15x9 Advanti Storm (S1 vs. S2 Comparison)
 

I've been tracking 15x9 Advanti Storm S1 wheels for the last 3.5 years. In that time, I've bought 12 and 4 remain serviceable. Of the 8 wheels that died, 5 had bent rims and 3 developed cracks. The way that the S1 cracks is unusual, it develops a radial crack in the hub adjacent to a lug hole. This cracking mode was consistent for all of the cracked wheels. This failure mode is pretty safe - it leads to a vibration rather than a catastrophic spoke failure. Here are a couple of pictures of the failure:
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...8ccdc61ab1.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...7ee98b720c.jpg

Went on Tire Rack the other day to order some tires and replacement wheels (I like having a dry set and a rain set). I noticed a newer Advanti model, the S2. In 15x9, it was ~0.5lbs heavier than the S1 and appears to have addressed the weak spot I discovered. It is a 12-spoke wheel optimized for a 4-lug hub (the S-1 has 10-spokes). There is a LOT more material around the lug hole. It also has lightening/cooling slots machined into the hub which should be a nice feature to shed heat from our highly-loaded front hubs. I ordered the S-2s and am planning to run them with dry tires and relegate my S-1s to rain duty.

Here are some pictures I took after receiving the S-2s:
Wheel Face (first picture S-1, second picture S-2):
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...0c108f544f.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...9159de1f52.jpg

Oblique View of Hub (first picture S-1, second picture S-2):
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...cf3022c961.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...103bb89539.jpg

Perpendicular View of Hub (first picture S-1, second picture S-2):
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...79e519b8ff.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...a9f15f0488.jpg

Rear View of Hub (first picture S-1, second picture S-2):
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...e5ec6b6295.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...166ef4da72.jpg

I never liked the look/weight of the S2, but it actually looks like a much stronger design. Maybe I'll move my S1s to street duty and pick up a set of S2s for the track. Nice find.

I just picked up a set of S2s for cheap. Will see how they'll hold up.

Everyone appreciates solid info, like-cat awarded!

Good find. Looks like the s2 was designed specifically as a 4-lug wheel given the layout of spokes - I wonder if it actually was to address the cracking issue you've seen.

Kinda funny, but now that I see the design as based on function the S2's look better than I thought previously...

I strongly suspect that it was, but that is conjecture. I felt like the S-1s cracked too soon and the weak point is pretty obvious in hindsight. OTOH, there's something to be said for an engineered weak point that leads to a relatively harmless failure. It would be much worse if the spokes failed.

If you don't mind, I like to see these wheels installed on your car when you install them!

OK.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...ba590dc8d9.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...84ff947883.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...29d28ab4b2.jpg

Looks good! I definitely prefer those over the S1s.

Those look a lot better on the car than off. The weird spokes are kind of cool in a way :P.

Whats the clearance like with the Wilwood dynalites? any spacer needed?

No. Tons of clearance.

Hornetball,

Was there any paint/powder coat/finish on the lug seats? The last set of new wheels (not Advantis) I purchased had the wheel finish on the lug seats. Torquing the lugs crushed and separated the finish from the wheel, causing the lugs to work loose on track, which is always awesome.

And I was planning on getting a set of S1. But will be a track car so there goes that, wont risk cracking a wheel. I hope that the 6UL 15 x 10 are in stock in time cause I will go that route now. Really wanted 245 RS4 on 15x9 Storm 1's

I've had 3 sets of S1s and never developed a crack on any of them. I'll keep an eye on that area when I do safety checks. As far as customer reports we have not had any on this subject from what I can recall.

Maybe it is still viable, Not like it was a catastrophic failure. Now that would be a definite deal breaker.

For those concerned, the newer Konig Dekagram 15x9 has all the same good stuff; flow formed, similar weight, etc. and has added strength in that area via a deeper pocket.

Very similar look to the S1, with the spokes just a hair further in from the lip:

https://www.good-win-racing.com/miat...00/61-2298.png

I will feel better with that one, I looked at Good-win site but must have missed that one. And I like the price until I can get my hands on some 15x10 6ul's
thanks.

I've only done 2 races (about 6 total sessions) on my S1's. How many sessions do you usually get out of an S1 baring a monster curb hit or other rim ending moment?

Action shot of them in use:

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...cecf6ea775.jpg

I have raced at least 2 seasons on the S1 with Aero and 225 Z214's and NT01's. No cracks, no problems.

Will keep an eye on it but seems okay.

I ordered a set of S1s for my street car before seeing this thread. Should i be nervous about cracks driving on Michigan roads?

Wheels are wear items for racing, but I wouldn't stress as much on the street. Still carefully inspect them when you swap rims or do brakes.

I destroyed two S1 rims 1.5 years ago, in a massive pothole in Beaumont, Texas. The S1's held their air all the way to Tampa. This was in a drive from Denver to Tampa. I now have 6UL's, but Advantis are the real deal.

I've tracked several sets of S1s for a few years now. No cracks present on any of them currently *knockonwood*

My car has ripped the front oem subframe apart, eaten a couple of bearings, hub failures, and experiences lots of curbs.

Realized I've been negligent in responses here. I mark my rims with the number of sets of tires they have worn out using white paint. The cracks on my S1s became evident at around the 8th set of tires. I'm not particularly "easy" on my rims.

I haven't established a timeout criteria for the S2s yet.

I've gone through 2 sets on my S1's with no issues so far.

Hmmm, Good-Win shows S1's but not S2's. Actually, I don't find any on-line sellers that have S2's in stock. Maybe I just did not try hard enough?

There are other options for wheel styles.

Looks like the S2 was discontinued.

The Konig Dial-In is nearly identical to the S-2 as far as hub design/features/number of spokes. Konig and Advanti wheels are from the same company (YHI International). YHI bought the Konig brand some 15 years ago. Advanti is their "home" brand. Right now, I'm running a set of Dial-Ins and a set of S2s as my "dry wheels," and a set of S1s as "wet wheels."

Anyway, keep inspecting your wheels . . . .

I have 6ULs and S1s, both of which I keep a close eye on. I'm looking at the Dekagrams for the next set of replacements...

I'm probably going to pick up a set of konig freeform's for the street here in a bit, and keep the s1's for track work until they're done.

I'm eyeing the Dekas in 15x9 as well... Guess there are no reported problems with them?

They're still pretty new, probably too early to tell. They are definitely beefier where it counts than the S1s, and don't induce that weird pre-vomit watery-mouth feeling that S2s do.

I'm moving to them over winter.