HRE Structural Issue or Normal Manufacturing Process?

[Kief]

So I swapped out my winter setup today (HRE FF01) and as I was cleaning the wheels to put in storage I noticed these peculiar markings. Not sure if it's normal from the manufacturing process or something more serious. I never noticed before. All four wheels have the "issue". No visible cracks. No rubbing, stock suspension. No damage to the wheels or tires. I emailed HRE and waiting for a response.

[F3IGHTY]

You're fine

[Kief]

Originally Posted by F3IGHTY

You're fine

You sure, you have the same wheel?
The "line" on each spoke goes all the way around. Fronts are worse than rears. Rears may have one or two spikes without the line

[FriedPiston]

Those markings look to be the beginning of stress fracture.

Just do a Google search for "HRE wheels crack" and you'll see similar structural damage.

[Kief]

Originally Posted by nars3000

Those markings look to be the beginning of stress fracture.

Just do a Google search for "HRE wheels crack" and you'll see similar structural damage.

I did, but not seeing similar images

[MrSmartyPants]

Looks like a mismatch in machining. It's simply a small step. Most likely the rim and outer spokes were cut from one side and the hub and inner spokes from the inside.

It's completely uniform and curved all the way around (typical of a turning or CNC machining process. Also there would typically be a black line from dirt getting in a crack or corrosion or fretting (rubbing wear). There is no paint issue, or crack or anything.

[FriedPiston]

Originally Posted by Kief

I did, but not seeing similar images

Try this: https://www.google.com/search?q=hre+...crack&tbm=isch

It's not exclusive to HRE, but every wheel failure with shattered spokes show the same pattern.

[Teeone]

These are not cracks. They are machining lines that are not perfectly matched up. They are perfectly radial lines. Nothing like the references in the associated in the link from the above poster.

[Kief]

Originally Posted by nars3000

Try this: https://www.google.com/search?q=hre+wheels+crack&tbm=isch

It's not exclusive to HRE, but every wheel failure with shattered spokes show the same pattern.

Thanks
Obviously I want to believe otherwise, but I find it hard to believe that all four of my wheels would suffer from structural damage.

Unlike the google pics, my "lines" are uniformed and do not to appear (as of now) to be cracks. I'm hoping HRE can confirm from the pics

[FriedPiston]

HRE is a very reputable company, so I'm sure they will do the right thing whether it's a manufacturing defect or structural issue.

[Poiseuille]

If I read the OP correctly, these are circumferential marks, at least on both fronts. So my question is: do the marks look like a circle, is that circle the same on both right and left wheels and on the same axis as the hub, that is are they coaxial? If those things are true, then this is way too nonrandom to be fractures or the usual rock-caught-in-the-caliper trick. If I had to guess I'd say the powder coater miss-handled these while they were still hot. Just a guess though.

[Teeone]

OP, don't worry about these at all. Easy for me to say as they are not mine, I know. But if they were mine I would not be worried. I'm pretty certain that they are cutter marks, where in the final machining, the machine is programmed to either a)change to a different cutter or b)changed the speed of cutting. The pic quality is not great, but I've seen this hundreds of times. To confirm, check the wheels. Are the marks in the same exact spots and fully circumferential (are the fronts the same for both and the rears the same for both)? If fully circumferential and the same on all parts - nothing to worry about. Enjoy the wheels.

[Kief]

Originally Posted by Poiseuille

If I read the OP correctly, these are circumferential marks, at least on both fronts. So my question is: do the marks look like a circle, is that circle the same on both right and left wheels and on the same axis as the hub, that is are they coaxial? If those things are true, then this is way too nonrandom to be fractures or the usual rock-caught-in-the-caliper trick. If I had to guess I'd say the powder coater miss-handled these while they were still hot. Just a guess though.

Originally Posted by Teeone

OP, don't worry about these at all. Easy for me to say as they are not mine, I know. But if they were mine I would not be worried. I'm pretty certain that they are cutter marks, where in the final machining, the machine is programmed to either a)change to a different cutter or b)changed the speed of cutting. The pic quality is not great, but I've seen this hundreds of times. To confirm, check the wheels. Are the marks in the same exact spots and fully circumferential (are the fronts the same for both and the rears the same for both)? If fully circumferential and the same on all parts - nothing to worry about. Enjoy the wheels.

Thanks guys. I think you are both right that these marks are nothing to concern myself with. The markings are exactly identical on all four wheels, although some spokes on the rear wheels lack the marks, but the majority of the spokes have them. Probably was just a sloppy finishing job, but it's the back of the wheels so it's hidden. The only reason I questioned the marks, was bc I never noticed them before, and I tend to be very detailed focus. Then again, I probably was more focused on the face of each wheel. I'll keep you guys posted on HRE's response.

[Wmf80]

U sure these are HrE rims and not reps ?

[Kief]

Originally Posted by wreckedmyf80

U sure these are HrE rims and not reps ?

Because they have the HRE center caps........



I joke

They were purchased at ModB

[JamesGames]

Those aren't cracks - further more are those flow formed HRE? Enkei makes them.. which is why they are the only HRE wheels (if I recall) that are TUV / VIA / JWL certified. It's also why they come in fixed offsets and aren't custom like the rest of the HRE lineup. Enkei is a pretty big company and has been making OEM and aftermarket wheels for quite some time. I wouldn't worry.. just my 2cents

[Justin.AutoTalent]

Originally Posted by JamesGames

Those aren't cracks - further more are those flow formed HRE? Enkei makes them.. which is why they are the only HRE wheels (if I recall) that are TUV / VIA / JWL certified. It's also why they come in fixed offsets and aren't custom like the rest of the HRE lineup. Enkei is a pretty big company and has been making OEM and aftermarket wheels for quite some time. I wouldn't worry.. just my 2cents

He speaks the truth. He has my +1

[SanchoDivine]

Questions for the experts:

If that's not bare metal, how would cuts be visible under the paint?

Is that what they look like new?

[Sales@wheelsdc.com]

You should be fine OP, but do let us know when HRE reply to your email

[Kief]

Originally Posted by Sales@wheelsdc.com

You should be fine OP, but do let us know when HRE reply to your email

Thanks. Still waiting to hear back

[Kief]

As many suspected, nothing to concern myself with.

According to HRE:
"As for the wheels there’s nothing to worry about. That “step” or “ridge” you see is from a tool changeover from the lathing process."