The stock rims on the SRT/6 were designed to (once spinning) turn into a turbine and suck air into the brakes to cool them. Has anyone else heard about this? He also said that if your put aftermarket rims on the SRT it will greatly diminish braking...seems a little far fetched but maybe someone else has heard about this.

 

Sounds like a load of BS to me. I would think that for this to work the "spokes" would have to be canted inward somewhat. Much like a fan blade!

Besides...I've seen plenty of srt6's on this site with aftermarket wheels...I somehow don't think they all suffer from braking degradation!

 

If it were true, SRT rims would be spotless and never need dustless brake pads.

I think someone was jerking your chain.

 

I read that in some article too. I don't know how accurate it is.

 

Maybe it's to pull the air out rather than push it in? We do get a lot of brake dust on the wheels.

 

I have read this somewhere. Perhaps an older Car and Driver article.

 

On the TV show "Test Drive" the commentator mentioned this on the show that showed all the SRT models.

To be honest, I planned to swap out the SRT rims, but when clean, the really look very good. At night under the parking lot lights they literally glow and look awesome!

 

I agree with the above. There's no canting or fan-blade look to them. The best they would do would be to pull more heat out like a heat sink since they have more splines than the stock Xfire wheels. If they wanted more airflow and better performance, they would have made them lighter with splines that are slanted to cool the brakes more. Tires do most of the stopping... so long as the brakes don't fade from lack of heat dissipation. Stock SRT6 brakes on Michelin Pilot Sports stop great for me.

 

Completely untrue if you ask me... I put aftermarket wheels on and it had exactly the same stopping power as before.

If you want the brakes to be better, put in Racing brake fluid (so it won't boil, like Motul 600) and high performance pads (Such as Porterfield R4S compound for the street, low dust. Rotex Gold pads are ultra low dust, but I can't report on their better or worse friction statistics).

These two things together will make it stop even better with no fade if you take it to the track.

Lastly, if you want better response from your brakes, think about the braided steel reinforced brake lines that are available. These will eliminate the 'sponge' factor almost completely (unless you have air in your system).

Maintenance note: Change and flush your braking system like you change and flush your cooling system or at least half as often. Most people don't realize that brake fluid WILL break down over time and become less effective. This will also reduce the corrosion in your braking system.

Hope that helps... Cheers!

 

That's closer to the truth. "MOST" performance wheels are designed to offer at least some air circulation at speed. Traditionally, most wheels funnel air from under the car and out of the wheel. That's why so much dust lands on the outside of the wheels, but the inside stays comparatively clean. This also helps add a "little" to down force. As the wheels spin and pull air across the brakes from under the car, it creates a low pressure area. Less air, less pressure, more air flow equals less "lift" at high speeds.

Next time you are watching a Formula 1 or American LeMans race, look at the cars. After a while the cars will be streaked down the side with black brake dust. Sometimes, when they get on the brakes HARD, you can even see the cloud of dust emit from the wheel.

This was all told to me by my Fluid Dynamics Professor at Virginia Tech, so I would assume it to be an accurate description...

 

I read somewhere that Chrysler wanted the SRT-6 wheels to look like turbine blades and give the illusion of jet power when rotating. That's why there are so many spokes.

Chi-town, if your dealer is joking then I suggest you find another one. That is no way to treat a customer. If your dealer is serious then I suggest you run away as fast and as far as possible.

 

The wheel is similar to the ones on the 300 SRT-8, and there has been much discussion about this. The 300s have a brake dust issue similar to the Crossfire, whereas the Charger SRT-8 does not. The "Official" statement from the SRT engineers was that the wheel was designed to channel the hot air from around the brakes, thus bringing the brake dust with it. My humble opinion is that the wheel does in fact pull the hot air out of the inner wheel cooling the brakes, and depositing the brake dust on the wheels.

 

the srt8 300... has the dustiest/blackest front rims of all... and they resemble the srt/6 rims.

 

I'm sure the air packing under the car at speed and pushing up into the wheel wells (as the easiest path to a lower pressure) has nothing to do with it...
it's the "suction of the wheels".

 

Then why does the 300 have this issue, along with the Crossfire (similar wheels) when the Magnum and Charger do not?

 

only thing i have heard similar to that is on the slr, the wheels were designed to channel air out from under the car to improve downforce and increase top speed. it was one of this months car magazines (i don't remember which i get 3 a month) in a 0-200 contest with 3 other cars. the bugatti did not win, neither did the slr though.

 

From the Mouth of a SRT Engineer (while we were down in Memphis for the SRT Nationals)

SRT6 rims are extremely heavy, he recommended that i look into getting aftermarket rims to increase performance and free up rotational mass.

Has anyone ever weight stock rims?

 

Yes, they are Very heavy. I've got a Good looking Brand New set of Stern ST-1's for Sale?

Bill