SSR rims.... really that bad??

[Midnight Shark]

I was thinking of changing my rims to SSR GT1's or GT3's and did a lot of research. It seems there are too many stories on bent and cracked rims that are just alarming. Some samples:









Most stories I've read of the bent rims happened mostly on potholes. My current ADR's have seen unrelenting potholes but never bent nor cracked but are just too damn heavy of a wheel that I'm thinking of getting lighter rims. Any other suggestions for light weight rims with the 5 spoke design??

[Sendittoryan]

Those cracks and bends look rediculous! I have also heard horror stories about how soft they were, but I'd never seen pics...

[tdc]

Volks are pretty lightweight and strong. However, they're a little more expensive than SSRs.

[powerslave]

The bends are not that suprizing, my BBS's will bend on ANYTHING! The cracks are definately scary though. I know quite a few people running SSRs with no such problems, never even a bend. Volks do own them though, but I've seen bent TE37s as well, all wheels will bend if you hit a bump hard enough.

[gnarfy]

I read that SSR is out of buiseness ...

any info ?

I would never buy their wheels if the company is closed ! what happen if you curb or crack a wheel ?!

[Midnight Shark]

Originally Posted by powerslave

all wheels will bend if you hit a bump hard enough.

i don't know about that. I've hit bumps hard enough to knock my Passport 8500 out of it's holder and shut my CD off for a couple of seconds but never bent my current rims.

[tdc]

So why the urge to change them? Just trying for a new look?

[E36kid]

Originally Posted by Midnight Shark

My current ADR's have seen unrelenting potholes but never bent nor cracked but are just too damn heavy of a wheel that I'm thinking of getting lighter rims.

The problem with going to a light wheel is that they use less material, making them weaker in most cases... unless your willing to dish out some major cash.
But I could be totally wrong

[Midnight Shark]

Originally Posted by tdc

So why the urge to change them? Just trying for a new look?

YES!!!!!!!

Plus I like the performance aspect of lighter rims. But if it's going to be in sacrifice to strength, then I would rather get stronger rims despite the weight issues. There are just too many f'd up roads in MA/NH.

[RedBarron]

I have heard a lot of people say SSR stands for Super Soft Rims

[GhostRider]

Forged are stronger than cast. So a lightweight forged rim would be the way to go. Tend to be expensive though.

Anyone know of a good strong and lightweight rim?

Here's an old but useful thread with wheels and their weights. Discusses what makes a wheel strong at the end of the list. A list of light ones is further down on the page:
This may have been posted already, very cool wheel weight chart for many brands.

:Edit: and you can find pics of most the wheels on the list here:
http://www.wheelspecs.com/specs/#V

[skd2k1]

the bigger the rim the less tire to protect it. the lighter the rim the easier it will bend. its physics.

[M-Velope]

I was talking with my tire and wheel guy yesturday. He told me that SSR has stopped making rims, but has enough inventory in the U.S. to stay in business for the near future. People on the inside of the tire and wheel business say that SSR is going out of business, or they already have.

[Glucas21]

All of those pictures show the rims with very low profile tires on them. I bet it would take much more to hurt them with a 45 series tire. I even bent one of the 16 inch sport rims on my 325is with a 60 series tire. But it doesn't suprize me that SSR rims bend frequently. They are very light and are not all thet expensive. They made a stronger version of their Comp rim, called the Comp-H which is suppose to be 50% stronger and not much heavier. I have been looking at an 18" inch set of them for my car in the anthracite with machined lip. They look pretty nice and if they are that much stronger I think they should hold up well. I guess I have to pick up a set before they run out.

[Dogeeseegod]

Originally Posted by skd2k1

the bigger the rim the less tire to protect it. the lighter the rim the easier it will bend. its physics.

Thats not really correct at all . Forged wheels are usually lighter and stronger than cast wheels. If you actually look at the makeup of the wheel there is less dead weight in forged wheels and they can usually be made thinner and smaller than cast wheels, again saving weight. My car has cast 19" aluminum wheels on it that weigh (with the tire 225/35/zr19) about 30 lbs. The iForged wheels on my buddies bimmer weigh (with the tire) about 23 lbs, and he is running 235/45/zr19. Both are 7 spoke aluminum wheels the only difference is the way they were made. Forged wheels are just all around better wheels.