Thread: Out-of-round OEM 18in alloys?

I have around 3 sets of Hurricanes & they've all been fine. In fact, I have never come across a balance issue with any LR alloy. 2 of my current Mondials have chunks out of the rims from gutter smashes & they're still vibration free.

They all come out of the same place so it seems very strange that you'd have an odd one or two.
Do you have RR (with the 'black' chrome finish) or D2 (regular wheel silver) wheels?

Originally Posted by Scouse

I have around 3 sets of Hurricanes & they've all been fine. In fact, I have never come across a balance issue with any LR alloy. 2 of my current Mondials have chunks out of the rims from gutter smashes & they're still vibration free.

That's why I haven't given up on them yet. It just seems odd. The problem as it appears can't be anything other than faulty manufacture. It's not a buckled rim (which itself seems unlikely as they're supposed to be strong).

But faulty manufacture? Really unusual. Maybe it's an an optical illusion?

As for the colour - original RR or D2 - they were in quite poor cond when I bought the car, hard to tell the colour - but given how unmessed with the car was (if a bit run-down) I suspect original.

The silver paint was quite chipped; bone colour undercoat (weird colour, and felt like plastic) showing in quite a few places. Something made me think they were re-painted before, and I resprayed them when I bought the car.

Scott I might take you up on borrowing some of your spare wheels to try if you're still willing for me to do that, when work calms down a bit in a couple weeks. That would at least be a definitive test on whether wheels are the culprit or not.

Hi 4X4V8, How long has the vehicle had the vibrations? The wheels didn't just get out of round. I think the part of the rim you are describing would be cast not machined so there could some variation. The only way to check for out of round is to remove the wheels and put them on a wheel balancer and turn by hand with a dial indicator on the part of the rim to be checked. Have you had the wheels balanced?
Regards,
Alan

Originally Posted by 4X4V8

This is one of those situations where I am wondering if I should just not worry about it. But vibrations in the car I've noticed on back-off around 60km/h and constant at 107km/h- 115km/h had me drop the car with 2 LR mechanics to see what's going on. It's bugging me. I like my RR to ride smoothly.

Propshafts and UJs are simple, I know, but involve witchcraft to me. I didn't want to be 1000km from home with a RS UJ or similar.

Anyway, 2nd mech agreed with the first -- I seem to have out-of-round Hurricane 18in wheels. I probably should have taken the 1st mech's word for it, but then I only asked him to to have a quick look more than fix it at any cost.

This time I saw for myself the wheels on the hoist as wheels spun. It's the strangest thing: the tyres, outer rims and hubs appeared to spin smoothly, but the inner rims (between the spokes) looked like they were different thicknesses as the wheel spun. I'm talking about the areas where, for example, in one location on the wheel, the valve sits. If you can imagine drawing a line from the outer lip of the rim though the valve to the inner lip of the rim (between the spokes) that's the thickness that varied between each spoke of the wheel. On a couple wheels, not by much, but one was really bad. Describing that gave me a headache. I really should have taken a video of it.

Has anyone heard of this? Did LR make a dodgy batch of Hurricanes? I asked Google and she couldn't help.

My next plan of attack was to try to measure these areas to see any difference. Hard to do because of the taper of the rim, so don't expect that will work. Next was to go to a wheel repairer and see what he reckons. More money down the drain. Last resort is to buy some kick-arse 22in black late-RR wheels avec spigot rings and bolts and pimp my ride. Okay maybe not that last bit.

Originally Posted by old dirt bikes

Hi 4X4V8, How long has the vehicle had the vibrations? The wheels didn't just get out of round. I think the part of the rim you are describing would be cast not machined so there could some variation. The only way to check for out of round is to remove the wheels and put them on a wheel balancer and turn by hand with a dial indicator on the part of the rim to be checked. Have you had the wheels balanced?
Regards,
Alan

I've only had the vehicle since Feb, bought it on old worn tyres and wheels that needed a paint. So re-sprayed wheels (not thickly enough to cause the out-of-round problem, I'd hope ) and had 5 new Pirellis fitted and balanced. That was at a tyre shop known for their high volume and good prices, maybe not so much for wheel-balancing excellence.
Because of COVID and that the P38 is not my main vehicle, it has only since done about 3 runs at the speeds that the vibration is really obvious (about 110km/h).
I've just remembered a tyre mob in Marrickville that were really good when I needed a set of polycast rims balanced. No-one else knew what to do, whereas these guys not only knew but did a great job. I think I'll take the P38 to them to have a look.
In fact it's probably the first thing I should have done. I'll report back...

Originally Posted by 4X4V8

Scott I might take you up on borrowing some of your spare wheels to try if you're still willing for me to do that, when work calms down a bit in a couple weeks. That would at least be a definitive test on whether wheels are the culprit or not.

Yes, whenever suits you is fine with me.

If you haven't put them on a balancer then forget anything until you have.

Visual is a guide only. Spin them up properly and see what's going on.

Tyre wear and shocks can have a big impact on suspension oscillations..

this will take some extra effort but check the balance indeed. Also, if the problem persists check the rims without the tyres on a machine to see how much, if any, they are out. The balancing machine should be able to just measure the rim without a tyre on it. If they are off then maybe, jsut maybe that could be a problem.

Usually defects in wheels (if there are any) need to go beyond a certain threshold for one to pick up vibrations. Also, try to move the wheels with the most counterweight on them to the rear. Rule of thumb is: vibrations in the steeringwheel below 100kph = front wheel, above 100kph = rear wheels.

Cheers,
-P

Originally Posted by prelude

this will take some extra effort but check the balance indeed. Also, if the problem persists check the rims without the tyres on a machine to see how much, if any, they are out. The balancing machine should be able to just measure the rim without a tyre on it. If they are off then maybe, jsut maybe that could be a problem.

Usually defects in wheels (if there are any) need to go beyond a certain threshold for one to pick up vibrations. Also, try to move the wheels with the most counterweight on them to the rear. Rule of thumb is: vibrations in the steeringwheel below 100kph = front wheel, above 100kph = rear wheels.

Cheers,
-P

I took it to a tyre shop this morning. The wheels were out of balance. I assumed that the tyre shop that I bought new tyres from in February knew how to balance wheels. Never assume...