How long do track wheels last you?

[macdude357]

Just got a new set of tires mounted on my ARC-8's and the tech found that two of the wheels are out of true. He was able to balance them but you can definitely tell they are out of true when they are spinning. I've only had this set of wheels for about 4 months (I bought them used so no warranty). They were fine when I bought them so the damage has been in my last 6 track days.

How banged up do you let your wheels get before replacing them? Until they can't be balanced any more? Wondering if I should move to something a bit heavier/stronger and/or just always buy new to get the warranty.

[ThunderMoose]

I am at 4 years

[macdude357]

Originally Posted by ThunderMoose

I am at 4 years

Are they still perfectly true or are they a bit banged up? What wheels are they?

[hayes180]

get Volk's. They can take a beating. on 15+ track days on mine for 1 year.

[beats]

I have 40+ days on my ARC8's and they are still in great shape. I just keep an eye out for any visual signs of damage.

[ThunderMoose]

Arc8's - are they perfectly true - dunno, but there is no vibration at 145 mph.

[chamba002]

Volk TE37RT seen 14 track days for one year and been great! Just minor scratches from the tire machine

[redpriest]

44 track days on my Apex EC-7s. One of them requires a lot of weights to balance now, so it's probably on its way out now. I always check them to make sure they're good for driving before I go, don't want an unfortunate kodak moment.

They've survived so many offs and berm hits that I'm surprised it's taken this long.

[flipmeraz]

2 yrs and 15 track days on my Advans. So far so good

[okusa]

Originally Posted by redpriest

44 track days on my Apex EC-7s. One of them requires a lot of weights to balance now, so it's probably on its way out now. I always check them to make sure they're good for driving before I go, don't want an unfortunate kodak moment.

They've survived so many offs and berm hits that I'm surprised it's taken this long.

This ARC-8 lasted 15 months and about 12 track days. Fortunately, Apex is a kickass company and stands behind its product!

[bigjae1976]

Originally Posted by redpriest

44 track days on my Apex EC-7s. One of them requires a lot of weights to balance now, so it's probably on its way out now. I always check them to make sure they're good for driving before I go, don't want an unfortunate kodak moment.

They've survived so many offs and berm hits that I'm surprised it's taken this long.

I wouldn't consider a lot of weights to be an indication of wheel failure or issues.

The tire and where you locate the high spot in the tire play a bigger role. Most techs don't have a clue what the red and yellow dots on the sidewalk mean.

[M3 Number 86]

Originally Posted by macdude357

Just got a new set of tires mounted on my ARC-8's and the tech found that two of the wheels are out of true. He was able to balance them but you can definitely tell they are out of true when they are spinning. I've only had this set of wheels for about 4 months (I bought them used so no warranty). They were fine when I bought them so the damage has been in my last 6 track days.

How banged up do you let your wheels get before replacing them? Until they can't be balanced any more? Wondering if I should move to something a bit heavier/stronger and/or just always buy new to get the warranty.

I bought used and still got warranty. Doesn't hurt in trying.

[macdude357]

Originally Posted by M3 Number 86

I bought used and still got warranty. Doesn't hurt in trying.

I tried. They said only original owners are covered.

Just got back from ACS and the wheels were fine. So I don't need replacements yet.

[redpriest]

Originally Posted by macdude357

I tried. They said only original owners are covered.

Just got back from ACS and the wheels were fine. So I don't need replacements yet.

How did it go? Was gonna track this weekend but decided to conserve my budget.

[macdude357]

Originally Posted by redpriest

How did it go? Was gonna track this weekend but decided to conserve my budget.

Track was a bit damp the first session. There was a puddle most of the day at the exit of the turn 17 that you had to adjust your line for. Otherwise, it was a nice day. Ran a new PB at 1:54.54 with my new JRZ RS2's.

[roastbeef]

i have 10-12 track days on my arc8's, plus however many days the previous owner had. no issues.

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

I wouldn't consider a lot of weights to be an indication of wheel failure or issues.

The tire and where you locate the high spot in the tire play a bigger role. Most techs don't have a clue what the red and yellow dots on the sidewalk mean.

Yellow means a mustang hit the curb there, red means it resulted in injuries?

[bigjae1976]

Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD

Yellow means a mustang hit the curb there, red means it resulted in injuries?

Depends on the manufacturer but one of the dots indicate the heavy spot which should be lined up with the valve stem. This will should yield the least amount of weights used. It's been awhile but I remember Michelin marking their tires differently from Pirelli...at least that was 20 or so years ago.

Most tire techs are kids with very little training. The way you use a tire balancer will have an impact of the amount of weights used.

[roastbeef]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

Depends on the manufacturer but one of the dots indicate the heavy spot which should be lined up with the valve stem. This will should yield the least amount of weights used. It's been awhile but I remember Michelin marking their tires differently from Pirelli...at least that was 20 or so years ago.

Most tire techs are kids with very little training. The way you use a tire balancer will have an impact of the amount of weights used.

i have often fantasized about a tire shop that rotate tires on the wheels to try to balance them with minimal weights before they just start to stack on weights. i haven't even looked because its probably too hard to find.

[M3 Number 86]

One of my track wheels have been bent a little for the past year. But air isn't leaking nor is it vibrating. Don't even notice it on track.

[elim11]

+1 another great experience with apex arc 8. lasted 12+ days with a lot of offs, berms, etc. Out of all of those, I had one wheel that got bent and was losing air in the tire. It actually punctured the tire and despite the rim being bent, still was able to hold air.

In fact, I ran to the tire shop and swapped out for another tire and was out there back at the track.

When I got home, I used apex warrenty to replace wheel and it was easy as pie.

[admranger]

Originally Posted by redpriest

Epic picture. Buttonwillow? That's a former EPA superfund site so enjoy that dust in your lungs...

As for wheel life, all of mine have lasted right up until I ran out of talent and bent them. Going all four off at the exit of the esses at BW and hitting the cross road did a couple of them in. Not sure if it was the launch or the landing that bent the cheap Kosei's I had.