Major Problem with Weld Wheels

[TSielski]

5 years ago I purchased 4 Weld 'typhoon' two-piece forged aluminum wheels (8" wide) and mounted BFG 285-75's on 'em.

Up until two weeks ago was real pleased with them. At that time, noticed the two front tires were totally flat after the truck sat all night.

Aired them up and could find no punctures or issues with the tires, but to my surprise, when I happened to spray one of the wheel faces with soapy water, air was leaking out for the full circumference of the joint in the wheel. Same thing on the other wheel. These Weld two-piece wheels, as all of their two-piece wheels are, are welded together on the actual rim. The joint between the two pieces is visible on the wheel face. Clearly the welds joining the two pieces together had become porus on two of my wheels.

Now the truck has not been abused, over loaded, or driven off-road much (and then only on ungraded roads). Weld only has a 3 year quarantee on their products. They have not responded to any written inquiry of mine.

Given that the wheels only are warranted for 3 years, the price charged for them (~$270 each), and the incredible marketing hype about their strength, the obvious breakdown of welds joining a two-piece wheel should not happen, period.

Luckily I have gotten almost 50K miles on the BFG's. The bad thing is there is about 10K left (before hitting the wear bars).

So now I am buying new 255 - 85's to mount on the stock wheels which I fortunately still have.



Just a warning to those who have purchased Weld two-piece truck wheels. If my experience is not unique (and talking to several aftermarket dealers here in N. Va, it's not), you have a set of time bombs rolling under your trucks.

 

[RHARVEY]

What if you were to add tubes to the Weld Wheels and still run them????



Rick

 

[Brandon]

same here in ca, weld wheels crack... ... ... but we gotta have the look..... so we just roll with it



wife has 16x10

I have 16. 5x12

my friends all have 16. 5x12 or even 14 wide

 

[TSielski]

It seems that way. Would have been nice had I been warned about this possibility before dropping the $$.

Interesting that none of the aftermarket dealers with whom I spoke about this had heard of the same thing happening to Centerline two-piece wheels, though my conversations were an extremely small sample.

Too bad the widest Alcoa wheels are only offered in a 7" wide version in an 8 x 6. 5 lug wheel.



I thought of trying to use a tube, but could find nothing close to the size needed. Plus I keep thinking how safe are the leaking wheels, since the weld joining the two pieces has minutely shifted to where they are now porus? Are they likely to come apart? Not willing to gamble with that at highway speeds.



Tim

 

[John]

Tim, you are correct about Alcoa forged aluminum wheels.



BUT, Mickey Thompson/Alcoa forged aluminum wheels come in two different styles (the Classics... eight holes, and the Challengers... five slots, which I have). The M/T Alcoa wheels are produced in a W-I-D-E variety of sizes... i. e. , LARGE diameters as well as R-E-A-L-L-Y W-I-D-E sizes, all with the strength to do whatever you ask of them!



This is my second set of M/T Alcoa wheels...

I purchased my first set just after they were released on the market for sale... ... back when the Classics were not (classics).



Awesome wheels! You may beat 'em for looks but not for strength!



... and don't let the advertised load ratings fool you!

 

[c-hawk]

Huh,



I had the same problem with one of my typhoons about a year ago. That wheel would also have been about 5 years old if it were still around. Up until now, I had never heard of this happening to anyone else.



I ended up having to buy another wheel, since weld would do nothing for me. The other 3 original wheels are still doing fine.



Thanks for the heads up,



Chris

 

[Blakers]

Did you call Weld and find out what they would like to do about the leaks? If no results from them, perhaps you could paint them on the inside with a sealing paint or gas tank sealer.



Blake

 

[Cummins Cowboy]

What if you told them you bought them 2 yrs ago instead of 5 and then say you misplaced your reciept.

 

[Todd T]

I agree with Tim and John. around here, Welds have never been know for their strength. only good looks and light weight for drag racing and 1/2 ton wanna be's.



you get what you pay for when it comes to a true off road/4WD application.



keep us posted, maybe you'll get a new pair out of the deal

 

[Peter Campbell]

I remember looking at the racing rims. Gotta be carefull- they are light weight and "street legal" but a lot of them are made for bias belted slicks. I remember a set of centerlines that I wanted, but fortunately the salesman asked the application and ( radial tires for a car on the road) and that centerline model was not correct, but they did look sharp.

 

[DarrellB]

I've got Welds

Had them for 4 going on 5 years now and not a problem. I'm running 16. 5's x 9. 75's and the only thing bad about them I can find is I can't keep them shiny enough. ( that's my fault ) I haul lots of heavy loads and I'm on and off the road, in some pretty rough fields and still don't have any cracks. And absolutely love the looks.



A few years back I remember Alcoa stopping production because of cracking problems in their dually wheels. I wonder if this could be related. Maybe bad material or something. I know quite a few guys running Welds, one set of them has been on 2 trucks (6years). I would call Weld and do some complaining, that is there selling point, Strength and light wait. At least maybe they will cut you a deal on a new wheel or know of some one that can fix the crack.



Later

Darrell

 

[Brandon]

john or todd please post the link to MT alcoa wheels that are available in 12 or 14 wide for 16 or 16. 5





thank you, Brandon

 

[rubberneck]

between my dad and father in law we have cracked 4 weld wheels. Yup they crack, all have been replaced no questions asked from the dealer we purchased them at. Even knowing this, i still bought them for my truck. You just cant beat the look of the weld super single.

 

[PRout]

Who cares what they look like. If they crack, theyre JUNK. .

 

[Brandon]

who cares what they look like, dang :--) :--) you are even from ca, whats up with that... ... ... .



personally I would still prefer some budniks or some colorado customs, I just had to settle for the welds as the 3rd best





shoot yes we are vain in ca... ... ... ... ... welds and super swampers. Anything less would be uncivil

 

[HEMI®Dart]

Found this post in an old thread

I found this post in an old thread:



"You're right about the two-piece Weld Wheels. My experience with them was a joke.

I bought a set of Weld Super Singles, Roadhawk style 8". No weight in the truck except two tool boxes with a few tools in them. I had the wheels on for about a week when I started to hear this 'popping' and 'cracking' sound... kinda like Rice Krispies amplified about ten times... any way, it was the wheels!! The guy who sold me them could'nt believe it. The two-piece weld was flexing the wheel, especially when the truck turned, and the two pieces were tapping each other and making the noise. It got to be unbearable. This experience can be a long story... all told, I tried 14 new Weld wheels, all the exact same style as above, two left me with flat tires (aluminum cracked) and every set made the noise. Weld would'nt do a thing about the problem,no compensation, no nothin. ' I think they suck. The wheels look nice, but after what I went through, I would never recommend them. "

 

[rubberneck]

Originally posted by Shortshift

Who cares what they look like. If they crack, theyre JUNK. .

If i didn't care what they looked like i would have kept the ugly a$$ stockers, besides you cant beat the ride or wear of the original michelins. But hey looks do matter So we go on.

 

[BigBadDodge]

Does this mean mine are going top blow up on me I have the weld super singles, have had them for 5 years now and they look great no problems !!! I have also been in harsh enviroments those five years as well all coastal, salt water spray, road salt ect. I just keep them clean !!!!



Scott,