Those wheels look to have been refinished, rather badly.
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The last photo does look to me like it shows chips in the original finish have been painted over. And of course they’re close to the alarming fracture. Might be a coincidence of course, there could be similar little flaws all over the wheel, but it makes me wonder if the spoke got hit. On the other hand, three wheels had fractures so it’s not one isolated impact that’s the cause.
Very glad the result wasn’t worse, as it so easily could have been. With luck like that maybe RIB_BBR could recommend some lottery numbers?
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This is quite a worrying situation. Not just for the driver when it happens but also other vehicles around. The trouble with alloys & I think we have all done it, they are really beautiful wheels & when we get a bit of curb rash we are all a bit embarrassed. Really speaking this needs to be properly investigated. I read an article many years ago where young drivers were swopping out their steels for cheap Chinese imports. Also a guy once told me that parts that have been powder coat can degrade the metal. He said sometimes water gets under the powder coating & starts to degrade the metal without any body noticing. Think from now on I’ll repaint rather than powder coat. Another point is how does this affect your insurance as you are supposed to declare all mods even if it’s a stubby aerial. Thoughts anyone.
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Thanks for this thread, some concerning info… i had a set of 2002 svt sport wheels powder coated at a reputable specialist, they looked superb but anywhere near a kerb and they marked / chipped very easily, maybe they where more brittle or it was just the powdercoating that was fragile, current wheels are painted as a result. Not sure about insurance tbh but a failed wheel would surely be investigated after a ‘serious’ accident
Couldn’t agree with you more. I read a lot of things about mods & the big one seems to be nd steering wheel. I must admit that with my nd that is the biggest disappointment, slippy, thin & big. I was thinking of the royal mod but have not got round to ringing insurance company. Quite a number of years ago my lad bought his first car, clapped out fiesta wouldn’t let me go with him anyway it had a boot spoiler & front spoiler. He had a bump, long story but they said they were undeclared after market mods eventually I persuaded them to continue the policy provided I removed them. Now to this day im very wary of mods & insurance well rant over.
An old thread I know, but this is how close I came to same outcome on a Silverstone track day a couple of weeks ago, two months after a track day at the 'ring.
All four wheels powder coated, and the other three showing signs of cracking too.
There but for the grace of god.
John
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Blood y hell, that is frightening.
A lucky escape by the looks of things!
I’ve heard of other cases where ally wheels have been powder coated and subsequently cracked. My understanding is that unless the baking temperature is controlled very carefully the process can adversely affect the factory heat treatment of the metal, causing it to become brittle.
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F*k 
I wasn’t aware this could happen due to powdercoating.
Hope you are alright and this is the only injury you have. What a shock this must have been.
I was contemplating between buying new bronze alloys or coating the original ones, but I think my mind is made up now on what NOT to do.
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Thanks. Yes, felt initially p!ssed off at reduced track time at Silverstone, then blessed that it hadn’t actually failed.
It’s BBR supercharged with an Onlins set up, we had 145mph on the long straight at the 'ring. Can you imagine if had failed then?! 
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Lucky ! I felt that when it happened to me db
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