I was wondering about some feed back for the newer style carbon fiber wheels, Hiper Wheels. Are they really lighter then aluminum, do they hold up/flex, issues with leaks,etc? There seem to be alot for sale used and I dont want to get some and find out i should have spent money elsewhere. Are they deemed illegal in any divisions?

Thanks for any "heads up" advice

I can tell you that they are definitely lighter than aluminum.

I am not trying to be contriversal or say your wrong but this is my opinion on the carbon fiber wheels. #1 they are not carbon fiber but a plastic composite, #2 compared to my new aluminum wheels the so-called carbon fiber is heavier and not by a little,by alot. #3 it took 4.5 ounces of lead on one front and 7.0 on the other to ballance,after trying several different tire mounting locations, without the weight the front end bounced around violenty, those are the negitives we found, positive things are that these wheels can take a shot that wont compare to an aluminum, after a full season at borgers they are still arrow straight and they hold air all week long. Decide what you want out of your wheels and make your decision, best of luck this season. Also the hiper wheels where illeagal in N,J, last season,dont know if that changed for 2009.

I switched back to aluminum wheels after two years of running the HIPER wheels. they are as strong a wheel as you could ever want but they leak air like crazy. i had 10 wheels and we only had two we did not have to silicone. i bought all the wheels new and only after a couple races they would start to leak

I silicone all of my alunimum tires anyway I don't trust the gaskets and dont trust those o-rings in the Hiper rims. I also herd that if they do get a lil bent you can put them in the sun for a day and they will straiten out. I was talking to a friend of mine that flipped his 600 and didn't bend one Hiper wheel.

thanks guys, keep the info coming if you got more..

i am a firm believer in hiper carbon fiber wheels... i've hit a pole at selinsgrove with the right rear, tore the w-link mounts out of the car, and the wheel i had on when i hit the pole, is the same wheel that's on my car right now! they last... i hear good and bad about air leaking out of them, but i've never had a problem with them... at times they can be a pain in the you know what to get the bead seated on the wheel, but other than that... you can't beat em. cheaper than a weld aluminum, and they hold up longer...

We have run the same set of Hiper wheels for 3 years with only changing the beadlock rings, and that was more cosmetic that actually needing them. Weight wise I think they are the same as most aluminum or close, I don't believe they are any lighter. We run american racers so over a weeks time they lose air but most times it is the tires not the rims. but are not bad enough to effect the tire presssures during a night of racing. I have been told the Hoosiers don't do this? I also agree they are not a true carbon fiber but the CF composite is strong and can take a hard hit and still get you to the finish. If you get them when they are running the yearly buy 3 get 1 free you can't beat the price with alum rims no matter what the brand. If you break one most times they will have you send in the wheel half and they ship you a new one for free or just shipping. If you are on a tight budget and not racing in NJ you can't beat the carbon fibers.
If you want the lightest, best balanced, and honestly better looking wheels then aluminum would be better. We have run both, and the carbon fibers have allowed us to finish races and save $$ to spend else where.
JMO and certainly not downing any of the alum rim manufacturers, for us it was all about the $$ and it has paid off so far.