[Retro69]

So I have 2400 miles on my 2018 ZL1 and just the other day I noticed a vibration that seemed to come out of nowhere. Couldn't see anything obvious so I took it into the dealer to see what they could find. Turns out that my right-rear wheel is bent! No visible damage, can only see it when is spins on the wheel balancer.

Thinking back I to about when I first noticed it I recalled hitting some damage on the interstate. That must have been what did it but didn't think anything of it. I have driven my 2011 SS with Z/28 suspension and ZL1 wheels over much of the same kind of damage over the years and never had any kind of damage like that.

Anyone else had their wheels get bent on typical road damage?

[1970judge]

Not on a ZL1..but in atrocious land (Michigan) its not uncommon. My Wifes Hyundai picked up a similar bad vibration out of nowhere at highway speed. My guess was a pot hole had knocked a weight off. Nope, bent the wheel. No visible damage, i had to call and double check they told me the correct wheel. Sure enough, it is, not lip bent..whole wheel bent. Its not just Camaro wheels. Its anything that gets hit at the right angle under the right conditions.

[JB'sZL1]

Also worthy of note:

Rims with low profile tires are far more susceptible to rim damage than standard tires, particularly with potholes. Put some 4"/5" of sidewall on those rims and they'll take a lot more beating.

[speedraider]

z06 wheels are just as bad, absolute junk

[Retro69]

Originally Posted by speedraider

z06 wheels are just as bad, absolute junk

Its funny you should mention this. The service advisor at the dealership told me he had another customer with a bent wheel on a z06. Although he thought he had hit a curb.

[Desert Drifter]

Top quality forged wheels are $2000 each, so not an attractive solution either. Now if I could just figure out why my rear tires wear so fast....

[Retro69]

Originally Posted by Desert Drifter

.... Now if I could just figure out why my rear tires wear so fast....

Are you sure you really want to hear the answer?

[nicktechla]

They are pretty strong, so if its bent you must have hit something pretty good

[Buzzmanb12]

You can bend a rim by spinning the tires and getting a little sideways and letting off the gas, when it regains traction the car will snap back straight with the wheel still a bit sideways and put all the load into the side of the rim causing it to warp...

[Retro69]

Originally Posted by Buzzmanb12

You can bend a rim by spinning the tires and getting a little sideways and letting off the gas, when it regains traction the car will snap back straight with the wheel still a bit sideways and put all the load into the side of the rim causing it to warp...

This all seems pretty pathetic to me. Shouldn’t have to wrap a car in cotton to drive it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[1LE Red Dragon]

Originally Posted by Buzzmanb12

You can bend a rim by spinning the tires and getting a little sideways and letting off the gas, when it regains traction the car will snap back straight with the wheel still a bit sideways and put all the load into the side of the rim causing it to warp...

This is not true, for a OEM wheel. It takes a significant impact to bend an OE wheel. The lower profile tires have less sidewall and thus stiffer, and can not cushion the load as well as a larger sidewall tires. Rubber and air are flexible and can absorb shock, as they have an affect of the overall suspension of the car. Due to this, the wheel is somewhat protected by the forgiveness of the tire.

To bend a wheel radially, you must compress the tire to the point that it can apply enough load radially to the wheel to bend it or make it untrue. To bend a wheel axially, it takes a significant side load or combination side and radial load that will deform the wheel pass its yield strength of the material. This takes a significant impact, and will not be generated solely from the friction of the tire and the road surface.. even when the traction is instantaneously applied.

Most cast wheels are not strong in material alone, that is why they are overly thick to be strong enough for OEM applications. The lighter weight wheels are thinner but use higher strength materials to create the same load rating or higher.

My guess is you hit a something hard while driving. I have been to some dynos that will use strap through the wheels to secure them to the dyno, due to low clearances. Then the straps are ratcheted down in obscure angles pulling only from the spoke of the wheel. This doesnt even cause structural damage to the wheels.

Typically potholes and other significant obstacles, as well as curbs are the most common causes of bent wheels.

[VADERZL1]

Indiana interstate potholes have taken out 2 wheels on my Alfa, 1 VW wheel and 1 ZL1. Local shop does the repair for me, all except one Alfa wheel that was beyond repair.

[Larrio Andretti]

Originally Posted by Buzzmanb12

You can bend a rim by spinning the tires and getting a little sideways and letting off the gas, when it regains traction the car will snap back straight with the wheel still a bit sideways and put all the load into the side of the rim causing it to warp...

Not true!

[Emoto]

If you don't mind the ride and grip trade-off, setting your tires to a slightly higher pressure can help prevent a rim from impact bends, as the tire provides a little more resistance at higher pressures.