Alloy wheels are crap aren't they?
Discussion
Just got no staying power. Just been to the petrol station (again) to top up the air on my E46. O/S was at 18 psi and N/S was at 24 psi. Topped them up to 34 (little over what they're meant to be to compensate), and I gurantee i'll be doing the same again within a fortnight.
My St220 was the same, although I once got that down to 14psi.
No punctures or bent wheels on either too.
Give me some solid steelies anyday
My St220 was the same, although I once got that down to 14psi.
No punctures or bent wheels on either too.
Give me some solid steelies anyday
fjord said:
Just got no staying power. Just been to the petrol station (again) to top up the air on my E46. O/S was at 18 psi and N/S was at 24 psi. Topped them up to 34 (little over what they're meant to be to compensate), and I gurantee i'll be doing the same again within a fortnight.
Perhaps you should check them more often then.And get the tyres popped off and the wheels cleaned up.
fjord said:
My St220 was the same, although I once got that down to 14psi.
I can explain that one!Ford fitted the MkIII Mondeo 18" wheels (Titanium X, Zetec-S, ST220 and ST-TDCi) with alloy valve stems that caused parasitic corrosion on the wheels around the valve holes, leading to air leaks.
Cheap fix was to loosen off the valve stems and drip threadlock fluid around the hole and then tighten them up again.
After rust, the second biggest annoyance with running old cars for me is alloys corroding and tyres going down. Had to pump the every day cars tyres up once a friggin week. And it stopped me using using the GTE for random blasts knowing I'd have to faff with the tyres beforehand.
One of the best £280 I spent was having the wheels completely refurbed. Stripped completely, scuffs repaired and repainted and lacquered. Looks the tits, too.
One of the best £280 I spent was having the wheels completely refurbed. Stripped completely, scuffs repaired and repainted and lacquered. Looks the tits, too.
fjord said:
Just got no staying power. Just been to the petrol station (again) to top up the air on my E46. O/S was at 18 psi and N/S was at 24 psi. Topped them up to 34 (little over what they're meant to be to compensate), and I gurantee i'll be doing the same again within a fortnight.
My St220 was the same, although I once got that down to 14psi.
No punctures or bent wheels on either too.
Give me some solid steelies anyday
I had the same issue with my front wheels, got them re-sealed and the problem went. My St220 was the same, although I once got that down to 14psi.
No punctures or bent wheels on either too.
Give me some solid steelies anyday
HTH.
DKS said:
After rust, the second biggest annoyance with running old cars for me is alloys corroding and tyres going down. Had to pump the every day cars tyres up once a friggin week. And it stopped me using using the GTE for random blasts knowing I'd have to faff with the tyres beforehand.
One of the best £280 I spent was having the wheels completely refurbed. Stripped completely, scuffs repaired and repainted and lacquered. Looks the tits, too.
I totally agree Dan - One of the best £280 I spent was having the wheels completely refurbed. Stripped completely, scuffs repaired and repainted and lacquered. Looks the tits, too.
I too had the same issue with my MK4 Astra, a trip to the local tyre fitter outfit. They sorted it by taking the tyres off and cleaning the bead area with a wire brush, job jobbied. no more low tyre issues and more importantly happy neighbours who don't have to put up with air compressors at 7am.
Edited by Le Mans Visitor on Tuesday 29th October 21:04
Yes, alloys are crap. It's annoying having to remove tyres and clean alloy wheels on a typical shopping car. What dynamic advantages do they really have on humdrum everyday vehicles? Especially when they are heavy cast items rather than lightweight forged magnesium items.
Give me a set of steelies anyday. Plus you can change tyres using a couple of tyre levers and a bit of elbow grease should it take your fancy.
Give me a set of steelies anyday. Plus you can change tyres using a couple of tyre levers and a bit of elbow grease should it take your fancy.
fjord said:
Just got no staying power. Just been to the petrol station (again) to top up the air on my E46. O/S was at 18 psi and N/S was at 24 psi. Topped them up to 34 (little over what they're meant to be to compensate), and I gurantee i'll be doing the same again within a fortnight.
My St220 was the same, although I once got that down to 14psi.
No punctures or bent wheels on either too.
Give me some solid steelies anyday
Sounds like you've a problem somewhere - most likely corrosion around the beading. My local tyre specialist will strip the tyres off and sand down the inner edge where the tyre meets the rim. Solves the problem.My St220 was the same, although I once got that down to 14psi.
No punctures or bent wheels on either too.
Give me some solid steelies anyday
I certainly wouldnt be driving about in a car with slow punctures though. Recipe for disaster that.
I partially agree; the two year old alloys on our VW van have deep scratches on them; never been kerbef, no idea where they came from.
Our Defenders alloys were also dreadful; in both cases steels would be better.
I guess they'd look odd on the BM but it would truly complete my love of Q cars!
Our Defenders alloys were also dreadful; in both cases steels would be better.
I guess they'd look odd on the BM but it would truly complete my love of Q cars!
tters.paranoid airbag said:
"Iron" typically has less iron content per kilo than steel. (mild steel anyway - stainless steel contains less. Yes, I am being a bit vague here, but the general point stands)
Pretty much. Steel is almost pure iron (0.1% carbon). What we think of as iron isn't (pure) iron but around 4% carbon. That's about all I remember from uni, they then started going on about hypoeutectoids and I think I drifted off.
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