Show me your WHEELS!
There are a lot of good looking affordable wheels that AREN'T replicas, but that doesn't mean that can satisfy one's hunger for the BBS LM look. If a replica gets the job done then why not? Satisfaction to one's self is key even if others look down upon it.
Former Vendor
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,337
Likes: 4
From: oh10
It has very little to do with what's "cool".
It's not fair to the original companies. They spend a great deal of time and money to design, test, re-design, manufacture, and then market each wheel design. Companies like BBS, Volk, OZ have spent a great deal of time and effort to establish a name for their companies and wheels. They are known to be expensive, but it's also known that the expense is justified with high quality, strong, and original products.
Now let's introduce a cheap company that comes in and rather than come up with a similar design or a design on their own, they just make a direct copy. By cutting corners where it counts (strength, paint quality, quality of metal, lack of testing, one-piece wheels versus two-piece wheels) they are able to offer the wheels at a much lower cost. Now all of a sudden the original wheels lose their exclusivity, their design is now associated to low quality products, and the market for them is being stolen by imitations.
The sales and purchases are hurting the high quality wheel companies a great deal. The replicas are hurting the companies financially as well as damaging the name that the companies have worked so hard to create for themselves. Selling and buying replica wheels is only going to hinder the future of wheel design as the quality wheel companies struggle to survive among a market full of idea-thiefs. I wish I could afford wheels in that price range too, but out of fairness I refuse to buy replicas when the real wheel is still available for purchase. The same goes for all other products for me. It's out of respect for the time and effort that is put in by hard working individuals seeking to create original products.
From the article where I got the pictures:
“Image losses due to poor quality, and economic losses for the world-wide AC Schnitzer dealership organization amounting to millions, are only two important reasons why AC Schnitzer is taking firm action against product piracy,”
Last edited by Rally@StanceDesign; Mar 23, 2009 at 09:52 AM.
Morals.
It's not fair to the original companies. They spend a great deal of time and money to design, test, re-design, manufacture, and then market each wheel design. Companies like BBS, Volk, OZ have spent a great deal of time and effort to establish a name for their companies and wheels for high quality, strong wheels. They are known to be expensive, but it's also known that the expense is justified with high quality products.
No let's introduce a cheap company that comes in and rather than come up with a similar design or a design on their own, they just make a direct copy. By cutting corners where it counts (strength, paint quality, quality of metal, lack of testing, one-piece wheels versus two-piece wheels) they are able to offer the wheels at a much lower cost. Now all of a sudden the Original wheels lose their exclusivity their design is now associated to low quality products, and the market for them is being stolen by imitations.
The sales and purchases are hurting the high quality wheel companies a great deal. Selling and buying replica wheels is only going to hinder the future of wheel design as the quality wheel companies struggle to survive among a market full of idea-thiefs. I wish I could afford wheels in that price range too, but out of morals I refuse to buy replicas when the real wheel is still available for purchase. The same goes for all products for me. It's out of respect for the time and effort that is put in by hard working individuals seeking to create original products.
From the article where I got the pictures:
It's not fair to the original companies. They spend a great deal of time and money to design, test, re-design, manufacture, and then market each wheel design. Companies like BBS, Volk, OZ have spent a great deal of time and effort to establish a name for their companies and wheels for high quality, strong wheels. They are known to be expensive, but it's also known that the expense is justified with high quality products.
No let's introduce a cheap company that comes in and rather than come up with a similar design or a design on their own, they just make a direct copy. By cutting corners where it counts (strength, paint quality, quality of metal, lack of testing, one-piece wheels versus two-piece wheels) they are able to offer the wheels at a much lower cost. Now all of a sudden the Original wheels lose their exclusivity their design is now associated to low quality products, and the market for them is being stolen by imitations.
The sales and purchases are hurting the high quality wheel companies a great deal. Selling and buying replica wheels is only going to hinder the future of wheel design as the quality wheel companies struggle to survive among a market full of idea-thiefs. I wish I could afford wheels in that price range too, but out of morals I refuse to buy replicas when the real wheel is still available for purchase. The same goes for all products for me. It's out of respect for the time and effort that is put in by hard working individuals seeking to create original products.
From the article where I got the pictures:
I understand your side and your point of view, I just hope you understand mines. 
Former Vendor
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,337
Likes: 4
From: oh10
The ferrari thing was just a joke
I definitely see your side/perspective and understand it. I just feel that there are great alternatives out there. Enjoy the look of a 17 or 18 inch mesh wheel with 2-piece style bolts like the LM? ASA AR1's are a great option...and those don't run into the same moral issues. You don't HAVE to have wheels that looks JUST LIKE LM's if you like the design. You can live within your budget and get wheels of a similar design without dealing with pirated/stolen designs.
Just my personal opinion, though I respect where you're coming from.
Just my personal opinion, though I respect where you're coming from.
SSR Type-C in anthracite, currently on closeout at TireRack. (Lightest 16" wheels they offer.) They're a bit aggressive looking for my taste, I bought them for function, not form.
I think the centre caps which come with them are rather dorky, I'd be happy to leave off the centre caps. When you get to the track, they should be taken off anyway. I'm just a bit worried that the front axel bits looks so exposed.
I'm glad the stickers came not already stuck, I was contemplating that I'd have to remove them if they were already attached. As it is, I have spare stickers if anyone wants them. I may have spare centre caps if I can find an alternative. Given the MSRP of the centre caps is $35!! I'm a little hesitant to just cut them up, but I may do.
I'm glad the stickers came not already stuck, I was contemplating that I'd have to remove them if they were already attached. As it is, I have spare stickers if anyone wants them. I may have spare centre caps if I can find an alternative. Given the MSRP of the centre caps is $35!! I'm a little hesitant to just cut them up, but I may do.