Replica wheel quality?

Wheels, Suspension, Brakes & Tyres questions and answers

Moderators: timk, Stu, -alex, miata, zombie, Andrew

User avatar
JBT
Speed Racer
Posts: 7946
Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2003 11:00 am
Vehicle: NC
Location: Brisbane

Re: Replica wheel quality?

Postby JBT » Wed May 11, 2016 5:10 pm

smy0003 wrote:
JBT wrote:

...but don't forget to add about $340 for freight ($50), wheels nuts ($100), centre caps ($130) and hub rings ($60). :wink:

The same costs need to be factored in to any wheel purchase, which is another argument for grabbing a second hand set with all that stuff already sorted.

All the new wheel sets I've checked lately have included all those things except freight.
Image

project.r.racing
Speed Racer
Posts: 3722
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2009 10:16 pm
Vehicle: Non MX-5
Location: Glasshouse Mountains, QLD

Re: Replica wheel quality?

Postby project.r.racing » Wed May 11, 2016 5:35 pm

Not all people shop for consumer wheels at Bridgestone/Goodyear/JAX.

User avatar
JBT
Speed Racer
Posts: 7946
Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2003 11:00 am
Vehicle: NC
Location: Brisbane

Re: Replica wheel quality?

Postby JBT » Wed May 11, 2016 5:52 pm

Exactly....which is why I know precisely what Autotechnik charge for the Enkei "accessories".
Image

User avatar
smy0003
Racing Driver
Posts: 1870
Joined: Mon Dec 30, 2013 12:35 pm
Vehicle: NA8
Location: Melbourne

Re: Replica wheel quality?

Postby smy0003 » Wed May 11, 2016 5:58 pm

JBT wrote:All the new wheel sets I've checked lately have included all those things except freight.


Thanks JBT, interested to know where you've been looking. Not trying to be a smart-arse, just interested.
[b]Then: Sunlight Silver NB8B
Now: Chaste White NA8

User avatar
JBT
Speed Racer
Posts: 7946
Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2003 11:00 am
Vehicle: NC
Location: Brisbane

Re: Replica wheel quality?

Postby JBT » Wed May 11, 2016 6:21 pm

Some of the various wheel outlets on the interweb....including the local Jax who have been very helpful. Can't remember all of them smy0003. Option 1 Garage have a good range of Koya and Rota except for the NCs.
Image

User avatar
hks_kansei
Speed Racer
Posts: 6154
Joined: Tue Feb 03, 2009 10:43 am
Vehicle: NB8A
Location: Victoria

Re: Replica wheel quality?

Postby hks_kansei » Wed May 11, 2016 6:28 pm

Many aftermarket wheels are fine to use with OEM wheel nuts.
Most still use the standard 60 degree (from memory) taper.
1999 Mazda MX5 - 1989 Honda CT110 (for sale) - 1994 Mazda 626 wagon (GF's)

Sirois
Driver
Posts: 41
Joined: Mon May 09, 2016 10:01 pm
Vehicle: Non MX-5

Re: Replica wheel quality?

Postby Sirois » Thu May 12, 2016 12:34 am

How would the Kosei K1 (the old Buddy Club P1) compare quality wise with the Enkei RPF1?
As I much prefer the looks of the Kosei K1

User avatar
JBT
Speed Racer
Posts: 7946
Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2003 11:00 am
Vehicle: NC
Location: Brisbane

Re: Replica wheel quality?

Postby JBT » Thu May 12, 2016 7:19 am

No wheels are immune to failure but....http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=408291
Image

project.r.racing
Speed Racer
Posts: 3722
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2009 10:16 pm
Vehicle: Non MX-5
Location: Glasshouse Mountains, QLD

Re: Replica wheel quality?

Postby project.r.racing » Thu May 12, 2016 8:36 am

I'm no expert. And have no experience with Kosies. But just by looking at the inside of the rim in JBTs linked thread. The amount of bubble holes and alloy pitting within the alloy itself is alarming. I'd suggest the metal pressure casting of the wheel isn't a good process. Hence the cracks.

User avatar
smy0003
Racing Driver
Posts: 1870
Joined: Mon Dec 30, 2013 12:35 pm
Vehicle: NA8
Location: Melbourne

Re: Replica wheel quality?

Postby smy0003 » Thu May 12, 2016 8:59 am

Enkei pioneered flow form casting for the mass market. The rpf1 is extremely light and strong, and there's a definite reason that they are by far the most popular performance wheel for Japanese cars in the world.
Enkei is an oem manufacturer for most of the Japanese brands, including Mazda, Honda and Infiniti.
Like others have said, if it's a track wheel, forget looks, the rpf1 will be far lighter and stronger.

Sent from my LG-H815 using Tapatalk
[b]Then: Sunlight Silver NB8B
Now: Chaste White NA8

User avatar
hks_kansei
Speed Racer
Posts: 6154
Joined: Tue Feb 03, 2009 10:43 am
Vehicle: NB8A
Location: Victoria

Re: Replica wheel quality?

Postby hks_kansei » Thu May 12, 2016 10:10 am

For the style of wheel you want, my understanding is that the Buddy Club P1 is the same visually, and a better quality wheel.

Brand new pricing is probably out of the budget, but thye come up used within your budget (often with tyres on them)
1999 Mazda MX5 - 1989 Honda CT110 (for sale) - 1994 Mazda 626 wagon (GF's)

rascal
Racing Driver
Posts: 1784
Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 1:39 pm
Vehicle: NB8A
Location: FarSE Melbourne

Re: Replica wheel quality?

Postby rascal » Thu May 12, 2016 2:55 pm

Sirois wrote:How would the Kosei K1 (the old Buddy Club P1) compare quality wise with the Enkei RPF1?
As I much prefer the looks of the Kosei K1

hks_kansei wrote:For the style of wheel you want, my understanding is that the Buddy Club P1 is the same visually, and a better quality wheel.

I dont doubt for a second that the Buddy Clubs and/or Enkei are a better quality wheel than the Kosei.
However to give some real world experience, almost 10 years ago I bought a set of Kosei K1s second hand.
Over the following 6 years and 60+ track days managed to bang them over/into more curbs/ripple strips on track than I care to remember, on sticky R spec tyres, and not one single drama or buckle, and they balanced up true every time I swapped/flipped tyres.
I've now transferred them to the 'wet' tyres (AD08s) and still occasionally give them a run, without issue. (most recently Natmeet at Symmons/Baskerville in Feb)

So if you like the look of the Kosei, then dont be put off by any quality concerns..

User avatar
JBT
Speed Racer
Posts: 7946
Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2003 11:00 am
Vehicle: NC
Location: Brisbane

Re: Replica wheel quality?

Postby JBT » Thu May 12, 2016 7:57 pm

The whole aftermarket wheel thing can be a bit of a quality gamble or you end up with the same known quality wheels that everyone else has. MX5 Parts seem to have some reasonable deals going on decent wheels for NA and NB. http://www.mx5parts.com.au/product-category/model/nb/wheels-nb
Image

StillIC
Racing Driver
Posts: 862
Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2011 2:30 pm
Vehicle: NA6
Location: Newcastle

Re: Replica wheel quality?

Postby StillIC » Thu May 12, 2016 8:53 pm

smy0003 wrote:Enkei pioneered flow form casting for the mass market. The rpf1 is extremely light and strong, and there's a definite reason that they are by far the most popular performance wheel for Japanese cars in the world.
Enkei is an oem manufacturer for most of the Japanese brands, including Mazda, Honda and Infiniti.
Like others have said, if it's a track wheel, forget looks, the rpf1 will be far lighter and stronger.

Sent from my LG-H815 using Tapatalk

According to a BBS video I watched, BBS invented this technique. It must have been more than 20 years ago because everyone seems to be doing it now.

Of interest, Enkei is no longer a Japanese brand. They are owned by YHI International.
http://www.yhigroup.com/our-partners/alloy-wheels/
WP:1.12.492 SMPN:1.16.403 SMPS:1.05.473 SMPGP:1.53.256 SMPB:2.22.181

User avatar
smy0003
Racing Driver
Posts: 1870
Joined: Mon Dec 30, 2013 12:35 pm
Vehicle: NA8
Location: Melbourne

Re: Replica wheel quality?

Postby smy0003 » Thu May 12, 2016 9:08 pm

I knew enkei was bought out by the company behind advanti. Didn't realise they also have OZ among others.

Sent from my LG-H815 using Tapatalk
[b]Then: Sunlight Silver NB8B
Now: Chaste White NA8


Return to “MX5 Wheels, Suspension, Brakes & Tyres”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 15 guests