While in the Seattle area last week I encountered a concrete curb with the right front wheel. It was at night, a torn up intersection and the curb was hidden by a mound of dirt. It sounded bad, as though I had done major damage. We were only 1/2 mile from our Lodge so went there to inspect for damage. The tire was still fully inflated and I could only find a 7" long area on the edge of the wheel that was scratched rather badly.

My fear was that the tire/wheel would no longer hold air and we would be stuck in Seattle until a wheel was located--mostly likely in Germany! The next morning it still had 32 psi in it so we struck out for home. It held up well and I'm still driving on the scuffed wheel. I have since ground off the sharp edges so no one will get cut and it's barely noticeable.

It isn't cheap--$492 for the wheel and another $150 for mount, balance and front end alignment check so be careful, but know that it is a tough wheel and not a lightweight like many of the pretty ones out there.

We have a tough, and yet pretty, car and the more I drive it the more I like it. We got 23 mpg combined driving and 27 mpg on the freeway coming home with posted speeds to 75 mph in places with only 2000 miles on the vehicle. Does it get better?