Urgent. Broken 147 rim in Mildura. Please help

[lorenzoconforti]

Hi all

I need some help to get my car (2002 147 selespeed) fixed

I'm in mildura, Vic, on holidays. 20 km from the city today bad luck decided to pay visit. What I thought was a puncture turned out to be a broken rim. I've never seen anything like this; looks like a metal object has pierced the tyre and went on to brake the rim. There is a 4 cm wide hole in the rim that makes the wheel completely useless.

I was able to fit the spare Tyre and limp to mildura where I am now sitting in my hotel room.

Being Christmas everything is closed so I called my insurance that after reminding me that everything is closed (thank you) gave me the details of a couple of smash repairers in town. They will open in 2 days but I don't have much hope they could have a rim for my Bella.

I saw also a couple of Tyre shop that I'll check out tomorrow

I'm writing this post in the hope that someone here in mildura can direct me to a shop or a wrecker where I'll be able to find a 17" rim for my car.

I need to be in Adelaide on Monday and I would very much prefer not to drive with the tiny spare wheel.

Thanks a lot in advance

Lorenzo

[Paul Gulliver]

Lorenzo,

Bad luck on Christmas day. May be hard to get Alfa wheels in Mildura on such short notice. For what it is worth Alfa 147 & 156 &164  wheels are the same. ( 98 X5 pcd)

Here's a link for the type of wheel you will be looking for.

http://www.wheelfitment.net/alfa-romeo 

Not many other cars use a 98 X 5 pcd . 100 X 5 is a lot more common on Japanese cars. If you get really stuck get on of these 100 X5 pcd and get it re drilled . would be good enough to get you to Adelaide where you would have more chance of getting an Alfa wheel.

http://www.mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=37422



Good luck.


Gully

[Gary Pearce]

 The space saver spare won't be a problem provided it is fitted to the rear axle. You will find much more help in Adelaide after Tuesday. The speed restriction is just in case you are a ditzy drive and has nothing to do with the tyre qualty.

[lorenzoconforti]

Paul, Gary

Thanks a lot for your help. I'll probably end up flying to Adelaide and then rent a car a bring back here a new wheel

What if I went with the small spare Tyre? Is it too many kms for it?

Thanks
Lorenzo

[Gary Pearce]

It is a high speed motorbike tyre. No problem with distance or speed. I would happily drive it provided the weather is good and you are aware of the performance shortcommings in the event of a swerve or sudden brake. Try it, I would be supprise if you can tell the difference. Once again only fit it to the back. I know of an example that a driver continued to use the space saver for six months without issue.