Aluminum Rim Failure

[SVFD1505]

So has anyone had issues with their aluminum 20” rims? I had one crack about 6 months ago and discovered I have another one that is cracked yesterday and I fear possibly another one that is cracked. We live in a rural area and roads aren’t the greatest but we’ve had this for 4 years and suddenly I’m out 3 rims in 8 months.

Is this a problem anyone else has seen? I’m trying to figure out if this is an age problem or just my area isn’t suited to aluminum 20” rims. I’m running factory tires so it’s not like I’m running low profiles to contribute to the problem.

At this point I’m just trying to feel other folks out on their experiences. Right now I’m thinking about just getting some steel wheels and saying to heck with the aluminum rims.

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

So has anyone had issues with their aluminum 20” rims? I had one crack about 6 months ago and discovered I have another one that is cracked yesterday and I fear possibly another one that is cracked. We live in a rural area and roads aren’t the greatest but we’ve had this for 4 years and suddenly I’m out 3 rims in 8 months.

Is this a problem anyone else has seen? I’m trying to figure out if this is an age problem or just my area isn’t suited to aluminum 20” rims. I’m running factory tires so it’s not like I’m running low profiles to contribute to the problem.

At this point I’m just trying to feel other folks out on their experiences. Right now I’m thinking about just getting some steel wheels and saying to heck with the aluminum rims.

I have a 2015 Expedition Limited 4x4 with the standard factory 20-inch aluminum wheels (purchased new).

None of the wheels have cracked.

How many miles on your vehicle? What year? Can you post a picture of the cracked wheel(s)?

 

[SVFD1505]

It’s a 2013 EL, that we purchased in 2017. I have around 170K miles on it. I don’t have a picture handy but both of them that have cracked they are on the interior edge where the bead gets seated. Both rims look like they’ve been misshapen due to a hard impact.

 

[SVFD1505]

Here is a picture of the latest one to crack

 

[sjwelds]

I'd replace the wheels sooner rather than later. I've seen how quickly small cracks in aluminum can grow.

If they're cracked because of an impact, and not because of normal use, then it's not the fault of the wheel. There are millions of aluminum wheels in use on vehicles today, and failures are quite rare.

 

[Timo2824]

Here is a picture of the latest one to crack

Looks like the rim is impact damaged right after the crack, what PSI are you running in your tires? Also how big are the rocks/potholes on your roads? These 20 inch wheels don't have a lot of side wall, if the tire is running low psi and you hit a good pothole or rock it's going to impact the rim. I wish 17's came on the higher trim levels, 20 inch rims are dumb for SUV's.

 

[Goofy173]

Yep they crack. All aluminum wheels will eventually. All 4 of mine on my 2000 Ford van eventually cracked over 10 years