gesTTalt

I'm currently running 19x8.5 GT3's w/ 235/35 tires on my 2001 TT. I wanted to increase the rear wheels to 265/30 while keeping the fronts 235/35. However, 265's require a wheel width of 9.5 in. Being that my GT3's are a 3 piece wheel, it should be easy to buy the larger lip of the Porche spec GT3 (19X10). When I called Tirerack, I was told that my 3 piece wheel cannot come apart. Reportedly, the "process" SSR uses basically "welds" the pieces together. Once together, always together.

So, my questions for Tirerack are, why market a wheel as a 3-piece when it is essentionally a 1-piece that is initaily fabricated as a multi piece wheel? Isn't the purpose of buying a 3-piece wheel so that in the event you want to change it or to replace a damage piece, you can? According to Tirerack, if I bent a lip, I would have to purchase a whole new wheel!!

Please, if anyone has any comments or recommendaiotn, feel free to post them.

TIA

BTW, here's a pic of my car...
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/24538/dscn1307.jpg">

gesTTalt

Eddie @ Tirerack: Could you please enlighten me about the matter about my GT3 wheels?

Ted K

Part of the benefits of a three piece wheel you didn't mention are asthetics, as well as the fact that the vast majority of one piece wheels are cast, while with a three piece wheel, the center is forged and the rims are spun. When put together (either permanently or not) the three piece wheel will be lighter and stronger than a similar size one piece wheel. I think this is the major attraction, and not the ability to modify size.

meem

... in fact, i don't think i've ever heard of folks reconfiguring multi-piece wheels in the manner you're proposing. do you have evidence to the contrary?

escargot

I don't think it's possible to take them apart. They are made to be strong and light.

"The rim sections are bolted to the center and normally a sealant is applied in or on the assembly area to seal the wheel." -Tirerack

Because of the sealant, I don't think it's possible to take them apart.

Here's the link: <A HREF="http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/tech/construc.htm">click this bad larry</A>

Cheers,
Mike.

gesTTalt

replacing the entire wheel. The sealant is meant to seal the areas from air leaks, not permanently bind the wheels.

ryoung

.
for disassembly, resealing, and replacement inner or outer rims and centers (page to bottom of link).

The sealant is only silicone rubber. Replacing components should be reasonably straightforward, though somewhat tedious with all those bolts.<ul><li><a href="http://www.hrewheels.com/Pricing/index.htm">HRE pricing</a></li></ul>

Difo

in my experience with 3 piece wheels that iswhat is usually done, they are a HUGE pain in the *** to get apart. Look along the outside of the inner rim where the 2 bind together and you should see some cort of sealant there. Take a razor blade and split it, and then take a pry bar and carefully remove the sections from eachother. After this is all done you must remove all the sealant from the wheel to ensure that there are no air leaks when you seal it back up again. Good luck.

Eddie@Tirerack

Right.

They are a 3 piece construction, assembled using modular components, thus '3 pc', but most newer wheels these days are built modular using a welded process where is is not possible to disassemble them simply by unbolting them, hence the 'no way'.

This is becoming more common on multipiece wheels, so im many cases they cannot be disassembled &amp; then re-assembled due to the assembly process.

i suppose someone out thereperhaps could, but I cant see it being worth the time &amp; effort for something that then may or may not be able to be done.

bear in mind that also completely voids the warranty as you will compromise the structureof the wheel.

bad idea, IMO.<ul><li><a href="http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/tech/construc.htm">http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/tech/construc.htm</a</li></ul>

gesTTalt

Thanks for answering my question!