Wheels and Tires All things related to Miata Wheels and Tires.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

6UL wheels still cracking...

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 09-07-2019, 04:17 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
wannafbody's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 977
Total Cats: -369
Default 6UL wheels still cracking...

A facebook user posted pics of his 6UL wheel breaking on track on Sept. 1 2019. That's 7 years after the issue was first reported to 949/Emilio. Check your wheels.
wannafbody is offline  
Reply
Leave a poscat -8 Leave a negcat
Old 09-07-2019, 05:09 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
dleavitt's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Salem, OR
Posts: 757
Total Cats: 223
Default

Newsflash: wheels used regularly on track will crack. You should regularly inspect your track wheels, and 6ULs are not unique in this regard. Early 6ULs were more prone to this, but later generations have been performing within expected parameters.

EDIT: Since the OP couldn't be bothered to link anything, here is the m.net thread:

https://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=701617

Owner has a legit gripe IMO, wheels should last through several sets of tires barring abuse. Important to note that these are the 17" wheels, not the 15" wheels that had the issues 7 years ago. As far as I'm aware 3rd and 4th gen 15" wheels have been lasting as long as would be expected. Looks like there may need to be some changes to the 17" wheels.

Last edited by dleavitt; 09-08-2019 at 11:02 AM.
dleavitt is offline  
Old 09-07-2019, 05:56 PM
  #3  
Elite Member
iTrader: (5)
 
Erat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Detroit (the part with no rules or laws)
Posts: 5,677
Total Cats: 800
Default

Are people dye checking them?

That's how i check my props for cracks i can't see.
Erat is offline  
Old 09-07-2019, 08:45 PM
  #4  
Junior Member
 
Morello's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 419
Total Cats: 45
Default

"Wheels are a wear item" bla bla bla
My experience, and that of many I know, is that other wheels last much longer than 6ULs. My second gen 6UL's made it through about 10 HPDE track days - with no curb impacts, running street tires - before cracking. I was told to pound sand when I voiced my concern, like pretty much everyone else. 949 may make some good stuff, and I'm glad for their contribution to the community, but I stay away from 6ULs because I cant afford to replace them every season and their service if something breaks is awful. The only reason I felt comfortable buying XIDAS was because they're made by Tractive.

Totally unscientific as well, but put "miata wheels cracked 6ul" in google and see how many more people have issues with this wheel than anything else - TRM, Advanti storm, etc. have almost nothing, while there are pages of people with cracked 6UL's. One recent thread suggests a serious design flaw in the current 17x9 6UL, as 3 separate customers in that thread alone had 3-4 of their wheels cracking in the same spot.

Last edited by Morello; 09-07-2019 at 09:13 PM.
Morello is offline  
Old 09-08-2019, 12:36 AM
  #5  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
wannafbody's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 977
Total Cats: -369
Default

A Miata is a car that weighs 1/2 of some other track day cars. We don't see a 7 year track record of cracks and catastrophic failures for other brands. At least Emilio is consistent about offering excuses.
wannafbody is offline  
Reply
Leave a poscat -2 Leave a negcat
Old 09-08-2019, 12:49 AM
  #6  
Elite Member
iTrader: (1)
 
matrussell122's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Seattle
Posts: 1,859
Total Cats: 516
Default

Wheels are a wear item. You should change your 6ul wheels every time you change tires.
matrussell122 is offline  
Old 09-08-2019, 12:59 AM
  #7  
VladiTuned
iTrader: (76)
 
18psi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 35,821
Total Cats: 3,481
Default

Your miata is a wear item. Replace it every 3000 miles.
18psi is offline  
Reply
Leave a poscat 13 Leave a negcat
Old 09-08-2019, 06:47 AM
  #8  
Moderator
iTrader: (12)
 
sixshooter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Tampa, Florida
Posts: 20,660
Total Cats: 3,011
Default

Be careful out there.
sixshooter is offline  
Old 09-08-2019, 08:30 AM
  #9  
Newb
 
catfishmiata's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 12
Total Cats: 4
Default

Saw the pictures on FB, it’s gnarly couldn’t just imagine going at speed and literally have the whole wheel fall off, I think 949 should take a step back and reassess how they are making their wheels.
catfishmiata is offline  
Old 09-08-2019, 11:04 AM
  #10  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
wannafbody's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 977
Total Cats: -369
Default

Originally Posted by matrussell122
Wheels are a wear item. You should change your 6ul wheels every time you change tires.
That's laughable. I really hope that was a joke(kinda hard to tell sarcasm from text). I have 15 year old Kazera wheels on my track Miata and they haven't failed.

There's really only two possibilities, either it's a design flaw or it's a manufacturing (metallurgical) issue. Either way, 949 is liable.
wannafbody is offline  
Reply
Leave a poscat -9 Leave a negcat
Old 09-08-2019, 12:14 PM
  #11  
Junior Member
 
Dietcoke's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Richmond Hill, GA
Posts: 209
Total Cats: -171
Default

Chinese wheels will be chinese wheels, man.
Dietcoke is offline  
Reply
Leave a poscat -2 Leave a negcat
Old 09-08-2019, 04:30 PM
  #12  
Elite Member
iTrader: (5)
 
Stealth97's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Canton, Ga
Posts: 2,156
Total Cats: 66
Default

They way some of you guys act I’m suprised were not throwing miatas away ever season...
Stealth97 is offline  
Old 09-08-2019, 08:51 PM
  #13  
Junior Member
 
Morello's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 419
Total Cats: 45
Default

I dunno about you guys but I throw all my knowledge out and start over in DE1 every season. Brains are a wear item.
Morello is offline  
Old 09-08-2019, 09:32 PM
  #14  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
wannafbody's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 977
Total Cats: -369
Default

If you are running 6UL's you just might need a new brain after the wheel fails and you crash.

BTW, more broken and cracked 6UL's are being posted on facebook. Repeat after me, consumables, and drink the 949 Kool Aid

Last edited by wannafbody; 09-08-2019 at 09:59 PM.
wannafbody is offline  
Reply
Leave a poscat -6 Leave a negcat
Old 09-08-2019, 10:36 PM
  #15  
Senior Member
 
themonkeyman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 552
Total Cats: 75
Default

Originally Posted by wannafbody
If you are running 6UL's you just might need a new brain after the wheel fails and you crash.

BTW, more broken and cracked 6UL's are being posted on facebook. Repeat after me, consumables, and drink the 949 Kool Aid
Hard to tell how many are just regurgitated 15"s from 5+ years ago.
themonkeyman is offline  
Old 09-08-2019, 11:24 PM
  #16  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
wannafbody's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 977
Total Cats: -369
Default

Some might be older cases but some were just a few weeks ago. If you feel lucky roll the dice.
wannafbody is offline  
Reply
Leave a poscat -5 Leave a negcat
Old 09-08-2019, 11:35 PM
  #17  
Senior Member
 
themonkeyman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 552
Total Cats: 75
Default

Originally Posted by wannafbody
Some might be older cases but some were just a few weeks ago. If you feel lucky roll the dice.
The 15s seemed to have an issue that was fixed, right? I'm unaware of the latest-gen 15" 6ul's having this mode of failure (correct me if wrong) Does seem odd they didn't apply that fix to the 17" version.
themonkeyman is offline  
Old 09-09-2019, 12:43 AM
  #18  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
wannafbody's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 977
Total Cats: -369
Default

I'm not aware of all the sizes involved. There is a thread on miata.net. Seems it involves at least two wheel sizes that are different product lines. Here's what I've noticed, the wheels all crack in approximately the same area. This suggests to me that it could be a design issue. Questions that need to be answered is who designed the wheels and what were the design specs? The next question is whether the manufacturer is actually producing them to the material specs.
wannafbody is offline  
Reply
Leave a poscat -2 Leave a negcat
Old 09-09-2019, 08:23 AM
  #19  
Elite Member
iTrader: (3)
 
concealer404's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,917
Total Cats: 2,201
Default

Just play it safe and replace your wheels with your tires. Simple, forehead.
concealer404 is offline  
Old 09-09-2019, 08:45 AM
  #20  
Junior Member
 
masterjr33's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 108
Total Cats: 29
Default

i'll stick to my konigs.. thanks.
masterjr33 is offline  


Quick Reply: 6UL wheels still cracking...



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:50 AM.