shaolin

iTrader: (2)

double check the inner part of rim. sometime it bents inside but not outside..

lobuxracer

iTrader: (2)

That's actually more common than anything. The outside is very hard to bend, but the inside bends relatively easily.

Flipsonic

If the inside rim is bent, wouldn't it throw off the balance? So when you hit high speeds on the freeway, wouldn't you feel the vibrations? At least that's what I experienced on the last wheel I damaged.

Maybe we should start a - Spotted Pothole thread (j/k)

lobuxracer

iTrader: (2)

You'd be surprised how far off it can be without knowing it. A 4mm out of round is enough to need straightening, but not enough to make the steering wheel vibrate. AMHIK.

shaolin

iTrader: (2)

it depends. Sometime you only bent a little bit just the lip. Sometime you see rims that doesn't look bent but if you put on the balance machine the whole wheels will wobble..

Flipsonic

Ok, if the wheel is slightly bent/damaged and you don't feel any vibrations, could there be any long term damage to the car? I guess I can take it off and look at it on a wheel balancing machine. But if there is nothing wrong with the way the car behaves, why bother? Just trying to understand the long term effect, if any.

IS_Mine

Flip.. I had the same issue with my OEM rim. It was bent but no one could see any physical damage.

But when the put the rim on a balancer, and through varying speeds they could finally see the issue.

Have you tried driving the car at different speeds? I didn't feel any vibrations until I hit a certain MPH range, and I was told.. by several people that a bent rim can increase wear on your tires, and put stress on your steering system, and something about ball joints. I don't know to what extent but it made me terribly uncomfortable to drive with a bent rim.

neova

I would also check to see if your the internal sidewall belt of your tire has broken (this is what causes your tire to "Bubble" at the sidewall). Even if that internal belt isn't completely broken, if it's damaged, then you need a new tire.

Flipsonic

No vibrations at any speeds and no bubble or visible damage on the tire and rim (both sides). But I can't be sure until it is taken off, looked over with a magnifying glass, and put on a wheel balancer.

IS_Mine

Things sound pretty optimistic for you then Flip, I hope nothing happened because problems like that can totally ruin your day.

neova

You might also want to check if there is any internal damage to the wheel.

I had a 19" OZ 1-pc wheel and had the same experience as you did. No damge to wheel or tire. A coumple months later I hit another pothole much smaller at only city speeds and the rim CRACKED and bent at the same time. I took it to a wheel shop and the manager advised there were some internal damage (small crack) from the first pothole incident, and the second impact (althought much less impact) was severe enough to further open the crack.

good luck.

Flipsonic

Just came back from a reputable shop. I didn't take it to the dealer because I don't want to open a can of worms due the mods I made to my car. Anyway, no damage to the wheel and suspension.

Haiko

Nice, I'm glad for you. It sure does say something about the Lexion wheels.