fastbreak88

So my gf has a 2002 volvo s60 that came with some 17" 7 spoke rims. No matter what she does she bends the hell out of these on a weekly basis. They are soft as hell, they make the celebration wheels look like panzer tanks. Since she bought the car she has had 7 rims total as they end up looking like hexagons and can no longer be straightened.

Just yesterday she hit a pot hole (Mass raods are hell after winter) and it destroyed both tires on the pass side and egged the **** out of the front rim. Volvo is tired of this and is trying to say they won't cover this anymore even though she has a crazy warranty with roadside assistance etc.

Anyway I was wondering if there was a a way to tell if the design blows, like anyone that has celebration wheels ever get audi to replace them as they always bend?

Maybe I am being way to optamystic, but I feel like volvo should slap on a different set of rims for her as these suck. They had 4 different style wheels from that year alone so it's not like they can say those are it.


Any thoughts?

I know this **** is way off topic but other forums are full of idiots, thought you guys might have some tips.


thanks

tehaudi

really useful answers.

fastbreak88

It's relevant because I figure some of you have been through this with the celebration wheels.

The premier volvo forum is swedespeed and it's terrible. I asked a brake question there in the past and got retarded answers. I asked here and got the correct answer in the 3rd reply and it saved me close to 500 bucks. I'll stick with audi world thanks.

Reggie

You might want to try 16" rims is they will fit over the bakes. Also make sure she is running the highest tire pressure she can - Also suggest running winter tires too.

GBW

If you're destroying tires and rims (numerous times), it's tough to fault the rims. I'd suggest somebody look where they're going and slow down....try the Volvo forums, but I don't think you can blame the rims. I think they're made by Bobert............

duhki22

2nd. Usually a bad idea to stray too far from the B5 nest

RKA

I mean if she hits potholes that take out two tires, I'm not inclined to believe the wheels are the problem. I know Boston roads suck, but a history of bent rims also suggests the driver isn't making any effort to avoid the potholes.

If you buy another OEM wheel, throw it on a scale. If it's under 20 lbs, that wheel probably has too little material in it to remain round. If it's over 24 lbs, it probably has sufficient material to remain round, and anything in between is no-man's land. Aside from that, spoke design will give you some idea about the integrity of the wheel, but 7 spokes is generally enough. But usually it's the inside edge of the rim that gets bent (no spokes). This goes back to the overall weight as a crude indicator of wheel strength.

It's also possible that the repeated straightening of the wheels has further weakened them. To my knowledge, cold working a wheel will weaken them, and hot working will leave them stronger than they initially were. But you mentioned that Volvo has replaced a few (presumably with new OEM's, not refurbished)? So I'm guessing repair technique is not the issue either.

To my knowledge, Audi has never coughed up money for bendy wheels. It's way too easy for them to blame the issue on environmental causes (kinda like the wet brake delays). Same would hold true for Volvo.

tehaudi

Umm, I was refering to AWOT...there are no other forums besides AW

Silver Streakin'

tell her to stop hitting things

bhz1

2nd, or shes driving over curbs