Dymag Wheel Question

[*89x2*]

I'm slow on the uptake. That means it was not a twin-turbo, but had the B2K RPO, is that correct? Or does "converted" mean something different?

It was ordered with the RPO B2K showing in the glovebox, but never got the "works" :W

 

[turbocat]

Hib is correct as far as I'm concerned. I went on a trip (4000 miles) about 5 years ago and in about a week of travel had 3 flats on three different wheels because air was leaking through the center of the rims near the spokes .Stopped at a tire store and put on chrome zr1 wheels and UPSed the dymags home. They are still on the shelf at home to be used for display purposes only.

On Dymags....most of them are not 20 years old.

No one should put a used set of Dymags which date to the late 80s on a car for stree use unless they've been 1) checked for cracking with a process designed to nondestructively test nonferrous metals and 2) inspected for any hydrogen enbribrttlement might be present.

Even today the Dymag design is a very sharp-looking wheel but as good-looking as it is, the materials with which it were made might not stand the tests of time.

 

[MagicDragon]

It was ordered with the RPO B2K showing in the glovebox, but never got the "works" :W

I inspected this same car for a buyer. It did indeed have the B2K RPO however the original purchaser picked up the car from Old Lyme before the option was installed...because he wanted to purchase a ZR1. (That's what the original owner told me) It did have the Dymags.

 

[Hib Halverson]

Hib, there has not been any data to show any concern with these wheels. IN fact, the naysayers who said that 20 years ago, Reeves should not use a magnesium wheel on a street car, have been wrong. There are zero failures due to design.

That said, I was told that the only issue with a magnesium wheel, is when they get refinished, sometimes they are only cosmetically refinished and must be coated on ALL surfaces, not just the outside that one can see. If not, otherwise they turn black and will decompose.
Again, zero issues with these wheels and a proven track record.

First...I never said there was a design issue with Dymags which makes them prone to failure.

What I've said, and I stand by the statement until proven wrong, is that both aluminum and magnesium, are prone to changes over time which may weaken a wheel made of either material.

That you claim there is no data to show concern with 20-year-old, Dymags is irrlevant. The lack of data does not prove there is no problem. It just proves there is no information you can provide.

Further your claim of "zero issues" is rediculous. To say that, you'd need to have credible data on all Dymag wheels which, obviously, you lack.

As for a "track record", I agree that the Dymag was a very good racing wheel but if you say "track record" meaning that all Dymags are durable for 20 years or more, I think you're misguided.

There might be Dymags out there which, in spite of their age, are in good shape and can be safely used after testing in just about any application. On the other hand, there are, no doubt, some out there (perhaps those which have been improperly finished, as you explain, above) which would fail nondestructive testing and should not be used.

Bottom line: Anyone planning to reuse an old set of Dymags, especially if they're going on a car which will be raced or driven aggressively on the street, should have the wheels nondestructively tested to make sure there are no problems (hidden cracks, hydrogen enbrittlement, etc) with them before they put them in service. I should add that this is true of any aluminum or magnesium wheel that old, not just a Dymag.

 

[MagicDragon]

Hib, A couple of questions- Where can you get this nondestructive test done, does the wheel need to be striped of the powder coat for the test? How old does a wheel made of magnesium or aluminum have to be before the test is needed? What about steel wheels - would they also be subjected to deterioration over time?

 

[*89x2*]

Bottom line: Anyone planning to reuse an old set of Dymags, especially if they're going on a car which will be raced or driven aggressively on the street, should have the wheels nondestructively tested to make sure there are no problems (hidden cracks, hydrogen enbrittlement, etc) with them before they put them in service. I should add that this is true of any aluminum or magnesium wheel that old, not just a Dymag.

Hib, while I do agree with your botom line with respect to safety, I do not think the sky is falling, otherwise :W

As with any wheel, tire, or other component subject to high stress and heat cycles, your advice is absolute. Thanks