Quick to the point...

Been using the same Kosei K1's for over 6+ years on the track, over 30 + events. Wheels look fine to me but wondering if you guys that track often have a rule about wheel longevity, etc.

How often do you inspect, if you do.

 

You should be inspecting every day you're out there, if not each session. I try to give them a quick once-over when I rotate (somewhere halfway through the day), and a closer look when I get home or before I leave.

I know others who have been using K1s that long and longer, so they're probably fine if you haven't found anything. However, other wheels clearly DON'T last that long and need more frequent checks. My Buddy Club P1 SFs were a so-so track wheel, and I check them frequently, and have had to replace two over the last 5 years.

 

I've had my Kosei K1s since 1999'ish. And I check them once or twice a year. They probably have about 300-400 autocrosses on them and now are my daily driver wheels.
I thought about getting them polished since the paint on them are fading bad and has about 1 million scuff marks on them too.

 

I am the 3rd owner of my k1s and all users have tracked them. I haven't damaged any of them but I check them after each use. I also use rota slips and some a-tech final speeds (gram light copies). I check them after every weekend and 2 of the a-tecs have been retired so far. I wrecked with the rotas and gave a donut with them and so far no bends, cracks, ect.
Basically, check your wheels at least once an event if not every time you take them on and off.

 

Rota Circuit 8's 3 years and counting no issues.
I check them every other lap session.
After the weekend or track day they get a real good going over just to make sure i didnt miss anything.

 

When you're checking them over what is it that you're looking for? Just any cracks or imperfections in the surface of the rim?

 

Cracks mostly, but any other marks (curbing, dents, bends, etc.) should also be paid attention to. Cracks can lead to basically exploding wheels, which could then lead to you in a wall.

 

Also check your wheel studs while you are at it. A couple months ago I had all 5 wheel studs shear off the hub at once, my wheel fell off, and I went spinning off track as I ran over my own wheel. They were not the ARP studs, but a cheaper version. I'm never doing that again!

 

...if you have a tire that feels like it losing air very slowly, this may point to a crack. Just had that happen two weeks ago...I finally took a good look with the wheel off and the inner wheel bead and lip had a hair line crack.

 

I remember reading in Sport Compact Car or maybe Grassroots Motorsports there's a special powder or liquid you can pour that helps makes cracks easier to see. Maybe I was dreaming?

 

magnaflux.

anyways, a good thing to do is wash your wheels, inside and out after a track weekend. this will help point out imperfections.

 

This stuff here.
Spray it on let it sit and use the light to see cracks.
http://www.skygeek.com/ats-sk816.html

Very similar to the stuff we used to check aircraft wheels for cracks too.

 

That stuff is definitely useful. I don't think I check my wheels often enough and well enough. I need to start washing the insides.

 

Yes very useful but you have to wash your wheels before you do use it.
Brake dust can conceal a crack.
Make it a ritual when you do your track recovery maintenance when you get home