Bad day for a country drive...

[EvanZR1]

Well, took the ZR-1 out yesterday for some TX farm road driving with some friends, unfortunately, this happened:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/obw3jb9nc3ynpgo/IMG_20200325_155740.jpg?raw=1
https://www.dropbox.com/s/x1ewhsqixr8wt8o/IMG_20200325_155758.jpg?raw=1
https://www.dropbox.com/s/w3c4bezmdj1uumq/IMG_20200325_155435.jpg?raw=1
https://www.dropbox.com/s/xbktjybcuqe2oa4/IMG_20200325_121017.jpg?raw=1

Not sure if it was the tire that failed first or the wheel, I'm kind of thinking wheel with the crack all the way through the spoke. Fortunately, I already have 95 vent panels that came with the car (repainted at same time car was done), but the wheel is a total loss as even if it could be repaired, I'd never trust it again with a crack like that. Issue of course, is you can't just find one Shelby wheel anymore (although I'll certainly look). Now the question is, do another set of Shelbys (giving me 2 rear spares and 1 front spare) or do something completely different (A-molds, CCWs, etc). If I do A-molds (or something else), I can fit the C5 front brake kit I have sitting in the garage. Or if I do some CCWs or similar, I can fit C6Z brakes.

[JThomas]

Glad it wasn't worse! Did you hit a bump previous to the tire/wheel failure or did it just fail?

[Gunny]

Ouch ... let me rephrase - Big Ouch !!! Where in Texas?

I agree about never trusting that wheel again. If you can't locate a replacement wheel and C5 brakes are in your future, the A-molds would be an excellent choice. I always had more confidence with the brakes on my C5 ZO6 than the "upgraded" 96 Grand Sport brakes on my 90 ZR-1.

[EvanZR1]

East of McKinney (northeast of Dallas).

[EvanZR1]

Glad it wasn't worse! Did you hit a bump previous to the tire/wheel failure or did it just fail?

Yes, had a couple of hard impacts about 20 minutes previous to tire failing. My guess is one of them started a crack, and then when it went all the way through, it bent enough for the tire to lose air catastrophically.

[tomcat]

Hello,

The wheel may have been crank already. They start small and get bigger over time. Oh bye the way, The same thing happen to me in my BMW 760LI with 22"
Rims.

Manfred E....
91#906

[Corvette95]

You can have that wheel repaired. There is a place I have used in Bath, PA Wheel collision center, but there is a local place here in Huntsville AL that is really good, all repair, CNC plating , polishing, powder coat etc is done in house. They are called "Wheel-Fix-It" Huntsville, AL PS, I understand what you are saying about never trusting it again, but I am in the insurance business and would have said the same thing many years ago, but after sending them hundreds of rims, if they say they can fix it, will be fixed and the crack, once welded up and machined will be strongest part of the rim and you won't be able to tell it from new. They give you a report of runout, balance etc.

[Gunny]

East of McKinney (northeast of Dallas).
on or near 380? it's been awhile but, from memory, most of the roads are OK - not perfect - but certainly fun to run.

[EvanZR1]

Tomcat, you're probably right. Was probably a slight crack already, and the impact did it in.

Corvette95, I'll take it to the local wheel repair specialist I use and check with them, but I've always been told if the crack is all the way through the spoke, it's done. At this point, I found someone with a spare Shelby wheel locally I was able to pick up so I'm good. If the repair shop says they can fix it, I may have them do it and keep it as a spare (not sure I'd trust it). Alternatively, the center may just become wall art.

Gunny, yes north of 380. Most of the roads are pretty good, but there were a few rough ones, and some unexpected big bumps at speed.

[Corvette95]

Also, FYI if you hit an object that wasn't moving , it is a comprehensive claim, if you hit a object that was rolling on moving on the road it is collision, deductibles differs but insurance pays for it.

[EvanZR1]

that's good info, hadn't realized that. Need to check with Grundy once I get everything checked.

[Curtis]

I agree with Corvette95 I’ve personally welded up wheels that looked like a total mess. For yours it needs to be cut through completely with a fine saw like a coping saw to get rid of any brake dust etc then v notched all around and stripped back about an inch an a half.... prep and finishing is the hard part welding is literally 10 minutes with 3 passes total.... I’m sure those are like welding billet with no impurity’s.... I was begged to weld a old mopar bellhousing from a cuda...about 6 inches down from the top left the crack started and went up and over the top to the opposite side and had about 3 inches still holding but I could stick my fist in the crack.... Two or three hours later was done and even blended off the bead filled any small pits blended them inside and out and blasted it.... They thought I had switched it out with one I had....so all it takes is time and effort....

[verle]

Aluminum can be welded and be as good or better than new.
A friend made his living for years welding heads and blocks for supercharged racing engines. Major blow ups welded back together, re-machined and good to go racing.

A local shop has welded hundred of aluminum wheels that were cracked/broken with no come backs.

Weld it up and keep as a spare.