>I've got a question about load ratings on wheels. This thread is a very
>specific question. I am not referring to tires. I am not asking about
>experiences with vehicles other than Vanagons.
>
>My question is:
>
>Does anyone have any firsthand knowledge of a wheel failure on a Vanagon due
>to overloading?
>
>I am specifically talking about Vanagons. I am also talking about failures
>due to an overload situation. I'd prefer not to hear about wheels that have
>been drilled out to fit a Vanagon - I'm trying to eliminate variables here.
>
>So, how about it? Any first hand knowledge?
>
>Cheers,
>Bruce
>motorbruce@hotmail.com

The only wheels I have ever heard of failing were motorcycle
wheels... magnesium ones (Speedline) on a Ducati Darmah. They crack
at the spoke bases and corrosion sets in... NASTY. I saw a 750 Four
with similar wheels fitted, and looked at the spoke bases... sure
enough, cracked! Avoid magnesium wheels... the metal is just too
reactive.

Never heard of car/van wheels breaking unless they hit something
large & immovable... and even then, they weren't really broken,
rather they were bent or even mangled. I wouldn't be hazarding a
guess if I said that all wheels are made with huge margins of error
in the stated limits.

Having said that, I would avoid 3-spoke alloy wheels because the
large unsupported sectors put huge loadings on the rims at the spoke
edges. If any aluminum wheel is gouing to fail catastrophically, it's
one of these. Until, that is, some bright outfit tries to market
TWO-spoked wheels...
--
Andrew Grebneff
Dunedin
New Zealand
Fossil preparator
<andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
Seashell, Macintosh, VW/Toyota van nut

HUMANITY: THE ULTIMATE VON NEUMANN MACHINE

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