2 x Buckled Front Wheels

[goldies67]

dam govt regulations!!...same here in the usa!

[Racer Z]

But it's worse Down Under. I'm on a another car forum as well, for sports cars, and the talk there is this:
"If you increase the engine horse power by 25%, you must also increase the braking power by 25%."
That's how I understood the talk to be. It's not a logical thought process actually, but law-makers aren't all that logical.

[MaxKlinger]

I worked at a tire store for several years, was even a manager for a while, and I must say it's rare to see a bent wheel.

Dude, I wish that was the case but I've seen a ton of bent wheels. Just a month ago the lady that lives in the apartment underneath me came home with a really nasty bend in it, I was surprised the bead was even holding air. It was like someone took a pry bar and bent it back about 1". It was a steel wheel on a maybe two year old Cobalt. I told her I didn't think it was safe to drive like that and to replace the wheel as soon as possible.

When it comes to ALUMINUM wheels, they bend rather easily. I'm not talking about real obvious ones, just places where the wheel is EVER SO SLIGHTLY out of round that it's maybe hard to spot easily. But it makes a difference in tire wear and vehicle dynamics. This past spring I bought a set of autocross tires for my Focus's summer wheels (17x7, alum, 215/40-R17). I noticed a minor bend in one of them but figured it would be alright. I stood there in the tire shop while the guy balanced the tires on the wheel and I could see the whole wheel oscillating with respect to the hub, it was definitely not concentric. And it wasn't just one of them, it was all of them. So basically the wheels are trash and I'm shopping for another set of wheels to put these tires on (Dunlop Direzza Star Specs, they're amazing).

That being said, I'm actively searching for used wheels for my Focus in 17 x 7. If anyone has a good method of evaluating the concentricity and roundness of used wheels, I'm all ears.

[cdeal28078]

I've been working on cars most of my life, usually under a shade tree, but at times in a professional environment. I worked at a tire store for several years, was even a manager for a while, and I must say it's rare to see a bent wheel. Usually it's so obvious that the driver/owner knows it's bent and knows why.
Customers have said this to me:
"I run up a curb."
"I got my Corvette sideways in a parking lot and hit a *$%#@ thing."

I've seen tire workers mount the wheel incorrectly on the balancer and claim it's a bad wheel. I actually bent a wheel while trying to change the tire. Those tire machines are powerful.

I've done some pretty stupid stuff in my cars that never bent a wheel. My brother ran his 68 GTO up a curb and bent the frame, didn't bend a wheel.

I second the nomination to get a second opinion.

As far as that goes long ago I worked with a real egomaniac. The type where everything he has is better that yours type? You've all met them. He took me for a ride in his 455 Transam and got sideways, hit a curb and broke the right rear axle clean off at the brake drum. He got it towed home, put in a new axle and put the same tire and rim back on it and it was not bent enough to feel it in the car at 100 mph. I know since he took me for another ride. That car was scary. He'd had work done on it. I met him on the interstate once in my old 71 when it was a 302 powered truck. He pulled next to me and I of course floored the gas. He laughed, downshift and got sideways at 60 mph. I didn't say he was smart.
I've changed a few wheels myself and know how a tire changer can bend a wheel.
Clint

[rjewkes]

I am glad that is solved. I was thinking they were some kind of sun glasses and couldn't figure how that was involved with bent rims.
clint

Well if his ultra sunrayias's is bad he can't see what he is running over and buckling his rims with.

but usually i only see out of round/bent buckled rims from curb hoppers, running on super under inflated or flat tires. and have had one go out of round and wear the heck out of the center and lug holes from loose/wore out lug nuts.