The reason I ask is that I have just bought from M/B a full size (16" x 6") steel wheel rim to replace my space saver spare wheel.
When got it home I found that there was a small indentation where the bead of the tyre presses against the side edge of the rim.
It looks like just under an 1/8" drill has made a hole almost through the side of the rim but has not quite gone through as the inside of the rim has a 'dimple' on the inside. Someone has painted over the hole (it's not exactly a hole as it does not go right through) with some form of white paint and I thought at first it was just a white round sticky label.
Am going to let the dealer look at it before fitting the tyre but it does look most odd to me.
Just wondered if anyone with steel wheels has a similar 'spot' on their wheels & if so any idea what it might be for.
And no wise cracks it's where the valve goes through please.
Top photo shows the dimple on the inside of the rim and in the bottom photo you can just see the 'drilling ??' if you look carefully near the top of the white paint blob. Unfortunately the flash has bleached it a bit.
Keith, I have the steels but why not take a sharp pic without the blur. I would have noticed that.(I think) I'll dig them out and check.
Is it on the 4 rims? Derek
Last edited by Derek Lecours : 06-09-2008 at 09:10 AM.
I have tried with & without flash but due to the white paint & the black rim it is impossible to get a good photo. It does appear that someone has drilled a small hole but not right through the rim. It probably won't leak but as it is going to be the spare I don't want to end up stranded with a flat spare if it does. No I have just bought the 1 wheel to keep as a full size spare instead of the emergency space saver spare, which you are restricted to 50mph / 80 kmph and which has very little tread on (although the rubber does seem quite grippy). I have had 2 punctures in under 5,000 miles with my present Continental Contact tyres both times nails have gone through the radial (water) groove in the tyre which is about 5/16" wide.
Keith it's possible that the hole occurred during the manufacturing of the wheel and the defect marked with paint. The wheel was most likely tested for specs , but if you are paying top dollar ( or top Pound ) return it for an unblemished rim.
Initially I was excited when I saw the new thread. I thought someone had come up with a way to STEAL wheels and not STEEL wheels.
Keith,
I agree with Bill, if it's not perfect, then don't accept it. It should not affect the tyre but it is very close to the bead.
It's a PITA to have to return and exchange it but for your peace of mind you probably should.
Derek
I think I may have cracked it (no not the wheel ) I did an exhaustive google search this morning and found the following :-
New passenger and light truck vehicles:
(A) Ford and Chrysler passenger and LT steel rims, and most steel replacement rims, have a paint dot or small painted daub in the drop well portion of the rim at the rim low spot.
(B) GM and most Japanese vehicle manufacturers use the valve hole to mark the low point.
(C) Other manufacturers are using a removable colored sticker or a brightly colored washable paint mark on the rim flange area of the rims. These are generally removed by the vehicle dealer upon sale of the vehicle.
I ran this past the tech guy a the local dealership and on looking at the photos he agreed that this was most likely what this marking was. I just hope that the tyre has an airtight seal over that small dimple, I can't grind it down as it may go into the drilled part behind it which would be even more likely to leak air.
Thanks again, guys, for your help & ideas on this one
That's really interesting Keith; after all these years and playing with wheels, I've never noticed those dimples. Maybe it's a newer procedure.
Great that you were able to track it down.
Derek
I have steel rims for the winter. But I don't have that hole in it.
I know because I waxed the rims (yes, I do) this spring when I changed for the summer...
Bytheway, the full or normal size wheels don't fit in the spacesaver compartment They only fit when you leave the floor in the upper position. That's why MB doesn't sell a fullsize spare (except when you're a taxi, it's an taxi option).
I know that a B from Australia showed a full spare installed and then you can't lower the floor.
We stow so much in that hidden lower compartment, that we're not ready to give up that useful space.
But I sympathize with Keith and lets hope he doesn't get anymore flats.
please.
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