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[Dr. D]

I ordered four Michelin PSS from The Tire Rack and had them delivered to a local gas station (a recommended installer). I went there today to have the new tires put on. This was timely, since the left rear tire has had a slow leak for a few weeks. Funny, I couldn't find a nail, or anything else, in the tire.....

Bad news: The rear left rim has a crack. The mechanic showed it to me, its on the inside rim, at the edge of the rim and nearly an inch long. He said that would account for the slow leak. [expletive deleted]

Three options:
1) Fix the crack by cutting it larger, then welding in a plug. About $180.

2) Buy a remanufactured rim. Maybe $300?

3) Buy a new rim. Maybe $500 to $600?

I have not heard of plugging a crack in a rim, nor about remanufactured rims. The mechanic said the plug could be done by a local shop. They shop for remanufactured rims from a large, East Coast firm.

The mechanic said the plug was iffy, the remanufactured rim was OK, though not as reliable as new. Is either of these options worth it, or just get a new rim?

[Suds]

What rim style / brand do you need to replace?

[b1aze]

Style 264 or 261M? You could honestly pick up a lightly used set of 4 wheels for between $300 and $500. You could either keep your 3 as a backup or sell them to a local junk yard for decent $$. Or you could explore the aftermarket wheel options.

[Dr. D]

The rims are dual spoke 261.

[kilgore]

Keep checking on eBay... See them on there from time to time for around $250. Sorry to hear about the crack, it can be fixed though....

[1speedbike]

If you buy a "remanufactured" rim, you might be getting one that had a crack which was fixed anyway, so I'd plug the crack myself or get a brand new one rather than spend the money. It is certainly possible to repair a cracked rim as long as the crack is in the lip and not in the barrel at all, so basically you're repairing it for cosmetic purposes because the barrel is really the structurally important part of the wheel, but some places may shy away from it because if they end up not able to do it, or something else happens later on, they don't wanna be liable. Sometimes you can even repair the barrel depending on the place, but who knows. I would personally just repair it, but I know other people would go a different route.

[cheshirecat79]

Grab a used replacement. Keep an eye out for one, they're not that rare. Your money is better spent on a different wheel than patching up that crack, imo.

[Dackelone]

Get a used wheel or buy a new one. Try one of the forum sponsors here on 1Addicts. I bet you can get one for less than $500. I would not bother repairing the old wheel. Too risky IF it were to fail at speed.

[Clovef]

I cracked my rear passenger side 261 m sport rim when I drove over a six inch carriage bolt. I don't know what to do with them now that I got another set. Any chance you want to sell me your other rear wheel so I can have a full set? I would need to ship it but maybe we can work something out one way or another.

[ptack]

I had a cracked wheel fixed. No biggie, but make sure it's done by a proper specialist. I would do that rather than spend a lot more for 261 rims. Better to save up more money and getter a wider set of summer wheels.

[Dr. D]

Thanks to all for the input. I decided to buy a new rim. Not cheap, but reassuring. Besides, now that I got rid of the runflats I probably won't crack another rim.