Regarding the AR wheels:
The 8-spoke wheel is the "Silverstone". Some of the Magnesium ones were
left "as cast" but will turn gray quickly as the surface magnesium
oxidizes. I bought a set of 5 for my TR250 last year and had them checked,
trued, and painted silver before I mounted them. One of the better-looking
wheels was declared "unrepairable" by the shop because 3 of the 8 spokes
were cracked all the way thorough. I never would have seen the cracks
before the wheels were blasted.
As for magnesium's dangers, kidding aside... Magnesium is more brittle
and less ductile than aluminum. If you hit a pothole or curb hard enough,
even with the stock Michelin Hindenburg X radials, you might crack one. The
flammability "issue" is a joke, however. No "open flame" is going to ignite
this wheel, unless you include welding torches. Also, if you recall the
tragedy of the HMS Sheffield during the Falklands War, aluminum will also
burn in a self-oxidizing reaction if it gets hot enough. Clearly, if you
plan to get hit by Exocet missiles, you should stick to steel wheels.
By the way, I mounted Coker Classic 195/75 redlines, and I can't say I
recommend them. They are still smaller than the stock Michelins by about
1/2" diameter, they are expensive, they are heavy, and they do not handle
in the dry as well as any of the popular 205/70's would. The bright red
lines also look cheesy, IMO.
Fleas Navidad, Tom Marincic
CD3574L
CC55483L
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