Anyone hear rumors that Michelin tires can ruin alloy wheels?

Question

JR... it was not a goodyear dealer.. every winter i start developing a slow leak - dude grinding the wheels.said he does it to michelin all winter long... anyone else?

Answer 1

This is a common myth in the industry but I've seen no evidence to indicate it is true.

The problem being inferred is the presence of corrosion in the bead area on the rim which causes small leaks as it builds up because it compromises the seal between the bead of the tire and the wheel. This is mostly a problem in climates that see cold winters and it can take years for this corrosion to accumulate enough to cause a problem and this may be where Michelin gets its reputation. Because Michelin sells a lot of premium tires that have really long wear a lot of their tires end up on the vehicle for many years - enough for this corrosion to present itself. If you were replacing tires every couple of years the rims would get cleaned up each time and you wouldn't have problems with corrosion related bead-leaks.

Answer 2

I have run Michelin tires on alloy wheels for over thirty years on a wide variety of vehicles and have never experienced a problem. However in this age of big wheels (20" and larger") and ultra low profile tires with hardly any sidewall, I am hearing reports of frequent wheel damage from hitting pot holes and bending or cracking the rim. This has nothing to do with the tire brand, and everything to do with the fact that this new "style" has no sidewall to flex and absorb the shock of hitting an irregular surface at speed.

Answer 3

No. I have Michelin's on the alloy wheels on my ML320, and have had no problems. Where did you hear something stupid like that? Likely from a Goodyear salesman, no doubt.

Answer 4

I've had many Michelins on alloys and currently have them now on alloys and no problem at all, if you're having leak issues it's your rims.

Answer 5

No, I have not heard anything about it.