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 Just before we set off on our summer hols last weekend I was checking the caravan over and also our tow vehicle ( A VW Transporter T4 ) and noticed the front tyres were getting low on tread depth. Now at over £100 per tyre cos I've got alloys on the VW, I like to get as much out of them as poss but without being unsafe or illegal. After sleeping on it I decided the next day to get them changed before we went as I was unsure they'd last the trip.   This is probably the best decision I've ever made as the local firm I use found one of the alloy wheels was cracked. I dread to think what could have happened if the wheel had failed on the motorway whilst towing.

 Another victim of the poor state of our pothole ridden roads probably. The tyre dealer said it was the 5th cracked alloy wheel he'd seen that week. How many others are driving around with cracks, oblivious to the potential danger beneath them!!

Quote: Originally posted by jhsw on 12/8/2010

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Hi pattinson family, you were very lucky, if anything happend while towing(or solo) could have cost you more than a car and van. potholes on road is one reason i dont have alloys(too easyly damaged),  if the garage had 5 cracked alloys that week it may also be that there is a problem with  the alloys, wonder if all the the alloys were by the same manufacture.

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Allegedly

They are light-weight,

more attractive than regular wheels.

They dissipate brake heat better than ordinary wheels so are not as susceptible to cracks (OP may disagree).

The enable a reduction in your cars unsprung weight, leading to a reduction in rotating mass at the ends of your suspension components creating improved steering and greater breaking response.

Don’t ask me to explain the last one I simply pinched it off the net and its over my head.

I have alloys and they go round and look flash…that’s all I need to know

Phil

Quote: the 5th cracked alloy wheel he'd seen that week.

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Just playing Devils Advocate here but did you see the 'crack'? Sure he wasn't spinning you a yarn to get you to buy a new, expensive alloy?

And is it a real worry? I've seen the result of an exploded tyre but I've never seen a broken wheel, even in those tests where they drive the car into a wall at 50mph, the wheels always seem to be in one piece....?

Quote: Originally posted by nelmo on 13/8/2010

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Just playing Devils Advocate here but did you see the 'crack'? Sure he wasn't spinning you a yarn to get you to buy a new, expensive alloy?

The fitter showed me the crack. It was on the rim and also on the inside so almost impossible to see without removing the wheel. To save replacing all 4 wheels as we couldn't find an exact replacement, the wheel was taken to a specialist alloy welder who ground out the crack and then filled it with weld. This was made clear to me that it was at my own risk but now I know about it I am keeping a very close eye on it. The other campers at Wolverly CCC site this week must have wondered what on earth I was doing lying underneath checking it hadn't reappeared each day.

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