My 15 year old son took our SxS out and got it high-centered on an obstacle in a sand pit. He proceeded to spin the tires enough to just about bury the wheels halfway. I came to the rescue with some boards and got it out of the hole, but my son had already tried to dig it out with a yard shovel. The left rear tire was discovered to be completely flat once we got it out of the hole.
I couldn't believe it when I got the wheel off to inspect the tire - the tire itself appears to be completely intact, with no punctures. But this is what I found on the inside of the wheel:
Needless to say, looks like a rock got inside the wheel, and I'm guessing the sand was enough to hold it in place while the kid spun the tires and it cut a gouge in the wheel all the way around. I've never seen anything like it before.
My question is - would you recommend I get an exact replacement wheel from CF Moto, or would it really matter if I just got one aftermarket wheel. I think the tire itself is perfectly fine. Both seams and the stem look perfect, and no punctures that I can find at this point. Any suggestions for affordable, but quality replacement wheels?
Thanks a ton!