Early FD Wheels Cracking - Evidence?

[Donutz]

Hey Folks,

I picked up some unreinforced FD wheels a little while back and I've been wondering if they'll hold up as dedicated track wheels. I've been in contact with a number of members who have indicated the wheels should be fine. I have also read some accounts of these wheels holding up to a decent amount of punishment from high powered heavy drag cars, and road racing. The fd3s is very close to the same weight as my mz3 so I suspect I should be fine. During my quest for knowledge I have stumbled across many, many threads on many different forums indicating that early unreinforced fd wheels were known to crack, but there is no evidence to support these claims. To me it seems much like the stories about Rotas. What I'm looking for is first hand accounts of people racing (time attack /autox) with these wheels, pictures of them cracking, information about the senarios in which they cracked, and the vehicle they were on. If anyone has come across this info elsewhere could you please post it here?

I'll be sending these wheels out to be powder coated shortly, but I also have a line on some reinforced rims as well. I'd prefer to keep my wheels because they are light, but if I switch wheels now is the time to do it.

Danke.

[Gizzmo_jr]

I can be a first hand account of an owner using unreinforced for track use. No issues that i've seen, and been using them for 2 years now.
I too originally found info that they could crack but couldn't find anyone/anything to support said claims. If anything, it would of been A)some heavy ass vehicle or B) due to some extreme situation that our Mazda's couldn't comprehend.

Mine are stamped 92 (Feb, I think). Hollow backed spokes.

[Donutz]

Awesome! Thanks man!

[taz4432]

I think they're far more likely to crack from daily driving duties than track use. On the track, the ashphalt is generally relatively smooth, there aren't too many bumps, there are no potholes or speedbumps nor are there 6" concrete curbs. If they're not cracked now, I highly doubt they'd ever crack from (strictly) track use unless you crashed into something pretty solid.

[condor888000]

Sorry I never got back to your pm man, but I just haven't had a lot of time lately.

Anyway, I don't have a camera, but mine are also the unreinforced version, and they're doing fine. No issues when being balanced, etc.

[Donutz]

Cool. Thanks guys. I think I'll hang on to them then. Off they go for pc'ing!

[BMWWW]

If they aren't hassle to swap, I'd do it when its easiest to do so. If more than a phone call away, keep em.

FWIW, I had a set, COOKED, and I mean COOKED a high curb on the street. Doubt any rim would've survived, but in any case, my un-reinforced FD was cooked beyond the fixable-realm.

It looked sort of like my bicycle wheel in 1st year: Became quite concave, and a nice bend horizontally.

PS: I still have it somewhere in my new place... going to spray-bomb it chrome and hang it/coffee-table it as a constant reminder. :p