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Split rim alloys - why?


Ari
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Some manufacturers offer split rim alloy wheels, where the wheel is (I think) two piece and seured by little hexagonal bolt things.

They look really smart, but what actually is the point?

And if you undo all the little bolt things, would they fall apart?

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Split rims were design for 2 reasons.

1st one is that there was once an age when sidewalls of tyres were not 'flexible' enough to be squeezed over the wheel lip without damage to the side wall or the wheel.

So you could split the rim place each half on the tyre and then rebuild the wheel without any issues of tyre fracture.

This was a problem with sports performance cars with (then) huge tyres in the 70's

Additionally the design allows for new rims should one get damaged, buckled etc.

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In racing terms I've always believed split rims are actually a stronger design and less likely to crack, it also allows the flexibility of different materials as RR has illustrated above. I'm looking to source a set of magnesium split rims for the mini to reduce the sprung weight on each corner, magnesium for weight reduction, split to add strength to a soft material. 169144-ok.gif

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[ QUOTE ]

Split Rim Rebuilds

Split Rim wheels or three piece wheels have in the past generally been very difficult to refurbish. However technology is changing and many bolted wheels, such as the Jaguar XKR range of wheels, are now repairable.

We stock replacement Split rim outer rims, stainless steel wheel trims, titanium and alloy wheel bolts and studs and rim screws.

Wicked Wheels are the first choice for Jaguar dealers throughout the UK.

[/ QUOTE ]

Here's a link for some 10" mini ones

Minispeed split rims

Your find a heap of split rim wheels still used of huge HGV's the reason being that super sized tyres cannot be fitted in the conventional tyre iron + muscle way.

Also a split rim can take far better force pressure caused by both load and high PSi setting of tyre 169144-ok.gif

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