how bad are 96 gts wheels?
- Thread starter mdurbahn
- Start date
99 R/T 10
Enthusiast
As long as you're not tracking with them, they are fine. It when you take them out and put soem high stress on them do they tend to fail(center break) that you will run into problems. Daily driving, don't worry about it 
They're 17s right?
Dodge redesigned the wheels in 98 and the spokes are wider so that they're stronger, but they're also 18" which I think is the biggest advantage. The 98 wheels also allow installation of 14" front brakes (13" are fine on rear). Tom's rear 40mm caliper upgrade is the most notable upgrade for the brakes and then 14" fronts. 18" wheels minimium.
Better traction and skidpad performance with the better tires.
Ted
Dodge redesigned the wheels in 98 and the spokes are wider so that they're stronger, but they're also 18" which I think is the biggest advantage. The 98 wheels also allow installation of 14" front brakes (13" are fine on rear). Tom's rear 40mm caliper upgrade is the most notable upgrade for the brakes and then 14" fronts. 18" wheels minimium.
Better traction and skidpad performance with the better tires.
Ted
A1998
Enthusiast
I have the perfect answer for you! Go to the Classified section and you will see that I have a completes set of 98 "FORGED" wheels like new. Even an extra one in the event you scrape one of the rears. $250.00 each!
99 R/T 10
Enthusiast
Ok Ted, Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Sit down, the grown-ups are talking.................
The 1996-1998 had the same designed rim(17"). 1996 had cast rims, the 1997-1998 had forged rims. In 1999 they went to the 18" rims and were also forged,
Ok Ted, Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Sit down, the grown-ups are talking.................
The 1996-1998 had the same designed rim(17"). 1996 had cast rims, the 1997-1998 had forged rims. In 1999 they went to the 18" rims and were also forged,
Some early '97's had cast as well, you can check by feeling for a bead inside the rim.
Ok Ted, Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Sit down, the grown-ups are talking.................
The 1996-1998 had the same designed rim(17"). 1996 had cast rims, the 1997-1998 had forged rims. In 1999 they went to the 18" rims and were also forged,
Looks like you're right, 99 was the change over year. My 98 came with 10spoke and run craps, guess that maybe why.
Ted
Paul Hawker
Enthusiast
Even on the track, they help up fairly well, but if you put stickier than stock tires on them, they would not hold up on the track.
For normal street driving they should be fine. If you are at all concerned, it would not hurt to upgrade to some forged wheels. (97)
For normal street driving they should be fine. If you are at all concerned, it would not hurt to upgrade to some forged wheels. (97)
99 R/T 10
Enthusiast
Road course..................
Paul Hawker
Enthusiast
I have seen some spun hubs at the drags, but only with stickey tires.
Most of the problems show up at the road courses with stickey tires. Viper days has restrictions on their use.
Most of the problems show up at the road courses with stickey tires. Viper days has restrictions on their use.
What Paul said.......... 1996 G1-G2, + about 50% of 97.
Treaded DOT tires should be no problem. PS: The cracks FIRST appear on the REVERSE HUB. Inspect em after a good cleaning-scrubbing, if you plan High-G cornering as in roadcourse work.
Unlikely to have a 1/4 mile catastrophic failure
RevHeat
Viper Owner
I know that Ron Adee put over 40,000 track miles on 96 rims; however, he always ran the Michelin Street tire with them. Just like JonB said, inspect them.
I think this was from a Texas track event many years ago and it shows where the failure occurs.
Paul Hawker
Enthusiast
Marv.
Nothing a little JB Weld won't cure : >)
Nothing a little JB Weld won't cure : >)
I think this was from a Texas track event many years ago and it shows where the failure occurs.
ouch wonder what the car looks like..
Chuck 98 RT/10
Enthusiast
I think this was from a Texas track event many years ago and it shows where the failure occurs.
Note that is a street tire.
dave6666
Enthusiast
It also looks very skinny like maybe a front, with dings all around the perimeter. Would that have been an impact failure versus a torque failure?
RevHeat
Viper Owner
That was Manny C wheel and it happen at Button Willow. The car did not have any damage. He borrowed a wheel and drove it home. It was the first time at the track for him and he was not sure if the person before him had tracked the wheels with with non-street tires. It was a SVS viper and I belive the rims might had been chromed.
Rev
Rev
GTS Dean
Enthusiast
I posted this thread way back in 2001. http://forums.viperclub.org/rt-10-gts-discussions/529864-96-cast-welded-wheel-failure-photos.html?highlight=cast%2Fwelded+wheels
AOL recently discontinued their member photo hosting, so the links are dead. In the interest of preserving history, I've reposted them at Photobucket.
Pic 1: Shows cracks ending at black dots. Note the extreme amount of hairline cracks in the area.
Pic 2: Shows 4 out of 5 spokes with visible cracks ending at black dots.
Pic 3: Factory replacement rims for the '96 GTS with revised casting scheme.
Pic 4: OEM '96 RT painted wheels - Sand cast finish, no machining.
The final photo was of Manny's broken wheel - linked in the previous posts of this thread.
AOL recently discontinued their member photo hosting, so the links are dead. In the interest of preserving history, I've reposted them at Photobucket.
Pic 1: Shows cracks ending at black dots. Note the extreme amount of hairline cracks in the area.
You must be registered for see images attach
Pic 2: Shows 4 out of 5 spokes with visible cracks ending at black dots.
You must be registered for see images attach
Pic 3: Factory replacement rims for the '96 GTS with revised casting scheme.
You must be registered for see images attach
Pic 4: OEM '96 RT painted wheels - Sand cast finish, no machining.
You must be registered for see images attach
The final photo was of Manny's broken wheel - linked in the previous posts of this thread.
GTS Dean
Enthusiast
That's just pixelization showing jaggies at the rim O.D.
ACELLR8
Enthusiast
Even on street tires and normal driving they break. A local friend broke 4 of the spokes on his 96 wheel a couple years ago. Never tracked the car and it only had 5500 miles on it.
Good thing he noticed it as we had just finished cruising on the highway at 70 MPH.
Good thing he noticed it as we had just finished cruising on the highway at 70 MPH.
99 R/T 10
Enthusiast
So I guess this would be a great time to say "97-98 FORGED wheels for sale!"
A1998
Enthusiast
Hey I said it earlier in the post 
Check my add in the classified for "Like New" FORGED Wheels, 5 of them! Like New!
$250.00 each!!
Check my add in the classified for "Like New" FORGED Wheels, 5 of them! Like New!
$250.00 each!!
Hey I said it earlier in the post
Check my add in the classified for "Like New" FORGED Wheels, 5 of them! Like New!
$250.00 each!!
Sounds like they shuolda did a recall
Chuck 98 RT/10
Enthusiast
So I guess this would be a great time to say "97-98 FORGED wheels for sale!"
*****
.............
Ratical2
Enthusiast
That's what I am thinking! If it was serious enough to change the casting then it was serious enough to replace those that were already on the road!
00prowler
Enthusiast
Been 190 on mine street use no problems so far...Al
