My mags have the lattice work in the spokes so I guess the best thing to do is weigh the rear. As for powder coating coming off carlos, they probably weren't chromated before the powder coating. I had a set done for £15 each and they looked great, breifly. Then all manor of bubbles and blisters appeared. I've since had them stripped, crack tested, chromated and coated all for about £200 but they're still mint. Powder coat just doesn't stick well to mag without it being treated. I might be wrong about calling it chromate, but for some reason that word rings a bell.
This is the place to have them checked and refinished. TPCS Magnesium and Alloy Refurbishing Best way of checking is to take the wheel off and see how many locating holes there are in the wheel hub. Mag wheels have more than 4. Alloy wheels only ever have 4.
I have a set with the diagonal bracing and a set without. both are magnesium alloy. I believe the ones without bracing are 955 race wheels (small hub). Chromate is a chemical conversion coating - like a brush on anodising coat. It is needed to create an oxide layer for paint to adhere to. Also known as Alodine or alochrome.
My (10 spoke) Marchesini alloy rear wheel has 8 locating holes, presumably so it can be rotated to the next set if need be.
i think something was not done well then,i have my marvic wheels powder coated for a few years now and they still look great. powder coating was what marvic recomend back then. i know not everybody likes that because you can not see potential damadge under the powder coat. p.s. a 964 RS,now i'm jalous. henk!!!
I bought them used, already powder coated, and you are right they were really badly done, in the end I part ex'd them for a good used set with the original factory finish, left them in the box and then used a set of regular 993 alloy rims for everyday.
