Notices
996 GT2/GT3 Forum 1999-2005
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

OT: Cracked Fikse ruins my day

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 01-25-2006, 02:26 AM
  #16  
Holger B
Race Car
 
Holger B's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: SF
Posts: 3,945
Received 87 Likes on 34 Posts
Default

I've only got the stock rims, so I'm somewhat naive on this topic. That said, I've read a lot over the years about many different aftermarket wheels since it's such a popular mod. Here's what confuses me...the popularity of Kinesis, Fikse, HRE, etc given all the problems they have. Seems to me that if I were to buy some rims, I'd go with BBS. I don't recall ever seeing any issues regarding their products (putting aside the magnesium race wheels), they look as good as any of the rest, weight should be comparable and the price doesn't seem to be much different. What am I missing?
Old 01-25-2006, 02:32 AM
  #17  
mooty
GT3 player par excellence
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
 
mooty's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: san francisco
Posts: 43,565
Received 5,891 Likes on 2,410 Posts
Default

holger, BBS and BBS motorsport both has had failures similiar to fikse, kinessis, hre. these wheel are very light compard to oem, something's got to give. the race teams routinely magnaflux these things to make sure no cracks are hiding and that all the bolts are troqued right. we as consumers dont do that nearly as much, yet expect all the benefits of lwt wheels (me included).

and non of these wheel are really suitable for street use with potholes and all.
Old 01-25-2006, 02:34 AM
  #18  
NJ-GT
Addict
Rennlist Member
 
NJ-GT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Los Everglades
Posts: 6,583
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes on 7 Posts
Default

BBS
Old 01-25-2006, 10:22 AM
  #19  
geoffucla
Instructor
 
geoffucla's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: SF, CA
Posts: 234
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

An alternative that I'm contemplating is the sport techno wheels from the C4S, I believe. My local dealer had a set without tires, and he also had a rear GT3 wheel without tires. The sport techno wheel was definitely lighter, and it has the same offset as the GT3 rear, and it's 11x18 as well. The only compromise is that the fronts are only 8in wide, rather than 8.5. Now if we could just find an OEM 8.5 or 9in wheel to fit the front, then bob's your uncle--

Geoff.
Old 01-25-2006, 11:47 AM
  #20  
MarkRobinson
Addict
Rennlist Member
 
MarkRobinson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 2,301
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
Default

Call Jim Fikse: he'll make it right. Alan at Kinesis will also go to measures necessary to ensure everyone's safe. I like both of them.

Mark.
Old 01-25-2006, 12:43 PM
  #21  
Holger B
Race Car
 
Holger B's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: SF
Posts: 3,945
Received 87 Likes on 34 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by mooty
holger, BBS and BBS motorsport both has had failures similiar to fikse, kinessis, hre. these wheel are very light compard to oem, something's got to give. the race teams routinely magnaflux these things to make sure no cracks are hiding and that all the bolts are troqued right. we as consumers dont do that nearly as much, yet expect all the benefits of lwt wheels (me included).

and non of these wheel are really suitable for street use with potholes and all.

From what I've seen, the failure rate seems to be much lower for BBS street wheels than the others.

I'm aware of the drawbacks of using these and it's probably our crappy roads that keeps Porsche from offering them as original equipment.
Old 01-25-2006, 01:34 PM
  #22  
TT Surgeon
Race Director
 
TT Surgeon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: KC ex pat marooned in NY
Posts: 13,005
Likes: 0
Received 17 Likes on 17 Posts
Default

Remember BBS makes the OEM wheels for Porsche.
Old 01-25-2006, 02:05 PM
  #23  
Holger B
Race Car
 
Holger B's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: SF
Posts: 3,945
Received 87 Likes on 34 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by C4S Surgeon
Remember BBS makes the OEM wheels for Porsche.
Correct, but the factory doesn't offer the lightweight forged version.
Old 01-25-2006, 02:50 PM
  #24  
TT Surgeon
Race Director
 
TT Surgeon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: KC ex pat marooned in NY
Posts: 13,005
Likes: 0
Received 17 Likes on 17 Posts
Default

You are correct sir....for good reason I guess. I'll stick with my sport technos!
Old 01-25-2006, 03:36 PM
  #25  
viperbob
Former Vendor
 
viperbob's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Tampa
Posts: 6,849
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Z06 convert
Hi Gang!
A couple months ago I had Kineses request the rears off my Turbo. I think it was the bolts they replaced.
Actually it was the rim halves from Kinesis that were an issue. The third party that makes the halves for Kinesis and HRE had an issue with one of their machines apparently. It caused the bend to the mating surface for the center not to be square. With use and track days, this caused the bolts to stretch and they would break as this is not a force they were intended to take. I had a GT3 customer on the highway that had his rear tire go flat. Turned out that 14 of the bolts were broken which caused the center to open wide enough for the air to escape the seal. The other wheel had 4 broken bolts.
Old 01-25-2006, 03:51 PM
  #26  
TT Gasman
Drifting
 
TT Gasman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 3,199
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Holger B
Correct, but the factory doesn't offer the lightweight forged version.
Except on the Cup cars.
Old 01-25-2006, 03:53 PM
  #27  
TT Gasman
Drifting
 
TT Gasman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 3,199
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Damn RJ that really sucks, good thing you found out now and not with the family on board. Fikse needs to get you a new set of wheels or a complete refund. OEM and BBS seem to be the most rock solid. Knock on wood my CCWs are good so far on the track.
Old 01-25-2006, 11:01 PM
  #28  
RJFabCab
Addict
Rennlist Member

Thread Starter
 
RJFabCab's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: NC - One headlight capital of the world
Posts: 1,820
Likes: 0
Received 12 Likes on 10 Posts
Default

Let's clarify here...

1. The forged centers and hardware have been fine.

2. The inside edge of the inner rim is where the stress cracks have shown up.

3. I don't hit potholes.

These wheels have seen REALLY light duty, so I suspect defective materials, a defective manufacturing process, or both.

I find it hard to believe that the design would be flawed, especially since Fikse has such a solid reputation for producing reliable rims such as the FM10. I know guys that track Fikses all the time with no issues whatsoever.

No rim is immune to stress and there have been failures. However, with the amount of duty my wheels have seen, they shouldn't be anywhere close to stress cracking.

The situation is disturbing. We'll see how Fikse addresses the problem.

Cheers
Old 01-27-2006, 12:01 AM
  #29  
Jim Hodel
Advanced
 
Jim Hodel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Portland Or
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

FWIW, I had a slow leak in one of my Forgeline wheels. It was strictly a track wheel mounted with racing tires and I had run around 35 track days. The wheel was almost 7 years old. I shipped it back to Forgeline and they fixed it for $200.

Seems reasonable too me. The wheels are quite light.

Jim



Quick Reply: OT: Cracked Fikse ruins my day



All times are GMT -3. The time now is 01:29 AM.