Baer BBK Installed

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by tech4pdx

People put WAY too much emphasis on brand. This mentality reminds me of the people who endlessly speak negatively about Microsoft but don't really know anything about technology.

Rota metallurgy is inferior to Rays.

Do you use use an apple/samsung/lg/htc/google phone? Or the cheap knockoff from china that also runs android?

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by diss7

Also, anyone that thinks Chinese manufacturing is regulated is dreaming.

Some is.

Most isn't. They will stamp JWL certs on shit all day, it doesn't mean it is.

I used to import a lot of stuff from cheap manufacturers. Wholesalers are buying fake wheels for $50 or less, then marking up 400% and selling to market. Who is the sucker now?

Go have a look on alibaba if you don't believe me.

Rota PR has done an excellent job over the last few years, convincing people that are a a reputable brand.

Rota's quality HAS gone up a bit, and their stuff is not alibaba stuff.

[diss7]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

Rota's quality HAS gone up a bit, and their stuff is not alibaba stuff.

It only went up enough to reduce the amount of failures, which then has an effect on business risk and ultimately insurance risk/cost.

They probably determined that it was better to make a marginally better product, and pay much less in business liability insurance.

I would like to believe they did it to try and build a reputable brand, they would better accomplish this by not blatently copying other manufacturers designs.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by diss7

It only went up enough to reduce the amount of failures, which then has an effect on business risk and ultimately insurance risk/cost.

They probably determined that it was better to make a marginally better product, and pay much less in business liability insurance.

I would like to believe they did it to try and build a reputable brand, they would better accomplish this by not blatently copying other manufacturers designs.

Regardless, is that not an improvement in quality?

Ironically...

http://jalopnik.com/knockoff-wheelma...eel-1137837262

[diss7]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

Regardless, is that not an improvement in

For sure. I was just further adding reason why not to support a company that blatently rips of others intellectual property.

Rays/Work/SSR could make wheels cheaper too, if all they had to do was buy someone elses wheel and copy it, rather than design / test / hope-the-market-likes-it , themselves.

Re: your link, that is an obvious attempt by Rota PR to do/act like a genuine wheel manfactuer. "Our wheels are so good, people copy them. Make sure you buy ours, because that are OG bruh" is how I take that article.

[jamesm]

I'm not arguing that the metallurgy or process isn't more refined or more expensive to produce, just that you, not being a formula 1 driver, benefit nothing from it. You can't tell whether your wheels weigh 15lbs or 17lbs. You just can't. You buy them because it's what the cool kids do, and for no other reason.

Again, I didn't say they're "the same". I said they're "functionally identical". Big difference. Their function is to be round and roll. And you're not a race car driver.

[diss7]

Originally Posted by jamesm

I'm not arguing that the metallurgy or process isn't more refined or more expensive to produce, just that you, not being a formula 1 driver, benefit nothing from it. You can't tell whether your wheels weigh 15lbs or 17lbs. You just can't. You buy them because it's what the cool kids do, and for no other reason.

Again, I didn't say they're "the same". I said they're "functionally identical". Big difference. Their function is to be round and roll. And you're not a race car driver.

Funny that, being that I own a race car, and drive it.

Any half-wit driver can feel the difference from lighter wheels.

You said they are functionally the same, I argued they weren't.

Your definition of a wheel's function concludes that a sewer drain lid is an acceptable wheel.

Comparing a 15lb Volk to a 17lb Rota is hardly apples for apples. Rota's attempt at lightweight wheels result in numerous failures, because they are cheaply cast, where as the Volk is forged.

I realise you are one of these "I gain rep for buying cheaper stuff, because only wankers buy expensive stuff" So you believe that anyone buying nice stuff is doing it to impress others/hard park.

Some people buy quality stuff because they have been down the road of buying cheaper alternatives, only to ultimately experienve why the alternative is cheaper.

I've had fake wheels in my day. I had 8 or so sets when I competiviely drifted. I had 3 or 4 sets of drift-teks in particular. Some would bend like butter when I hit a rubble strip on the track, others (that looked identical) just took the abuse. They were visually identical, bought at the same time etc etc. So, I experienced first hand what cheap wheels can be like.

I had a big spin in the 86 on the track a month or so ago. Big hit into a what was more of a curb than a rumble strip. I was convinced the wheel would have been destroyed, so much so I just drove car off track and inspected. It was fine, little mark, otherwise no damage. My tie rod however, was not so lucky. Wheel balanced up perfectly fine afterwards. Guess what it was, a volk se37k.

Do what you like with your car, I couldn't give 2 shits. But, what does give me the shits is people claiming fake wheels are the same as the real deal. You can THINK it all you like. They aren't.

[jamesm]

Originally Posted by diss7

Funny that, being that I own a race car, and drive it.

Any half-wit driver can feel the difference from lighter wheels.

You said they are functionally the same, I argued they weren't.

Your definition of a wheel's function concludes that a sewer drain lid is an acceptable wheel.

Comparing a 15lb Volk to a 17lb Rota is hardly apples for apples. Rota's attempt at lightweight wheels result in numerous failures, because they are cheaply cast, where as the Volk is forged.

I realise you are one of these "I gain rep for being cheaper stuff, because only wankers buy expensive stuff" So you believe that anyone buying nice stuff is doing it to impress others/hard park.

You can't tell the difference between 2lbs worth of wheel. You just can't. Just like you can't tell if your exhaust is 3lbs lighter than the next guy's. You buy them because other people think they're cool, and you hope that by extension they will think that you're cool. If you actually needed the competitive advantage they may or may not offer, someone would be buying them for you and paying you to drive on them.

It's really not an issue with me though. Have fun with it, just be honest and realistic about the motivation.

[diss7]

I edited my post above, to justify my own stance on the matter. I have nothing further to add, especially within a thread about a brake kit.

[dem00n]

How do we know said owner doesn't have more set of wheels?

You guys are funny.

Teehee.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by jamesm

You can't tell the difference between 2lbs worth of wheel. You just can't. Just like you can't tell if your exhaust is 3lbs lighter than the next guy's. You buy them because other people think they're cool, and you hope that by extension they will think that you're cool. If you actually needed the competitive advantage they may or may not offer, someone would be buying them for you and paying you to drive on them.

It's really not an issue with me though. Have fun with it, just be honest and realistic about the motivation.

I bet that you'd notice if you educated yourself in what to look for. Just how a BBK that reduces weight will also be noticeable.

[bfrank1972]

Originally Posted by diss7

Funny that, being that I own a race car, and drive it.

Any half-wit driver can feel the difference from lighter wheels.

You said they are functionally the same, I argued they weren't.

Your definition of a wheel's function concludes that a sewer drain lid is an acceptable wheel.

Comparing a 15lb Volk to a 17lb Rota is hardly apples for apples. Rota's attempt at lightweight wheels result in numerous failures, because they are cheaply cast, where as the Volk is forged.

I realise you are one of these "I gain rep for buying cheaper stuff, because only wankers buy expensive stuff" So you believe that anyone buying nice stuff is doing it to impress others/hard park.

Some people buy quality stuff because they have been down the road of buying cheaper alternatives, only to ultimately experienve why the alternative is cheaper.

I've had fake wheels in my day. I had 8 or so sets when I competiviely drifted. I had 3 or 4 sets of drift-teks in particular. Some would bend like butter when I hit a rubble strip on the track, others (that looked identical) just took the abuse. They were visually identical, bought at the same time etc etc. So, I experienced first hand what cheap wheels can be like.

I had a big spin in the 86 on the track a month or so ago. Big hit into a what was more of a curb than a rumble strip. I was convinced the wheel would have been destroyed, so much so I just drove car off track and inspected. It was fine, little mark, otherwise no damage. My tie rod however, was not so lucky. Wheel balanced up perfectly fine afterwards. Guess what it was, a volk se37k.

Do what you like with your car, I couldn't give 2 shits. But, what does give me the shits is people claiming fake wheels are the same as the real deal. You can THINK it all you like. They aren't.

Uhh what this rant doing in a brake thread?

[tech4pdx]

Good god, the domestic guys are laughing at this thread right now..

[ZionsWrath]

Well that escalated quickly