Knock off Imitation Wheels Can Be Dangerous

Did you notice that the imitation wheel did not bounce under impact like the real one did and the weight even bounced back up on the real one. Sort of like the imitation wheel was getting a much harder blow.

Jim

 

It didn't bounce because it absorbed the energy by breaking. I understand that this is a manufacturers promo, but I have no problem believing it.

 

Hummm, guess it just did not look exactly right to me, but then I don't have their wheels, so it is a mute point.

Jim

 

Beaner is right- They broke instead of absorbing.

The wheels broke and it is because of the cheap aluminum used in manufacturing them. The material is hard and brittle.

Quality wheels will usually not break, They will bend at the rim if you hit a sharp edge object such as a pot-hole.

Like Metelman pointed out.---

:beer

 

Our fearless leader has found the case to be otherwise...

 

There is a wide variety of qualities in wheel manufacture and materials, but don't always believe the hype: some expensive wheels are no better than some cheap wheels. The bottom line is that if you whack a wheel hard enough, it's going to break, whether it be a HRE with inlaid diamonds or a lowly ROTA. Just this weekend, Alex from Helix was rockin' his new (to him) $1200 apiece, refinished BBS wheels, hit a modest pothole and destroyed two of them:

 

They are also not designed to transfer load to the hub being hit where they are hitting those. All they are testing to me is the quality of the metal used... doesnt mean it cannot withstand forces that a normal wheel sees.

Its like saying "Our wheels won't crack if you slide into a curb at 30 mph" or something like that lol.

Good looking wheel BTW

 

I remember a rather good thread that listed some of the top manufacturers (http://www.motoringalliance.com/forums/brakes-tires-wheels/4880-who-quality-aftermarket-wheel-mfgs.html#post47535). Regardless of the brand, are there certain industry standards, like with a tire, that manufacturers have to report their model of rim against?

 

ohhh :smilewinkgrin:

 

Imagine jumping on a trampoline. The trampoline material is strong, and it bends but does not break, so the material springs back. Now imagine it were paper instead of springy stuff. Paper has some give but is weaker, so you'd jump right through and wouldn't bounce back. In the same manner, the stronger aluminum doesn't reach its yield strength, so it retains its elasticity. The weaker wheel reaches both yield and ultimate strength and the material cracks, retaining none of its elasticity.

 

JWL TESTS:

Cornering Fatigue Test (Drum Endurance Test)
The purpose of this test is for checking wheel rim strength and durability. Place a wheel assembly with tire on test equipment. Radial stress is then added to simulate vehicle weight.

Test run 500,000 cycles
After 500,000 cycles inspect for cracks, deformation and any nut loosening.

Radial Load Fatigue Test (Rotary Bending Test)
JWL pass criteria: 100,000 cycles
The purpose of this test is for checking durability of the wheel disc. The spokes and the hub are the first point of weight distribution from the vehicle and spoke strength is gauged by this test.

Place a wheel on testing equipment and by adding bending stress to center of disc –

Test run 100,000 cycles
After 100,000 cycles, inspect for cracks, deformation and any nut loosening.

13 Degree Impact Test
JWL pass criteria: 594 kg

The main purpose of test is for checking strength between rim and disc cross section. The “joint” or the area where the spoke and the rim meet is an important structural area that is subject to great stress. The horizontal weight of the rim and the vertical stress of the spokes meet at this joint and proper structural stability is crucial for a proper wheel.

The wheel assembly is placed with tire tilted 13 degrees from horizontal plane on testing equipment.

A preset weight is dropped on the outer sidewall of tire, thus giving impact to the wheel/tire. Then inspect for cracks, deformation and air leak.

This test is very important for the recent trend of a larger/wider wheel with lower profile tire combination, because there is less air volume than OE wheel/tire and more stress to inner rim section. This test simulates actual usage condition such as hitting corner curb or objects from side.

VIA (Vehicle Inspection Association)
Third party organization (In Japan) that enforces the JWL standards. They make sure that companies are adhering to governmental standards

 

TUV Certification - Technischer Uberwachungs-Verien (TUV) translates to Technical Examination Association in Germany. This is another third-party testing group which began in Germany and now has locations worldwide. The TUV Certification is the highest performance and durability standard any product can hope to meet. To even be considered for testing, all companies must first be ISO 9001:2000.

 

you can't link us to your gmail box silly! ut:

 

Good thread. Are there similar standards/tests that US wheel manufacturers use?

My HREs were stupid expensive, but they aren't necessarily ones that I would take to the track.

 

So do you think if I was to get a set of light weight wheels (I'm really liking the OZ), will I be abel to find some sort of JWL or TUV 'compliance' designation?

 

It's usually stamped on the inside of the wheel spokes.