Viper Wheel Blues

[garolittle]

Simply put, I would recommend that you purchase new tires. I mean, four new tires. I have a '94 RT/10 with the original factory Michelins and I am about to purchase new "rubber" for my beast for one simple reason ... the factory tires are seven years old. After about four years the rubber in your tires begins to break down. Even if you did not have the problems referenced in your message you would be running the risk of a blowout if you drive your car at 100+ mph. I know it's expensive but it's the only way you can be sure that your Viper is safe to run at high speeds. Good luck.

 

[Tom and Vipers]

Tires break down in 4 years???

I put Uniroyals on my 63 factory Paxton Supercharged Studebaker Super Lark in 1974 and the tires are still on the car and look new.

I don't drive the car fast, but when doing burnouts, the tires appear to behave ..... er, well..... like, sort of, ......actually .... wood.

They leave no marks on the pavement and make this "wooden" noise when spinning.

I guess you have to be there......

Regards

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[ACR Joe]

What value do you place on your well being? I have a 99 with 14,000 miles. The tires developed a slight vibration and I replaced all four of them. Expensive? Indeed! Worth it? Every penny! This is a safety issue; do the smart thing and buy new rubber for all four corners. By the way, my confidence level in the wheel that was repaired would be ~ zero. I'd get a new wheel as well. Don't shoot the messinger ........

 

[SoCal Rebell]

Right on ACR Joe, I have 12,000 miles on my 2000 RT/10 and after going on a 30 car Viper run in the desert I got her up to 160 and she was shaking bad. Good bye tires even though they looked OK, this is all that is between you and the road, watch it.

 

[SNK BIT in WA]

I found out that my rear wheel was bent on my 94. I called up parts-Rack and ordered a new one. I do not want to mess around with anything that will be unsafe.

My two cents...

 

[Jack B]

There is a known factory problem with the three spoke wheels. The huge inside offset and the factory three spoke wheel puts tremendous moment on the wheel flange-to-spoke area. If you look hard enough you will find the problem bulletin from Dodge.

The 1995 and some 96 wheels also had a separate problem with stress fractures. Chroming any of these wheels exacerbates the stress problem.

The run-out on the wheel can be picked up easily on the dynamic wheel balancer. probably most of those vibrations on the Gen 1's are not balance, but, rim runout.

My 94 had this problem on wheels immediately from the factory. After 8000 miles I had to replace all of the wheels. Talk to John Purner - great wheels/great price/great answers.