Low Cost Wheels
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,068
Likes: 1
From: California
I was digging your post until you got to the end...referring to some wheels as fake. That's where people misjudge. There aren't any fake wheels. Some companies have faked or copied designs but that's where it ends. The quality isn't fake. The quality could be not as good but not fake. If the wheel functions as advertized, fake is not a relevant term.
The whole point of knock-offs is bringing to market something close to the original at a lower price point and usually quality has to be sacrificed in order to do that.
Actually guys, I chose the wrong title for this thread. I didn't intend to get into as debate about knock-offs. Obviously, no one wants a cheap copy of an original. My real intention is to dissuade people from putting down and/or not appreciating another person because they didn't put 5K wheels on their car.
Again, there are wheels like TSW that resemble high end wheels and cost much, much less....but the quality is just as good or better than many high end wheels. Yet someone will see a pic of that car with TSW and say something dumb like, "that wheel is crap or you should get better wheels." From a quality standpoint, it's hard to get better wheels than a TSW. You can get wheels that look waaay better but it's the quality aspect I refer to.
1sick, I totally agree with you about Diablo wheels. They are or were crap. I've seen too many of them broken. I do believe they have improved their quality but it's their look that would keep me away from them now.
There are a gang of new wheel companies popping up now. Selling wheels in the high end area. Look at the designs. Copies of copies. Can't call them knock-offs because they aren't cheap....but I would still be careful about buying something unknown and untested. Yet, that person is applauded but the TSW owner is not given the same props. That just seems crazy to me.
Again, there are wheels like TSW that resemble high end wheels and cost much, much less....but the quality is just as good or better than many high end wheels. Yet someone will see a pic of that car with TSW and say something dumb like, "that wheel is crap or you should get better wheels." From a quality standpoint, it's hard to get better wheels than a TSW. You can get wheels that look waaay better but it's the quality aspect I refer to.
1sick, I totally agree with you about Diablo wheels. They are or were crap. I've seen too many of them broken. I do believe they have improved their quality but it's their look that would keep me away from them now.
There are a gang of new wheel companies popping up now. Selling wheels in the high end area. Look at the designs. Copies of copies. Can't call them knock-offs because they aren't cheap....but I would still be careful about buying something unknown and untested. Yet, that person is applauded but the TSW owner is not given the same props. That just seems crazy to me.
Henry, authentic wheels bend and crack too; For that Rota in page one; it was a bad batch and the owner drove over a curbstop.. I guess for cracked wheels just like the HRE story...there is more to the truth than just the truth, minus the Sevas of course.
Actually guys, I chose the wrong title for this thread. I didn't intend to get into as debate about knock-offs. Obviously, no one wants a cheap copy of an original. My real intention is to dissuade people from putting down and/or not appreciating another person because they didn't put 5K wheels on their car.
my main focus was "copy", "fake", "knock-off"
Lexus Champion
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,466
Likes: 13
From: Cali
In fact, it was a Kinesis wheel, and the failure was caused by improper heat stripping and re-application of powder coating.
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Pole Position
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,794
Likes: 0
From: Lake Country, WI
That's why I LOVE Tire Rack... those guys will give you a wheel education, with pleasure, in about 5 minutes, and you can make a wise decision...
BOTTOM LINE- only buy tried and true, long-time manufacturers, not "flavor of the moment" wheels...
BOTTOM LINE- only buy tried and true, long-time manufacturers, not "flavor of the moment" wheels...
TSW also has a line of wheels specifically for Vette, BMW, Range Rover, Audi and I think one more. I wish they had stuff for Lexus because it's hard to fit the regular TSW stuff for our cars.
TSW also makes the brand Petrol but their offsets are too conservative for my tastes. Too bad because Petrol has a 5 spoke that I think is really sweet.
Last edited by Ice350; Dec 31, 2008 at 10:21 AM.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Well to me its all about doing the research. This goes beyond wheels, to EVERYTHING, furniture, shavers, beer 
It also depends on what you use your car for. If you drive hard or the roads are awful, you better buy some quality wheels. If its a 3rd car or so, then maybe you don't need 3 piece forged wheels.
I don't think myself or most here have issues with low cost wheels. Its badly built wheels and as some stated in this thread some EXPENSIVE wheels are built just average.
WHen you watch racing, you do realize the companies that are involved do make some of the highest quality products available b/c that technology on the track goes into the street.
You can also tell what companies and employees are PASSIONATE of the wheels they build. To me that counts for a lot b/c they have more invested than just a paycheck. They want to sell the best wheels possible!
The analogy I always use is LEXUS is like a fine suit and you better get some good shoes with your suit.
Regg how many pairs of wheels have you had? I swear you change them monthly!!!
It also depends on what you use your car for. If you drive hard or the roads are awful, you better buy some quality wheels. If its a 3rd car or so, then maybe you don't need 3 piece forged wheels.
I don't think myself or most here have issues with low cost wheels. Its badly built wheels and as some stated in this thread some EXPENSIVE wheels are built just average.
WHen you watch racing, you do realize the companies that are involved do make some of the highest quality products available b/c that technology on the track goes into the street.
You can also tell what companies and employees are PASSIONATE of the wheels they build. To me that counts for a lot b/c they have more invested than just a paycheck. They want to sell the best wheels possible!
The analogy I always use is LEXUS is like a fine suit and you better get some good shoes with your suit.
Regg how many pairs of wheels have you had? I swear you change them monthly!!!
Well to me its all about doing the research. This goes beyond wheels, to EVERYTHING, furniture, shavers, beer
It also depends on what you use your car for. If you drive hard or the roads are awful, you better buy some quality wheels. If its a 3rd car or so, then maybe you don't need 3 piece forged wheels.
It also depends on what you use your car for. If you drive hard or the roads are awful, you better buy some quality wheels. If its a 3rd car or so, then maybe you don't need 3 piece forged wheels.