Thoughts on Cracked 296 alloys please

[Busterboo]

mr wilks and Marlon are right, of course.

In the real world, wheels need protecting with the best reasonable profiles.

And correct pressures.

[Z4Rick]

I take a different view. The only real evidence I have seen is that the 296's fail. I think it is enough to know they have a problem with the design/manufacturing of that wheel since it seems to be pretty much a 296 issue. Potholes, small sidewalls, RFT vs. non RFT also play a role, but in the end, its the 296 wheels that occasionally FAIL!

I needed a set of wheels for track and summer driving, so I set about learning all I could about alloys and was blessed to have an old school chum who runs an injection molding business. He uses several different processes for making wheels and simply steered me towards wheels that were NOT gravity fed, but low or high pressure molded wheels for the significant strength gains.

The problem is the 296 is a GREAT looking wheel on the Z, so I found a wheel that looked pretty close rather than clinging to a "BMW OEM only" ethic, and now have higher confidence my wheels are not prone to cracking.

Here's an article on the subject:
https://www.tirerack.com/wheels/tech/te ... ?techid=90

[Smartbear]

I take a different view. The only real evidence I have seen is that the 296's fail. I think it is enough to know they have a problem with the design/manufacturing of that wheel since it seems to be pretty much a 296 issue. Potholes, small sidewalls, RFT vs. non RFT also play a role, but in the end, its the 296 wheels that occasionally FAIL!

I needed a set of wheels for track and summer driving, so I set about learning all I could about alloys and was blessed to have an old school chum who runs an injection molding business. He uses several different processes for making wheels and simply steered me towards wheels that were NOT gravity fed, but low or high pressure molded wheels for the significant strength gains.

The problem is the 296 is a GREAT looking wheel on the Z, so I found a wheel that looked pretty close rather than clinging to a "BMW OEM only" ethic, and now have higher confidence my wheels are not prone to cracking.

Here's an article on the subject:
https://www.tirerack.com/wheels/tech/te ... ?techid=90

I would add the 326 wheel to that list as well, seems like its not rare for them to crack on the rear inside rim
Rob

[SpiketheBike]

I'm one of those who downsized to 18s. Still running RFTs. Did not want the worry of not having a spare. Ride is, I think, slightly better, but it's totally subjective I guess.