 Depending on wheel style popularity, copy wheels are usually ordered by multiple dealers and from different factories in China. The reason they are cheaper is that they are made purely to a price to maximise profits, not to a standard. For those who think that not being able to visually spot the difference means the strength of a copy or replica wheel is the same as the genuine, refer to the articles and images below. Note that in the case of the copy/replica VY Signature 20 inch rims below, the centre of one wheel has completely fallen out and the other has also cracked all the way round. This just does not happen with properly engineered and factory genuine wheels.
The image below is of another set of copy/replica VY Signature rims where both centres have failed. Factory genuine wheels must pass impact as well as a variety of critical tests before they are approved for use on public highways. This involves more than just visual inspection by an untrained eye as if it were either a fake watch or handbag.
Click on the image to be taken to the original forum article. The image below is of a copy/replica VY CV8-R, once again, the sellers of these wheels are more interested in your money than your ultimate safety. What a feeling it must be when the centre falls out of wheel while a vehicle is in motion. Note the copy HSV decal in the wheel centre and the marking in the road where it can be clearly seen axle has to a grinding halt.
The image below is another typical of what we have had emailed to us from customers seeking replacements for what they assumed were genuine wheels. In the case below, the NON GENUINE COPY VY SS 18x8 has no signs of impact damage. What is clearly evident on the rim is that it is only held in place by three and a bit spokes and that it has failed as a consequence of the inferior metal content or poor manufacturing process. If you have an image of copy wheel that has suffered the same fate and would like it included in this section, please feel free to forward it with the town or suburb you are from. Brief story will also be included if you wish.
Copy wheels are manufactured by the assorted manufacturers only while the demand for that particular rim style is high. As a consequence, once demand drops, replacement wheels are impossible to find. On the other hand, HSV still have stocks of most of their rims including the 1993 VR Clubsport rims. Unfortunately wheels damaged by impacts are not something most people generally allow for or have any control over. Three wheels are as nearly as useful as none.
We often get enquiries for single replacement rims where as a consequence of the rim having a HSV style decal in the centre, the customer assumes they have genuine rims only to come to the realisation that they have copy wheels that is no longer available. Due to finish, offset and other variations, a genuine rim is not a suitable substitute for a copy wheel.
Depending on popularity, copy wheels are usually sourced from multiple sources and different factories in China. The reason they are cheaper is that they are made purely to a price to maximise profits for the suppliers involved. They have rarely passed any wheel standard and as such have a dubious structural integrity. Materials used are also usually inferior to the genuine item and are often not the correct offset and may also have incorrect hub locating bore hole size. Wheels not correctly located on a stub axle will inherently cause vehicle vibration issues.
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