3 piece wheels

[kozak]

Does anyone have the web links to either the kaizer or bbs 3 piece wheels, which is better?

[jonno]

Keizer (http://www.keizerwheels.com/)

[Tony K]

Keizers are awful, BBS are excellent. However, Keizers are cheap, while BBS are somewhat pricey.

[Denny Trimble]

We haven't used Keizers since 2001. The problems then were:
-Easily bent shells (sometimes not round out of the shipping box)
-Centers that would crack after one year of use
-Bead diameter was a little small, resulting in easily unseated beads while driving

Does anybody know if Keizer has fixed these problems in the last few years?

I hate paying what we pay for the Kodiak shells, but they haven't failed us yet.
http://www.kodiakracingwheels.com/

Oh yeah, here are their shells bolted onto some centers I just made:
http://students.washington.edu/dennyt/fsae/2005_wheels.jpg

[Colin]

we had exactly the same problem with the Keizers and after we destroyed one in 2002 when our hub broke during testing and had to wait nearly 4 weeks to get a new one sent over we looked at other options, now we've got a metal spinner that makes our inner and outer's for us, prety cheap in comparison, have you looked into doing somthing like that Denny?

[Sam Zimmerman]

Denny,

We have had our Keizers since 2003 with no significant run-out, but we change tires by hand. Prior to 2003, the two sets we had were bent so bad it was visible idling through the pits. Those had been on the tire changer at the local tire store, though.

The beads are horrible, though, and we lose air all the time while sitting. We have never lost a bead while driving but the outboard sides leak constantly because there is no real bead diameter there. It is very frustrating.

[El Kevino]

We've had a bear of a time getting our BBS 3 piece wheels to hold air. They leak where the 3 pieces bolt together. The gasket/o-rings that came with them don't work right, and we tried some Yamabond to no avail. Anyone know a good trick to get these things to seal?

Kevin Edwards
USF

[kozak]

is there a bbs site where i can see/order the wheels or do i need to contact a sales person. also do they come with respectable centers or are we going to have to make our own. the reason i'm asking is because we a re a first year team and making the centers would be one more thing to do.

[kozak]

bump

[fade]

kozak
i think HRP is a BBS dealer you might check their website.

Denny
can you tell me the size of the hardware that you use on your Kodiak shells? the Keisers use 15 5/16 bolts which is overkill.

[Denny Trimble]

Kodiaks use (18) 1/4" flatheads.

[jack]

Originally posted by fade:
kozak
i think HRP is a BBS dealer you might check their website.

Denny
can you tell me the size of the hardware that you use on your Kodiak shells? the Keisers use 15 5/16 bolts which is overkill.

that does seem overkill.

the 10" kiesers use 12 1/4" bolts.

[CMURacing - Prometheus]

someone on our team commented that he saw teams removing a whole bunch of the bolts that held the keizer centers in, and running with like every other hole empty...grade 8 hardware is heavy stuff...

[Travis Garrison]

Two words:

Aluminum bolts http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

-Travis

[kozak]

yeah i saw thoes bbs wheels on hrp before and i know they are going to be crazy expensive but i'll call anyway.

[Wray]

We've used Keizers the last couple of years without any major problems. The rims are pretty weak, so you really have to encourage the tire shops to be very careful with them. And one of our aluminum 3pieces is leaking air, so I have to take it apart and re-silicon it.

I talked to a couple guys from Queens at competition though, and they were raving about the service they got from Keizer. Wheels were ordered last minute and shipped directly to Michigan. Credit card was over limit, but Keizer sent the wheels anyways and said they could pay after competition.

[Bubba]

Has anyone else come across any other brand of 13" shells?

[Kyle Jeffries]

Hey Kozak, we might have some of the 3-piece BBS's for sale if you're interested. I'll ask tonight if we want to get rid of them.

Kyle Jeffries
University of South Florida