It turns out the GT350R's carbon fiber wheels are pretty darn impressive in their respective performance gains.

Read the rest on the Mustang Source homepage. >>

 

" Close to $4,000 each! It doesn’t come off as the best bang for buck, but as the technology improves and prices drop, it will be the must-have wheel for any performance car. "
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Don't see these in my future any time soon !!
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So what's the point in having a thread that leads to an article elsewhere that leads back to this thread?
Why not just post the whole thing here?
Are there not enough threads on these forums?

This is the only site I'm on that does this, and it's so freakin annoying ...

 

I'd be terrified to take it anywhere to get new tires mounted. How does CF handle potholes?

 

Probably not well.

They're racing wheels. Intended for race tracks and very nice roads.

 

I don't know. Supposedly these are supposed to meet or exceed the strength and reliability of the other OEM wheels. That's is what is supposed to be so special about them. That and they found a cheaper way to manufacture them.

 

I'm not saying they're fragile, but they have different properties than steel. Your basic potholes that most encounter likely won't be a problem, but I bet the monsters we get in Detroit and some other cities will probably be problematic.

 

Got to agree with you there, Gabe. C'mon TMS

 

I'd wager that they have to hold up pretty well, but I'd be terrified of curb rash, or even a rock hitting one of the spokes. I'm sure they're strong enough to take the abuse, but if you damage one, you're out $4000!

I have to assume that a LOT of buyers will have multiple sets of wheels and tires, and these will only be used for the track and shows. That's what I'd do, at least.

JR

 

My bike (bicycle) has a couple carbon pieces on it, including the forks. Says in the owners manual if the outer epoxy layer gets gouged, then it's been structurally compromised and should be replaced before riding any further. So curb rash definitely sounds like it equals a new wheel

 

Not according to the article in car and driver. "minor surface rash can be repaired with standard painting methods" they claim that carbon fiber wheels are not susceptible to fatigue failure. Carbon fiber has a tensile strength 13 times that of aluminum.
Sounds like they should hold up quite well.

 

I was thinking about that recently and I'd be willing to bet you'd have a hard time finding anyone that would remove/mount a set of tires on those wheels. Unless you were willing to sign some kind of waiver saying they weren't responsible for damage.

Bet that "road hazard" insurance they try to sell you when you buy a car won't apply to those, lol.

 

I bet you are right!! If not get the extra insurance on these... it will be the buy of a life time. my Daughter bought the tire and Wheel warranty. Spent $300 for it. She ended up getting 4 new wheels and 4 tires in 3 years. paid for itself 5 times over!!!

 

well yea! Who does that?

 

yea what he said and what he said -->