american racing wheels . libre

[datsun 160J SSS]

I have a question ? are the 14inc american libre wheels safe to use? I have been talking to some guys that dont like to use them because they can brake and are unsafe . anyone care to give feed back on useing them . The set I have are the big center hole cap ,and the spokes are the hollow ones the lug holes are clean ,,,dont know any information please help thanks

[Pacific coast Datsun]

I have a set of the 13 x 5 "fake" Libres & have never heard of any safety issues. Mine are lug-centric meaning the lugs are what center the rim on the hub. Post a pic of yours when you can.

[Jesse C.]

Unless you are using them for hard competition I think they are safe for street duty. Check for cracks and if there are none, then you should be good to go.

[hang_510]

I have been talking to some guys that dont like to use them because they can brake and are unsafe.

everyones got a story, but how many are firsthand???

ive heard of them failing... in an accident.

 

one of my 13X7 knockoffs has been curbed hard, but is not cracked/bent/etc, still balances, i drive around the cyns w/my son on it.

[Creepy Cruiser]

I've been using mine (13"x7") on the street, autocross, and road racing for 25 years, with no problems ever. In all those years, I've never seen one fail in person.

[jefe de jefes]

There's a complete set of libre type wheels in the Bakersfield pickapart if anybody is interested. 14's I think. I took some pics with my phone.

[jun]

A friend of mine runs Libres on his 1200, and he pushes his car hard. I'd trust a set, but like any old wheel, you've got to check them out.

 

[datsun 160J SSS]

Thanks guys for your input .The wheels I got are clean no curb rash lug holes are clean ,just need to have the lips polished .Love that 1200 with the libre wheels .OLD SCHOOL LOOK . should look good on my 160j sss 710

[racerx]

Theya re not safe..I'll pick them up and won't charge you gas..just kidding..had them on my 75 Celica for like 5 years..no problems...

[Radim]

I'd be more worried about newer wheels than older wheels.

Like most older things they are built with quality not many companies back then were out-sourcing to other countries where the quality of metal is unknown and the casting/forging processes may be flawed.

[defdes]

The original ARE wheels will likely be of better quality, in part because of their known origin and because of the web reinforcement in the spoke. I have been running them on my street car for 10 years with no issues. I have heard people at the track say "they'd never use them because of failure" that said, there are a few 510's with VARA that run them with no issues (ARE).

[KB100]

An engineer friend once told me "anything structural made of aluminum will fail eventually".

 

I doubt there is much flex in an old school aluminum wheel. They certainly will outlast a modern lightweight wheel, but every corner you go around is one corner closer to the end.

 

I'd consider finding a set with 20 year old dry rotted tires like finding gold. You know their much further from their failure point. A set that's got modern tires could have been in service the whole time and could be reaching the end.

 

I saw one that had broken at the end of each spoke. The rim/tire had completely detached from the center. It was in a JY though, so it could have hit a culvert or something. The car wasn't totaled though, the control arm not noticeably bent.