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Didn't say steel wheels were "exempt from cracking", but most things are relative, and I would say they are relatively exempt from cracking.
I'd think it a fair bet that an alloy wheel would have been destroyed in the incident I describe above, and if it were repairable, it would have required a bit more than a BFH and the willingness to use it.
I wonder though if its not just the really daft material, but also the really daft design, that contributes to the fragility. I dunno what BMW wheels look like, but I see a lot of these Bling Things with very sharp (no doubt cut by laser beams, Mr Bond, or some such jive) angles and corners on them, probably inspired by the prevailing Transformers SUV design aesthetic
Look like stress raisers to me. (and ugly)
Colleague buying a new car a few years ago was being charged a bit extra to replace the standard steel wheels with alloys, and asked me if I thought it was worth it.
'Not to me" ses I. "I would probably pay a bit extra for the steel ones, given a straight choice"
"Why do people buy them, then" ses he.
"They think they look pretty" ses I
He looks disappointed. "Is that all?" ses he.
"They also reduce the unsprung mass" ses I
Blank Rabbit-In-The-Headlights-Stare. But he bought the alloys.
People think they look pretty. Serves them right
Edited by edlithgow on 23/05/2024 at 00:38
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