imitation rims - are they really not reliable at all?

[yn_hell]

japan rims will always be expensive, hence our market is flooded with imitation from taiwan and other countries. they build quality will never be as good as japan made rims.

the question is, how bad are they really? did anyone have very bad experience that causes huge damage? are they even suitable to use for track day or autocross?

 

[DeaconFrost]

japan rims will always be expensive, hence our market is flooded with imitation from taiwan and other countries. they build quality will never be as good as japan made rims.

the question is, how bad are they really? did anyone have very bad experience that causes huge damage? are they even suitable to use for track day or autocross?

I have been using replica Spoon SW388 on my EG6 which I have sold, and then another set on my EG9. The replica on my EG6 is a no-brand Taiwan imitation, the one on my EG9 is made by K-Speed. Tracked at Sepang.

No problem balancing the wheels, no problem on track.

Now looking at another set of imitation SW388s made by Konig with 7.5" width and +32 offset.

If I were to limit my choice to only Japan-made wheels, I need to be V-E-R-Y lucky in order to find 7.5" width with +32 offset. After luck, I need to find RM3k-4k in cash.

 

[vr2turbo]

Unless you mean imitation, then those are fake rims having the branded brand on them, then those cannot be used.
If you mean Taiwan company rims, then why not...

 

[yn_hell]

yes as i mentioned, imitation from taiwan, we know it bends easily. but how bad it is?
will it all patah suddenly when u hit the hole? or suddenly all 4 wheels fly out? lol

 

[vr2turbo]

yes as i mentioned, imitation from taiwan, we know it bends easily. but how bad it is?
will it all patah suddenly when u hit the hole? or suddenly all 4 wheels fly out? lol

Buy Taiwan branded not imitation.....

 

[Izso]

I don't think they should be classified as "imitation" since they are just copying the designs and not claiming the same claims as the original. Is the Wira an imitation of the old Lancer? Is the Inspira an imitation of the newer Lancer? They are just copies with their own unique features (yes.. the Inspira is actually different than the Lancer in a few ways).

So if you ask are Taiwan made rims reliable? Depends on company. Advanti makes pretty awesome rims

 

[ixeo]

Advanti isn't a "copy-cat" per se. After all they make wheels for F1 teams, and they are "adik" OZ Wheels. Plus their parent company manufactures certain models of Enkei wheels.

They are the absolute best choice in the affordable range. Better than buying outright imitation.

As for your example izso, it doesn't apply here. The Wira is a licensed model from Mitsubishi of the old Lancer, likewise, the Inspira is a licensed badge engineered model of the new Lancer. Proton pays Mitsubishi to use it. You think K-Speed or other Taiwan company pays the Japan or Italian counterparts they copy? My ass.

With assholes who keep buying fakes, and when the original manufacturer closes down because nobody buys their shit and everybody buys the fakes, and K-Speed and other boys have nothing left to copy, you're all fucked, and you fucked those paying for the real deal as well. HKS exited the USA market because the amount of fakes were crazy. And when the fake SSQVs fail, they blame the real HKS.

 

[yn_hell]

guys i am asking about imitation rims (fake brand rims).... advanti doesnt do imitation rims...

 

[ixeo]

guys i am asking about imitation rims (fake brand rims).... advanti doesnt do imitation rims...

To answer your question.

1. Who manufactured the rims?
2. Did it pass ANY official testing or did it imitate the official testing?
3. If it DID NOT PASS, then it is NOT SAFE, PERIOD. Saying you successfully used it X amount of years is inconclusive any just 1 case. Testing is about large pool of measurable and comparable data.
4. It it pass, then it is safe -- as tested by the testing body.

 

[infinity.melvin]

Tracked a replica te37 17". No problem.. Hit a curb in ikea parking lot. Also no problem.. So far so good. If it bends, just buy another one haha. Cheap n workable. Don't get those china ones.. Try to get Taiwan made ones for better material quality. These days replica rims kinda light too. For example ssr type F replica. Really lightweight.

If u want to use ori, recommend to get from half cut. Sometimes can get super good deals, close to replica price if u lucky. Just refurbished them and it will look like new.

 

[6UE5t]

I've used Taiwan rims before for many2 years in Jakarta where the road conditions is MUCH worse than here but they're all survived fine! Their fit & finish quality and weight is also good. Probably they're not categorized as fakes though, but ori Taiwan made rims. :) I've also had Enkei Philippines made rims, also still very good, despite my wife had driven it over don't know how many potholes in Jakarta.
So IMHO, if don't have much budget to spend, go for Taiwan rims. If got deep pockets, then go for Japan/Euro rims.

 

[vr2turbo]

I don't think they should be classified as "imitation" since they are just copying the designs and not claiming the same claims as the original. Is the Wira an imitation of the old Lancer? Is the Inspira an imitation of the newer Lancer? They are just copies with their own unique features (yes.. the Inspira is actually different than the Lancer in a few ways).

So if you ask are Taiwan made rims reliable? Depends on company. Advanti makes pretty awesome rims

Those then are replica not imitation......

---------- Post added at 09:59 AM ---------- 6 hour anti-bump limit - Previous post was at 09:57 AM ----------

guys i am asking about imitation rims (fake brand rims).... advanti doesnt do imitation rims...

Buy replica or just Taiwan branded. Forget about imitations.....

I am using Advanti Racing rims, bought second hand from my colleague and used over 10 years already...

 

[kaninbu]

To answer your question.

1. Who manufactured the rims?
2. Did it pass ANY official testing or did it imitate the official testing?
3. If it DID NOT PASS, then it is NOT SAFE, PERIOD. Saying you successfully used it X amount of years is inconclusive any just 1 case. Testing is about large pool of measurable and comparable data.
4. It it pass, then it is safe -- as tested by the testing body.

btw,who to verify n test the rim?sirim?

 

[faruck]

using replica advan rz 17 inch for 2 years++ already..every weekends go back KL-kuantan..no prob..using old road..theres a lot of pothole!still no bengkok2..

 

[ixeo]

btw,who to verify n test the rim?sirim?

VIA Registration of Aluminum Wheel

JWL is self testing, but I guess it only applies to real Japanese wheels. VIA is by an independent body.

SIRIM probably don't have the technology, I don't know. I wouldn't trust SIRIM if my life depended on it.

TUV & DOT probably have some standards, but my boat is Japanese, so I have no clue about continentals.

 

[csl]

I met the imitation wheels salesman before. They buy a set of ori wheel, make mold and use cast alloy technology to produce the copies. If you see imitation wheel that has 'made in japan' wording, big % they are malaysia product (price about taiwan wheel or slightly cheaper). They also produce some wheel with japan, japan design, design in japan or etc wording (copy of taiwan wheel).

If you ask if it is ok to use, I can only tell you the risk is there but with today's technology, the wheels will not break so easy compare to the past. All those pics you can find from internet, 99% is either involved with serious road/track accident. In similar case, even ori japan wheel will break. I did saw a piece of genuine 18" G-Games 77 broken into 3 pieces after accident (laid on Monster Garage corridor in singapore few years back). If you concern about wheel bent after hitting pot holes, I can tell you even genuine japan forged aluminum wheel will bend too. The 18" Advan model 5 (forged, 8kg front 8.7kg rear) on my car have 1 wheel bent. My old wheels CR-Kai (not forged. 9.8kg each) also got 2 wheels bent. this thing really cannot avoid except you keep the car at home display only or drive 20-30km/h all the time.

If cost is concern, buy used ori factory car wheel that people trade in for aftermarket wheels. Normally will be cheaper than imitation. Those from new cars are the best deal. If want aftermarket design, then buy taiwan brand. My friend is tire shop owner, he himself also use taiwan wheel. He told me not worth to use new japan wheel.

 

[vr2turbo]

btw,who to verify n test the rim?sirim?

If you mean in Malaysia then sorry. As far as I know Rims are not in the controlled item list therefore will not have anyone testing them.

---------- Post added at 08:10 AM ---------- 6 hour anti-bump limit - Previous post was at 07:59 AM ----------

VIA Registration of Aluminum Wheel

JWL is self testing, but I guess it only applies to real Japanese wheels. VIA is by an independent body.

SIRIM probably don't have the technology, I don't know. I wouldn't trust SIRIM if my life depended on it.

TUV & DOT probably have some standards, but my boat is Japanese, so I have no clue about continentals.

As mentioned above, unless the product is under the controlled item list then Sirim will have to get the equipment necessary to test them. If not, then they will not have them. Sirim now is privatised but follow Government Act and Ruling.
I have been dealing with Sirim for the past 10 years for electrical testing for imported and local assembled sets and they follow International standards. In fact, by the book to the last detail....

---------- Post added at 08:14 AM ---------- 6 hour anti-bump limit - Previous post was at 08:10 AM ----------

I met the imitation wheels salesman before. They buy a set of ori wheel, make mold and use cast alloy technology to produce the copies. If you see imitation wheel that has 'made in japan' wording, big % they are malaysia product (price about taiwan wheel or slightly cheaper). They also produce some wheel with japan, japan design, design in japan or etc wording (copy of taiwan wheel).

If marking is "Made in Japan" for Malaysian Made then those are imitation, because only allowed as per your bottom sentence "Japan, Japan design, design in Japan or etc"

 

[LittleWhiteWagon]

Advanti isn't a "copy-cat" per se. After all they make wheels for F1 teams, and they are "adik" OZ Wheels. Plus their parent company manufactures certain models of Enkei wheels.

They are the absolute best choice in the affordable range. Better than buying outright imitation.

As for your example izso, it doesn't apply here. The Wira is a licensed model from Mitsubishi of the old Lancer, likewise, the Inspira is a licensed badge engineered model of the new Lancer. Proton pays Mitsubishi to use it. You think K-Speed or other Taiwan company pays the Japan or Italian counterparts they copy? My ass.

With assholes who keep buying fakes, and when the original manufacturer closes down because nobody buys their shit and everybody buys the fakes, and K-Speed and other boys have nothing left to copy, you're all fucked, and you fucked those paying for the real deal as well. HKS exited the USA market because the amount of fakes were crazy. And when the fake SSQVs fail, they blame the real HKS.

Love the last paragraph.

 

[ixeo]

If you mean in Malaysia then sorry. As far as I know Rims are not in the controlled item list therefore will not have anyone testing them.

---------- Post added at 08:10 AM ---------- 6 hour anti-bump limit - Previous post was at 07:59 AM ----------



As mentioned above, unless the product is under the controlled item list then Sirim will have to get the equipment necessary to test them. If not, then they will not have them. Sirim now is privatised but follow Government Act and Ruling.
I have been dealing with Sirim for the past 10 years for electrical testing for imported and local assembled sets and they follow International standards. In fact, by the book to the last detail....

---------- Post added at 08:14 AM ---------- 6 hour anti-bump limit - Previous post was at 08:10 AM ----------



If marking is "Made in Japan" for Malaysian Made then those are imitation, because only allowed as per your bottom sentence "Japan, Japan design, design in Japan or etc"

If rims/wheels is under "controlled item" list in Malaysia, you think JRD will EVER pass? Hell, even our Proton still selling cars WITHOUT ABS and Airbags, it will NEVER PASS in UK and EUROPE.

We have standards from last decade.

SIRIM standards are rubbish, they just adopt international standards from the last decade. What's the use in that? We're suppose to move forward, not adopt standards that are deemed out of date and ineffective.

That's like saying, hey, look, last decade they using candles, who gives a shit if they use light bulbs now, we can make use of candles very well!

 

[^pomen_GTR^]

I met the imitation wheels salesman before. They buy a set of ori wheel, make mold and use cast alloy technology to produce the copies. If you see imitation wheel that has 'made in japan' wording, big % they are malaysia product (price about taiwan wheel or slightly cheaper). They also produce some wheel with japan, japan design, design in japan or etc wording (copy of taiwan wheel).

If you ask if it is ok to use, I can only tell you the risk is there but with today's technology, the wheels will not break so easy compare to the past. All those pics you can find from internet, 99% is either involved with serious road/track accident. In similar case, even ori japan wheel will break. I did saw a piece of genuine 18" G-Games 77 broken into 3 pieces after accident (laid on Monster Garage corridor in singapore few years back). If you concern about wheel bent after hitting pot holes, I can tell you even genuine japan forged aluminum wheel will bend too. The 18" Advan model 5 (forged, 8kg front 8.7kg rear) on my car have 1 wheel bent. My old wheels CR-Kai (not forged. 9.8kg each) also got 2 wheels bent. this thing really cannot avoid except you keep the car at home display only or drive 20-30km/h all the time.

If cost is concern, buy used ori factory car wheel that people trade in for aftermarket wheels. Normally will be cheaper than imitation. Those from new cars are the best deal. If want aftermarket design, then buy taiwan brand. My friend is tire shop owner, he himself also use taiwan wheel. He told me not worth to use new japan wheel.

agree....and even factory wheel also bent if the condition are bad enough....


but atleast for common design rims that already have sturdy pattern should be ok for normal use.... personally my driving on the road was similar to my driving in rally...means whatever small holes/bumps i just drive over straight without needing any swaying left/right to avoid it....

and my wheel which is work meister s1/s2 replica still standing true without any wobble/crack....plus some purposed/accidental kerb riding by me and my "other driver" atleast so far no problem for the tyreman to get it balanced and rotate smooth and straight....

the keyword is: do not go for insanely low profile tyre.....keep it adequate and the rest should be ok...

this is because when wheel meet any rough/potholes...the first contact was from the tyre...then only transferred to the rims....if the tyre was too thin, it cant absorb the impact hence the rest of impact goes to the rims and bend/crack it....