People are constantly asking me or PMing me about this....so here's all the information that I've got.

Note: Their wheels come with a mounting kit which includes some metal hubcentric rings (cause they supposedly designed wheels specifically for the MINI, but didnt make them hub-centric), Tuner lugs and tuner keys (see here for more info on rust problems, and tuner key breaking issues: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...palo+uber+rust)

So when if you're interested in saving money by buying from the real manufacturer...you can buy the parts of the mounting kit from these places (and avoid rusty parts)

-Discount tire sells 4 metal hubcentric rings for $15.00
-Many places offer various types (chromed, locking, etc) around $50-60

Palo Uber Signature Series Forged Rims (17"- $1,598...$1,198 with NAM savings 18"- $1690....$1,295 with NAM "savings")


Sportmax 003




Prices from www.bigwheels.net (cheaper prices may be out there....just search for 'sportmax 003' )

17" - $254 each..... $1091 including mounting stuff..... $507 savings, $107 with NAM "savings"

18" - $309 each..... $1311 including mounting stuff..... $379 savings, NAM "savings" is cheaper by a few bucks...check for other companies (besides bigwheels.net to see if you can find cheaper prices)

Palo Uber Web Rims (17" 1495...$1,100 with NAM "savings")


Sportmax 006




Prices from www.bigwheels.net (cheaper prices may be out there....just search for 'sportmax 006' )

17" - $149 each..... $671 with mounting stuff..... $824 savings, $429 with NAM "savings"

Uber High Performance Street Rims (17"- $1,497.... $1,049 with NAM "savings")


Sportmax 009 (17" - $1497)


Price from bigwheels.net again

17"- $149 each....... $671 including mounting stuff..... $826 savings, $378 with NAM "savings"

Uber Autobahn Series rims (17"- $1,495 )


Sportmax 962



17"- $129 each...... $591 including mounting stuff..... $904 savings

Wheels no longer sold by Palo Uber


Axis wheels TC EVO...looks to be discontinued by axis....no longer on their site


I'm not here to complain or discuss Palo Uber's buisness ethics. I can't say for 100% that these are the exact wheels...but I'm 99.9% sure.

Things to take into consideration if you're worried about authenticity.

• -All of the sizes offered by PU are offered by Sportmax (width and diameter)
• -All of the offsets are identical
• -All of the weights are identical
• -They both offer the 4x100 lug pattern
• -The same colors that are offered by PU are available from Sportmax
• -The designs are exact...explore the spoke shape, or how the center area is handled
• -Both wheels have the same multi-lug design
• -The air valve stem hole is in the same location and designed the same way
• -When compared side by side (by a MINI owner) the stampings (numbers, 'forged') are in the exact same locations on both sets of wheels
• -Same process is used (e.g. forged for the 003's/signature series)

PU insists that their wheels are designed by one of their employers and manufactured by them over in england. I have confirmation from a large wheel distributor that Sportmax is the original designer and manufacturer of the wheels they sell. It's up to you to determine whether you think these are the same wheels and that all the likenesses are just a coincidence. Maybe two designers just happened to have the exact same idea for 4 of the same wheels....who can say for sure. I'm simply putting this out there for people interested in saving money. Saving close to 900 dollars could possibly mean 900 dollars towards those coilovers you want, or perhaps the pulley and CAI that you were eying.....all while getting some very nice wheels.

**Please....if you're about to post something complaining about PU and their business practice...bash them....argue...or any of that stuff....please take it else where. This thread is merely about the option to save money. I don't want it to turn into another long discussion over who likes them and who doesnt.**

If you have any on-topic questions....ask away

 

I agree the wheels do look similar, although the sportmax 009 and the sportmax 962 black photos show 10 lug bores instead of 8.

 

Good point to bring up....they are offered in 8 lug (4x100)....I just happened to have chosen the 5 lug pics as they are more common. Obviously the 8 lug would look different than the 10 lug wheel.

The sportmax 003 is very different when it's 5 lug....they have 10 spokes rather than 8. So i posted the 8 lug version.

(sorry pics look like they don't allow hotlinking...you'll have to click the link)

Here is the Sportmax 009 in 4x100(8 lug) from the edgeracing.com site (another NAM vendor)

http://www.edgeracing.com/images/wheel/sportmax_009_(gunmetal_sr)_angle_zoom.jpg

The sportmax 962 in 4x100 (8 lug)....in gold, but obviously the other colors are available (silver and gunmetal)....again, from edgeracing

http://www.edgeracing.com/images/wheel/sportmax_962_(gold)_angle_zoom.jpg

 

Thats because those two Sportmax photos he is linking to are generic stock photos of 5 lug variations of that same wheel. The 5 lug version of the 003 is a 10 spoke though, so the lug pattern is correct in this picture with the 8 spoke 003

 

Thanks for posting Rally

Everyone should be aware that this Co likes to sell off parts as their own, when you can get the same parts without the PU decal for much cheaper. Just like when they were trying to pass off the Mini-Madness intake as their own, and sell it for $100 more than MM ...

 

No problem Port....

Something interesting to investigate is the older Palo Uber wheels. You will see a blank indentation on one of the spokes and probably wonder to yourself.....hmmm why is there a blank rectangle indentation randomly on the wheel?



The answer would be.....they wanted to conceal the true manufacture of the wheel so they removed the axis badge, leaving an indentation behind.

You can see here that the original wheel comes with a badge that has obviously been removed . (excuse the colors....it was the largest image i could find. The wheel came in a large array of color options)

 

The Palo Uber wheels are definately Sportmax wheels rebadged. I have been dealing with Sportmax wheels for about a year now and I can definately tell that those wheels are identical to the Sportmax line.

Sportmax 003
17" - $184 each
18" - $227 each

Sportmax 006
17" - $139 each
18" - $165 each

Sportmax 009
17" - $139 each
18" - $165 each

Sportmax 962
17" - $129 each
18" - $145 each

Save alot more shopping from a Sportmax dealer.

Leo Barrios
leo@edgeracing.com
800-489-5353 x211
http://www.edgeracing.com

 

There ya go.....and you're still shopping from a NAM vendor while saving a lot of money. Thanks Leo.

On top of saving hundreds.... you're getting the real thing....not a wheel that's been rebadged with a PU sticker, marked up in price, and surrounded with lies about being designed by a fake artist, and manufactured by some guy in Europe.

Leo....you should tell sportmax about this the next time you deal with them. It seems as though it's blatant copyright infringement.

 

my close buddy is a dealer for sportmax wheels, those are definitely them.

 

How can you jump to the fact of copyright infringment?

SportMax, rebadges wheels for lots of wheel distributors btw.

 

I got it from Bryce at PU.....he insisted that the designs were his and that sportmax was guilty of infringement. I figure now that we have compared the wheels side by side, and have been assured that Sportmax makes the wheels....the infringement would just be reverse

 

This should be stickied.

 

Because, when one company manufactures for another under license, or is licensed to sell another company's product as its own, by definition there is no infringement. On the other hand, when one company claims it is the designer and manufacturer of a product really designed and manufactured by another, it is a different matter. If both companies know of the deception, it's likely consumer fraud. If only the reseller knows, its consumer fraud and copyright/patent infringement....

 

Any pics with the chromed Sportmax 006 and Sportmax 009 on minis?

Wheels look nice alone, but when on a car its a different story.

 

I'll have a look around and see what i can find. As of right now, I can't recall any pictures of those wheels on a MINI.

By chrome do you mean just silver or do they offer a special chrome finish?

 

The silver ones in the pic

 

Its a bit scary to think so many people actually like sportmax type wheels to warrant a thread like this....

 

The Sportmax 003 is one of the NICEST designed wheels in the Japanese wheel market (Volk CE28N replica)...

 

nicest in the Japanese market (made in China)

 

I meant JDM styling, should've been more clear lol

 

You think the lead in the paint is what makes them heavier than the CE28's?

 

 

All lead is good for is putting the shine in paint.

 

just don't lick it... you'll be fine

 

ive worked with lead paint for years (classic car paint, has all sorts of other poisonous and toxic chemicals in them that make them last and shine for 50 years), and i turned out fine! Although Kyriian may disagree that i turned out fine. By the way Kyriian, i was wrong about theitalianjobs clutch, he is running a CM FX200. I have always thought he ran a spec stg2 setup.

Beecher