bbirdwell

I'm giving up on the stock wheels. This is the third wheel that has cracked on the car over six years and a little over 100,000 miles of ownership; this doesn't include the first cracked wheel was repaired and then cracked again in the same place. Yesterday I ran over what I thought was a minor pothole (not particularly rough but it did trigger the dash cam). Cracked the inside of the wheel, air leaked out, tire trashed. Road hazard claim submitted but now it's time for a set of wheels.

I'm looking for the same diameter, width, and offset as stock. I'll peruse what the vendors here have to offer but if anyone has any recommendations, I'm all ears....

Ls1toAMG

Sorry that sucks. Didn't know it was a problem with stock rims. I have cracked 2 aftermarket rims in 10k miles and they are forged. Thankfully it's been a while and I trust them again. I think the Airmatic is hard on rims in any setting...

cfmistry

I didn't think the stock 18"s breaking/cracking was a common issue? Now the CLS 19"s, those are well-documented to be made of wet tissue-paper...

kiluminati616

I cracked 3 in a year and ended up going with aftermarket flow formed 19s. Solid 7-8 lbs lighter than stock and should be a good bit stronger. Seems like it’s pretty common with these and the cls55 wheels. Check out the marketplace - you’ll be hard pressed to find a set without at least 2 currently cracked or repaired. Weird thing with mine was there was never a pot hole that really stuck as the cause. I’d just notice a low tire and each time a cracked wheel was the culprit

M3brendan

I feel you man. I've had my car for about 15 months and I've cracked three factory wheels as well. Can't deal with the anxiety of cracking another one and then having to track down a replacement, have it powdercoated. Just pulled the trigger on a set on bronze BBS CI-Rs.

rttadam

Early 2000's and later MB AMG wheels are garbage. I'm surprised they haven't had a notable safety recall.

kiluminati616

that’ll look sharp! I went w bronze in a somewhat similar style from stance

Dokus

Carlsson have 18 and 19s with same offset as OEM if you want a more stockish look.

bbirdwell

Maybe these. Wheel sizes and bolt pattern are a go; will need to call and verify the offset as the page says "Offset Low to High Depending Upon Vehicle".

https://audiocityusa.com/shop/18-sta...rged-Rims.html

If so, I figure I can offset the expense by selling the three good wheels on the car, plus offer up an additional front and rear wheel wheel (spares in the attic) that have no cracks but need to be refinished. Maybe even the cracked wheel cheap(!) if someone wants to take the chance on repairing it. Personally, I would not as the previous time I had a crack repaired, the damn wheel cracked again right through the welded repair. Metallurgy, maybe there is more to it than I know.

cdk4219

I hit a pothole with the aftermarket Chinese’ 18” wheels I have. The hole was big enough that the wheels were bent beyond belief and the car decided to unlock the doors. The wheels weren’t cracked and the local wheel shop repaired them. The Nankang tires also took the abuse and are still on the car with no adverse affects.

Can’t say the same for the stock amg wheels, as cracks seem to be common, and welding them seems to mitigate further cracking

I have cars with 19” and 20” wheels and rubber band tires, but they get destroyed really quickly around here in the winter road. I envy the warm climate smooth roads..