[Unicorn123]

Originally Posted by albertw

This post and many others seem to suggest that run flat tires have something to do with bent wheels. I have trouble imagining how RFTs could increase the chances of bending a wheel.

The stiffer sidewall of a RFT will spread the impact over a longer section of rim, and I suppose that might increase the chances of bending a longer section of the wheel a small amount instead of visibly denting a short section of the rim. So the nature of the damage might be different and less visible. But more frequent? If so, what am I missing?

Albert, As noted, I am not a "real engineer" but I do not think there is anything to miss and my intent was not to imply any such relationship. Merely stating the limited objective evidence regarding bent and misshapen wheels. As I noted in my response to Poochie, there does not appear to be any good data suggesting a causal relationship here, however if someone can establish a cause and effect relationship between RTF's and cast aluminum wheels bending, we would have evidence for a CAS against BMW NA for a poorly engineered setup that is potentially life threatening in their quest to achieve higher profits. I guess one alternate theory is that if the wheels are bent, the car is speed limited by vibration...

As a fun time wasting exercise, I may take the rims once my new wheels are on the car and put them on a rock with a dial indicator or put them in a spindle with the same measuring tools and take a look at the wheel distortion. I have a feeling they will all rock on a surface plate...After seeing the wiggly worm in the balancer, I have to believe the variance will be staggering (again, no pun intended).

A secondary query here is has anyone had reasonable success straightening these wheels? I'd hate to have to by another set of rims for the snow tires...