Wow, I Thought my Days of Soft Wheels were behind me with BMW and Mercedes

Lowflight · 08-01-2018, 01:36 PM

Have put less than 1000 miles on my car since I got it. Went to drive it Sunday like any other day and AT 75+ there was a vibration in the seat. It was obviously in the rear.

Well, I assumed I had thrown a weight or one of the tires had a defect and was separation. But no, I had a bent wheel. Right rear on the inside lip. Got it repaired and all is well. However, I don't recall hitting anything of note. I am OCD to a fault. So, I obviously hit something I would have considered benign and it either:

A: Just hit at the right angle to bedn the wheel or

B: These wheels are made of Cool Whip like the BMW. Mercedes wheels.

JB'sZL1 · 08-01-2018, 01:53 PM

Sorry to hear of your issue. The Zl1 wheels are forged...not soft. I've said it before and I'll say it again: damaged forged wheels (with good driving) is more a result of low profile tires than it is with "soft" wheels...particularly when driven of streets and roads rather than tracks and strips. Put some 4"-5" of sidewall on those wheels and the illusion of "soft" wheels is gone.

Sadly, a sign of the times my friend (low profile tires).

GT-ER · 08-01-2018, 05:50 PM

I don't think they are weak at all. Mine have been in some decent pot holes and they are fine. Tires are pretty thin though and if your pressure is low it doesn't help (40psi for me).

kropscamaro16 · 08-01-2018, 05:57 PM

welp time for some hre wheels lol

FlowForm_Wheels · 08-01-2018, 06:00 PM

I have seen a relatively large amount of complaints not just from Camaro owners but also from C7 Corvette owners too. To be honest the issue with the C7's seems much worse, or at least it's reported on the Corvette forums more than Camaro owners are reporting issues here, but it's still upsetting nonetheless.

Bent wheels can be bent back to it's original shape for a quick repair, but that spot where it was bent will never be the same, it'll be much easier the next time around to bend it in the same spot, or worse, have the wheel crack and fail on you completely since the aluminum has been made weaker in that spot. It's good for an initial fix but I wouldn't make a habit of it because a wheel that fails with a crack could potentially allow the tire to lose air immediately, causing you to lose control of the car.

If you've come from the BMW world than you certainly know about us already (HRE Wheels), so if we can accommodate with any set of wheels, we have lots of options to replace those cool whip wheels as you put it

F1FTY · 08-01-2018, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JB'sZL1

Sorry to hear of your issue. The Zl1 wheels are forged...not soft. I've said it before and I'll say it again: damaged forged wheels (with good driving) is more a result of low profile tires than it is with "soft" wheels...particularly when driven of streets and roads rather than tracks and strips. Put some 4"-5" of sidewall on those wheels and the illusion of "soft" wheels is gone.

Sadly, a sign of the times my friend (low profile tires).

This. They’re forged, but low profile tires don’t protect them like a regular tire would.

speedraider · 08-01-2018, 09:06 PM

Its the same as the c7 z06 wheels, absolute junk. The wheels are know to crack or bend very easy.

flyinlow · 08-01-2018, 09:19 PM

I must be lucky, been driving cars with low profile tires on the crappy pothole roads in Minnesota since my first WS6 1985 Trans Am, haven't bent one yet (knock on wood).

Mountain · 08-01-2018, 10:58 PM

Hmm, the SS 1LE wheels are forged, too, and definitely not soft...

mdmoore23 · 08-01-2018, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JB'sZL1

Sorry to hear of your issue. The Zl1 wheels are forged...not soft. I've said it before and I'll say it again: damaged forged wheels (with good driving) is more a result of low profile tires than it is with "soft" wheels...particularly when driven of streets and roads rather than tracks and strips. Put some 4"-5" of sidewall on those wheels and the illusion of "soft" wheels is gone.

Sadly, a sign of the times my friend (low profile tires).

Even if the tires were available, I'd take my chances before I uglied up my car with a 4"-5" sidewall tires. These aren't pickups.

JB'sZL1 · 08-02-2018, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdmoore23

Even if the tires were available, I'd take my chances before I uglied up my car with a 4"-5" sidewall tires. These aren't pickups.

Hah. Well, that's you're prerogative. You say ugly: I say there's nothing prettier than 17" Welds w/ Hoosiers.

Btw: I don't know how old you are, but low profile tires is a new fad. I've seen plenty of early 70's cars w/ 22" wheels and super low profile tires...no taste. But I understand that can be a matter of opinion.

USAFS197 · 08-02-2018, 07:53 AM

I wouldn’t exactly call that a new fad. Especially considering the intent of this vehicle, lower profile tires tend to offer less sidewall flex and thus, a more predictable handing characteristic. I, too, think that large side wall tires or welds with think walled drag radials/slicks are incredibly unattractive on cars designed to handle. I wouldn’t exactly call myself too young, either, as I’m 40. Although to someone, of course I’m probably young.

OP, good luck with the wheels. These wheels in general would seem to be very strong. You might have just gotten a funky wheel. If you’re still under warranty, I’d consider making a claim and getting it replaced.

ST1LE · 08-02-2018, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JB'sZL1

Hah. Well, that's you're prerogative. You say ugly: I say there's nothing prettier than 17" Welds w/ Hoosiers.

Btw: I don't know how old you are, but low profile tires is a new fad. I've seen plenty of early 70's cars w/ 22" wheels and super low profile tires...no taste. But I understand that can be a matter of opinion.

Low profile tires have a very specific function, the opposite of your hoosiers in fact. The need for that stiff/low profile sidewall is no fad, and not new.

JB'sZL1 · 08-02-2018, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ST1LE

Low profile tires have a very specific function, the opposite of your hoosiers in fact. The need for that stiff/low profile sidewall is no fad, and not new.

I understand that. But then riddle me this one Batman: If they're so good at tracking, why don't Indy cars or Nascars wear them? There are many compounds out there now. You can get stiff sidewalls on higher profile tires.

The genesis of this thread is that the forged wheels are soft. They are not. I stated the problem stems from the low profile tire driven on less than ideal roads. It is a look, and not such a great idea for driving on average or subpar streets and roads. It's that simple.

08-01-2018, 01:36 PM	#1
Lowflight Drives: 2018 ZL1 Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Equal Time Point (Mississippi) Posts: 156	Wow, I Thought my Days of Soft Wheels were behind me with BMW and Mercedes Have put less than 1000 miles on my car since I got it. Went to drive it Sunday like any other day and AT 75+ there was a vibration in the seat. It was obviously in the rear. Well, I assumed I had thrown a weight or one of the tires had a defect and was separation. But no, I had a bent wheel. Right rear on the inside lip. Got it repaired and all is well. However, I don't recall hitting anything of note. I am OCD to a fault. So, I obviously hit something I would have considered benign and it either: A: Just hit at the right angle to bedn the wheel or B: These wheels are made of Cool Whip like the BMW. Mercedes wheels. __________________ “The Universe Is Not Required To Be In Perfect Harmony With Human Ambition”- Carl Sagan 2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL-1 Red FOR SALE. See My FS Thread

08-01-2018, 05:57 PM	#4
kropscamaro16 Drives: 2016 1ss camaro Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: 909 Posts: 10,138	welp time for some hre wheels lol __________________ 16 1SS NIGHTFALL GRAY METALLIC WITH NPP #BECAUSERACECAR #SAVETHEMANUALS

08-02-2018, 07:53 AM	#12
USAFS197 Drives: 2018 Audi TT RS Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Navarre, Florida Posts: 1,915	I wouldn’t exactly call that a new fad. Especially considering the intent of this vehicle, lower profile tires tend to offer less sidewall flex and thus, a more predictable handing characteristic. I, too, think that large side wall tires or welds with think walled drag radials/slicks are incredibly unattractive on cars designed to handle. I wouldn’t exactly call myself too young, either, as I’m 40. Although to someone, of course I’m probably young. OP, good luck with the wheels. These wheels in general would seem to be very strong. You might have just gotten a funky wheel. If you’re still under warranty, I’d consider making a claim and getting it replaced. __________________ 2018 Audi TT ▊RS 2.4X 0-60, 1.6X 60', 120+mph 1/8th, 4.XX 60-130, 150+mph traps on 255/35/18 R888R tires on the street (unprepped). 2019 Audi RS3 About as fast as the TT RS 2019 Camaro ZL1 1LE Sold 2018 Camaro SS 1LE Sold 2019 Corvette Z06 Sold 2021 Charger Hellcat Redeye Widebody Sold

08-01-2018, 01:53 PM	#2
JB'sZL1 Drives: 2013 ZL1 and 2019 Ram Laramie Join Date: May 2017 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 1,259	Sorry to hear of your issue. The Zl1 wheels are forged...not soft. I've said it before and I'll say it again: damaged forged wheels (with good driving) is more a result of low profile tires than it is with "soft" wheels...particularly when driven of streets and roads rather than tracks and strips. Put some 4"-5" of sidewall on those wheels and the illusion of "soft" wheels is gone. Sadly, a sign of the times my friend (low profile tires).

08-01-2018, 05:50 PM	#3
GT-ER Drives: 2018 Camaro ZL1 Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: FW TX Posts: 384	I don't think they are weak at all. Mine have been in some decent pot holes and they are fine. Tires are pretty thin though and if your pressure is low it doesn't help (40psi for me).

08-01-2018, 06:00 PM	#5
FlowForm_Wheels Drives: Turbo 4, SC V8 and Twin Turbo V8 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Vista, CA Posts: 1,338	I have seen a relatively large amount of complaints not just from Camaro owners but also from C7 Corvette owners too. To be honest the issue with the C7's seems much worse, or at least it's reported on the Corvette forums more than Camaro owners are reporting issues here, but it's still upsetting nonetheless. Bent wheels can be bent back to it's original shape for a quick repair, but that spot where it was bent will never be the same, it'll be much easier the next time around to bend it in the same spot, or worse, have the wheel crack and fail on you completely since the aluminum has been made weaker in that spot. It's good for an initial fix but I wouldn't make a habit of it because a wheel that fails with a crack could potentially allow the tire to lose air immediately, causing you to lose control of the car. If you've come from the BMW world than you certainly know about us already (HRE Wheels), so if we can accommodate with any set of wheels, we have lots of options to replace those cool whip wheels as you put it

08-01-2018, 09:06 PM	#7
speedraider Drives: 2016 Z06, 2017 ZL1 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 305	Its the same as the c7 z06 wheels, absolute junk. The wheels are know to crack or bend very easy.

08-01-2018, 09:19 PM	#8
flyinlow Drives: 2017 Camaro ZL1 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Savage, MN Posts: 568	I must be lucky, been driving cars with low profile tires on the crappy pothole roads in Minnesota since my first WS6 1985 Trans Am, haven't bent one yet (knock on wood).

08-01-2018, 10:58 PM	#9
Mountain Drives: 2017 SS 1LE, 2016 1SS (previous) Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Metro-Detroit Posts: 1,871	Hmm, the SS 1LE wheels are forged, too, and definitely not soft...

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