BEWARE of Konig Helium (Pic & Video) !! - Toyota Yaris Forums

SimmZ · 10-23-2006, 08:31 PM

I don't want to start a debate, but I just want to warn your seriously about the Konig Helium wheels. Even if you don't drive you car heavily or do race, the Konig Helium are VERRRRRY easy to broke even with no "low-profile" tires. They may be VERY dangerous! I've always loved these wheels, but this is before watching that video and looking at this picture!

The main problem of the Konig Helium is the material used to build the wheel. Because they want to do a very cheap priced and very light weight wheels, they don't use light high-quality alloys because it's too much expensive. They just design a wheels with a very thin design and use some LOW DENSITY alloys who it light, but break as easy as glass!

Here's the picture to begin, let's notice this is not a low-profile tire... :

Here's the video :

http://photoshow.comcast.net/watch/A...12ca2f41436652

Unfortunately, there's PLENTY of horror story about the Konig Helium all over the web...

ChinoCharles · 10-23-2006, 08:48 PM

Pictures don't lie...

SimmZ · 10-23-2006, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChinoCharles

Pictures don't lie...

You speak the truth!!

bigsky2 · 10-23-2006, 08:50 PM

I've read about this before, and I've seen the exact same photos.

Wheels are wear goods after all, so they will break no matter what. I'm not sure how these particular Konig Heliums cracked, and under what circumstances.

Repeated loads and unloads can create small cracks we cannot see, different levels of side loads depending on the vehicle, and other factors can contribute to cracks that end up like this. Most of the broken Konig stories are from people who used them for auto-x.

Konig has issued a statement before, stating that they will replace any broken or cracked wheel if it is found that they were damaged due to original defect.

I'm not terribly worried about this as horror stories usually stick out more than positive reviews when you are doing your research.
But again, I stress, wheels are WEAR GOODS. If they wanna break then they will!

jcemitte · 09-29-2010, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigsky2

But again, I stress, wheels are WEAR GOODS. If they wanna break then they will!

no disrespect intended

Wheels are not a wear part. wheels will last the life of your car unless you buy cheap ones. light wieght, low density, and inexpensive was the way you descibed these wheels. if you knew that before you bought them, you were asking for it. if you track your car you risk breaking them but anything could break. by your logic the entire car would technically be a wear part.

the manufacturer doesnt have a service interval for wheels...just sayin.

JumpmanYaris · 09-29-2010, 08:00 PM

Grave digger lol

OK Yaris · 10-23-2006, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SimmZ

Unfortunately, there's PLENTY of horror story about the Konig Helium all over the web...

Unfortunately, I only found one thread on a Honda forum...........

SimmZ · 10-23-2006, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OK Yaris

Unfortunately, I only found one thread on a Honda forum...........

That's probably because you don't know where to look at. The picture of the bronze Helium are coming from a Mazda owners forum but I have to admit I don't know where the video are coming from.

hasher22 · 10-23-2006, 09:32 PM

Obviously if something is really cheap its obviously low quality.

SimmZ · 10-23-2006, 09:55 PM

Right. The price of the Konig Helium may be very attractive, but how they can offer a very cheap and light weight product? By using the "crappiest" material to build thier wheels...

You can buy many others cheap priced wheels, like BSA, IKON/ICON or Eagle-Alloys brands. They all build very cheap priced wheels. They are not light weight, but at least they are safe and they will not kill yourself on the road.

Violin · 10-23-2006, 10:24 PM

What "video"? I only saw a slideshow.

Looks like a pretty good gouge behind the one spoke. What could have caused that?!

mhero · 10-24-2006, 12:09 AM

I am wondering how this rim got cracked!!

mine wasn't cracked like that .. but ....
see for yourself; this was after my Yaris ran
over a big hole on the road @ speed 40-50 km/hr

C2AUTOSPL · 10-24-2006, 12:32 AM

ack that looks scary...

bigsky2 · 10-24-2006, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C2AUTOSPL

ack that looks scary...

I'm calling you if they crack on me

Ric n Sov's Vitz RS · 10-24-2006, 03:35 AM

I have personally seen wheels like that come into my friends shop after a little drunk driving in a echo hatch here in toronto.... I was told that it just tapped the curb.. But 2 of them looked just like that picture.

-Rick

skc · 10-24-2006, 03:52 AM

damn.. thats scary..
i had heliums on my last car and had no problem
glad i sold the rim tho..
u get what u pay for..

SimmZ · 10-24-2006, 08:59 AM

Yes that's true. You get what you pay for... while others light weights wheels cost around 200$ a wheel, the Konig Helium who are light weight cost 90$ a wheel... it doesn't make sense for me.

In fact, the low density alloy process is easy to understand; you have many empty particles in the alloy structure (it's like a Gruyere cheese!), this result in a light weight structure, but easy to break as glass.

eco · 10-24-2006, 11:54 AM

Thats why I got rims that look like they can handle alot of pressure.

10-23-2006, 08:31 PM	#1
SimmZ Drives: 2k3 Cavalier & 2k2 Echo Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Quebec Posts: 260	BEWARE of Konig Helium (Pic & Video) !! I don't want to start a debate, but I just want to warn your seriously about the Konig Helium wheels. Even if you don't drive you car heavily or do race, the Konig Helium are VERRRRRY easy to broke even with no "low-profile" tires. They may be VERY dangerous! I've always loved these wheels, but this is before watching that video and looking at this picture! The main problem of the Konig Helium is the material used to build the wheel. Because they want to do a very cheap priced and very light weight wheels, they don't use light high-quality alloys because it's too much expensive. They just design a wheels with a very thin design and use some LOW DENSITY alloys who it light, but break as easy as glass! Here's the picture to begin, let's notice this is not a low-profile tire... : Here's the video : http://photoshow.comcast.net/watch/A...12ca2f41436652 Unfortunately, there's PLENTY of horror story about the Konig Helium all over the web... __________________ 2003 Chevy Cavalier Ecotec - His car! 2002 Toyota Echo Sedan - Her car... FOR SALE!

10-23-2006, 08:50 PM	#4
bigsky2 Cousin Vitz View User's Garage Drives: Yaris RS 5DR / Vitz RS wannabe Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 1,082	I've read about this before, and I've seen the exact same photos. Wheels are wear goods after all, so they will break no matter what. I'm not sure how these particular Konig Heliums cracked, and under what circumstances. Repeated loads and unloads can create small cracks we cannot see, different levels of side loads depending on the vehicle, and other factors can contribute to cracks that end up like this. Most of the broken Konig stories are from people who used them for auto-x. Konig has issued a statement before, stating that they will replace any broken or cracked wheel if it is found that they were damaged due to original defect. I'm not terribly worried about this as horror stories usually stick out more than positive reviews when you are doing your research. But again, I stress, wheels are WEAR GOODS. If they wanna break then they will! __________________ 2007 Yaris RS Hatchback Black Sand Pearl 5DR MT DIY Speaker Spacer/Bracket Template for Yaris Hatchback http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1930

10-23-2006, 09:32 PM	#9
hasher22 Look mum no stars!! Drives: Toyota Yaris 06 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Australia Sydney Posts: 1,469	Obviously if something is really cheap its obviously low quality. __________________

10-23-2006, 09:55 PM	#10
SimmZ Drives: 2k3 Cavalier & 2k2 Echo Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Quebec Posts: 260	Right. The price of the Konig Helium may be very attractive, but how they can offer a very cheap and light weight product? By using the "crappiest" material to build thier wheels... You can buy many others cheap priced wheels, like BSA, IKON/ICON or Eagle-Alloys brands. They all build very cheap priced wheels. They are not light weight, but at least they are safe and they will not kill yourself on the road. __________________ 2003 Chevy Cavalier Ecotec - His car! 2002 Toyota Echo Sedan - Her car... FOR SALE!

10-24-2006, 12:32 AM	#13
C2AUTOSPL Drives: 240sx, 00 Celica Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Loma Linda, CA Posts: 691	ack that looks scary... __________________ SUPPORT YARISWORLD'S VERY FIRST SPONSOR!! C2 AUTOMOTIVE SPECIAL 24711 Redlands Blvd., Ste. I Loma Linda, CA 92354 T: 909-796-8189 E-mail: info@c2auto.com AIM: wide180sx

10-23-2006, 08:48 PM	#2
ChinoCharles Banned Drives: LB Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: OH Posts: 7,787	Pictures don't lie...

10-23-2006, 10:24 PM	#11
Violin View User's Garage Drives: 2007 Yaris LB Auto Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,592	What "video"? I only saw a slideshow. Looks like a pretty good gouge behind the one spoke. What could have caused that?!

10-24-2006, 03:35 AM	#15
Ric n Sov's Vitz RS Waiting to be SC'ed Drives: 07 RS LB mt 5 door polar white Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Posts: 218	I have personally seen wheels like that come into my friends shop after a little drunk driving in a echo hatch here in toronto.... I was told that it just tapped the curb.. But 2 of them looked just like that picture. -Rick

10-24-2006, 03:52 AM	#16
skc View User's Garage Drives: White5drRS Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Surrey, B.C. Posts: 67	damn.. thats scary.. i had heliums on my last car and had no problem glad i sold the rim tho.. u get what u pay for..

10-24-2006, 08:59 AM	#17
SimmZ Drives: 2k3 Cavalier & 2k2 Echo Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Quebec Posts: 260	Yes that's true. You get what you pay for... while others light weights wheels cost around 200$ a wheel, the Konig Helium who are light weight cost 90$ a wheel... it doesn't make sense for me. In fact, the low density alloy process is easy to understand; you have many empty particles in the alloy structure (it's like a Gruyere cheese!), this result in a light weight structure, but easy to break as glass. __________________ 2003 Chevy Cavalier Ecotec - His car! 2002 Toyota Echo Sedan - Her car... FOR SALE!

10-24-2006, 11:54 AM	#18
eco Drives: 2007 Black Yaris sedan Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Atlanta Posts: 884	Thats why I got rims that look like they can handle alot of pressure.

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