How strong are the 22" wheels?

**murtaza911** · 04-20-2023 12:47 PM

My RS6 isn't here yet. Hopefully it'll be here in June or July.
I'm currently driving a Mercedes E53 with 20" wheels and find them to be so fragile. I've never had wheels this fragile before. I've repaired 2 bent wheels last month, then replaced a cracked wheel 2 weeks ago, and now a few days ago after a tire blow out I was told all 4 wheels are bent. In my 20 years of driving I've never had wheels this weak before.

Has anyone noticed if the RS6 wheels are built better? I really hope so, but will definitely be getting the tire/wheel warranty as I'm already $4000 in just wheels/tire damages in the last month.

**CanuckRS** · 04-20-2023 01:42 PM

Yikes. RS6 oem wheels are heavy and strong imho. If you live in pothole junction, maybe they won't hold up very well.

**OneFastBMW** · 04-20-2023 02:33 PM

My father in law has an S class and has bent some wheels too. Even though the RS6 wheels are cast, not forged, they are pretty strong. I have hit some whoppers of potholes and haven’t done any damage yet. But I did get the tire and wheel coverage just in case.

As mentioned though, the factory 22’s are some heavy SOB’s.

**rexus300** · 04-20-2023 02:47 PM

The 22s are the most strongest wheels I've driven on. No bends or issues so far after 2.5 years with the RS7. Even my previous Audi wheels up to 20s were very durable.

**FBAnder** · 04-20-2023 06:52 PM

I've been on mine for over 2 seasons now and just had pilot 4s put on all around...my indy told me two wheels are very very mildly tweaked, nothing of concern but he put them on the rear regardless.

I don't know if the wheel/tire package would replace or repair...assuming new ones ain't coming without significant damage.

**monugs** · 04-21-2023 07:14 AM

I had a terrible time with the wheels on my Mercedes. A wheel shop told me they changed their alloy sometime in the mid aughts, and they were notoriously weak.

My experience with those 18's made me incredibly nervous about the 22's, but I had no issues in the 4k miles or so I put on them before I installed my aftermarket wheels.

**murtaza911** · 04-21-2023 08:20 AM

Glad to hear! I was worried after this month of wheel troubles, but now I'm a bit more at ease.
Thanks everyone.

**OneFastBMW** · 04-21-2023 08:44 AM

Originally Posted by FBAnder

I've been on mine for over 2 seasons now and just had pilot 4s put on all around...my indy told me two wheels are very very mildly tweaked, nothing of concern but he put them on the rear regardless.

I don't know if the wheel/tire package would replace or repair...assuming new ones ain't coming without significant damage.

I would have to check the paperwork, but I believe the wheel/tire package, regarding the wheels, includes repair of cosmetic damage and replacement for structural damage. I think bends are only considered “structural damage” if the wheel will not hold air or cannot be balanced. In my experience though, cast wheels will crack before they experience any significant bending.

**Brosef** · 04-21-2023 12:28 PM

they must be strong given how heavy they are for a cast aluminum wheel. even for their size, I was surprised. my guess is Audi made a decision to err on the side of durability instead of weight savings

**CanAutM3** · 04-22-2023 05:26 AM

The 22” wheels of the new RS6 Performance variant are forged and weigh a whopping 5kg less a piece.

**OneFastBMW** · 04-22-2023 05:54 AM

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

The 22” wheels of the new RS6 Performance variant are forged and weigh a whopping 5kg less a piece.

That is about 11 pounds for those of us that use freedom units.

**allenyao09** · 04-24-2023 02:41 PM

The 22'' wheels are pretty strong from my experience. I have hit potholes multiple times and had flat tires 3 times. The wheels are holding up very well and no sign of bends, but the tires are not so lucky.

**tinmanwpk** · 04-25-2023 08:45 AM

The thin sidewall on the tires don't help any wheel.

**iparatroop** · 05-02-2023 06:47 PM

My wheels have held up really well in the boxes that they're sitting in.

**megatron335** · 05-03-2023 09:32 AM

The 22 OEMs seem pretty strong. I hit a huge pothole on a highway offramp at probably 40mph and blew out and shredded a tire...very tiny nick in the rim. No bending or noticeable wobble/malalignment after getting the tire replaced.