lesson is just to avoid cheap wheels.

 

It's a 5Zigen ProRacer GN+. It should be a pretty reputable Japanese-made wheel. I have them on my NSX and have tracked them with no issues.

Always freak accidents. I'd like to hear more details about how it happened though...

 

To be honest, I missed seeing exactly what happened. It was in the first run group of the day that this happened and I was still prepping the car I believe. He went off right at the front straight, that's about all I know.

 

How much you guys want to bet that its been powder coated?


Place you bets........

 

Powder coating affects the integrity of the wheel?

 

Yeah. It has been confirmed recently. It has weird effects on both cast and forged wheels. I think Jim from the tire rack even sent a set of SSRs back to have them tested after they failed and they found that they were significantly weaker due to the baking process of the powder coat (not the stock finish).

 

Interesting, i'm gonna have to read more into it. -learn something new everyday.

 

This explains years back when my stock AP2 wheel was destroyed on track over a minor bump.

(The wheels were purchased after having been powdercoated by the previous owner!)

go figure!

 

Can it, maybe. To what degree is up for debate.

Having had two sets of wheels powdercoated and having tracked both sets, I never experience a single issue.