After Market Wheels - WARNING!

[Corradobrit]

The issue is not that the wheels have no formal load rating, (although this is where the op has found out about the issue, when doing the right thing by contacting thier insurer, to advise of the modification)

as had been mentioned aftermarket wheels do not require and testing or certification To be sold in the U.K. (unlike wheels supplied with a new car! )

the issue is that the seller falsely claims in the sales blurb that the wheels are load rated, which they are not and cannot be claimed to be load rated without appropriate certification.

This claim and certification would require testing and certification of conformity.
the seller is unable to provided the certification and therefore is unable to substantiate the claim made in the sales literature. (despite specific claims the wheels are load rated, implying they have been tested and certified )

The Original poster may have made his decision to purchase the wheels based on the Seller ver specific false claim / advertising :

” these fully load-rated alloy wheels are built to handle heavy-duty tasks, with a weight capacity of up to 1250KG per wheel.”

along with other claims on their sales site, advising all the products sold are fully complaint for U.K. insurance, which they clearly are not.

this practice is deceptive and deliberately misleading As defined by Consumer Law U.K.

Therefore a customer would naturally assume the Seller could substantiate the claims they have specified in the sales literature, which obviously they cannot!

I don't disagree at all. All I'm saying is that any manufacture that isn't providing this info indelibly marked on the casting is to be avoided. The legit brands including aftermarket ones do this.

 

[Perfectos]

I don't disagree at all. All I'm saying is that any manufacture that isn't providing this info indelibly marked on the casting is to be avoided. The legit brands including aftermarket ones do this.

I agree , the wheels would have to be delivered to check that out.

thats why legit wheels cost more Than untested wheels.

Untested does not necessarily mean dangerous or rubbish but you have to question why they are untested.

The seller can’t specifically claim they are load rated to 1250kg, when they (the seller) know very well they are not formally rated and therefore not compliant with U.K. insurers as claimed, which tells you something about the business IMO

 

[Roguealloyco]

I want to share with you my experience and it should be a warning to others considering purchasing after market wheels.

I bought a set of wheels and tyres from Rogue Alloys. Nice glossy wheels and big tyres. The problem came when I told my insurance company. They didnt have an issue with swapping the wheels, they just asked for details of the wheels, manufacturer and certificate of conformity stating that they are suitable for the van. Ha! I had none of these I thought but Rogue will have them. I was wrong and neither was I able get these details. I asked Rogue but got nothing other than changing stories about who was the manufacturer and impoter and that its hard to get the details story. To this day, I still.do not know other than they are made in China.

My suggestion to anyone looking to change the wheels...I would suggest finding the wheel that you like and then ask the company for the testing certificate. There has ro be some form of quality testing that conforms to eu or uk standards like with any product. I asked Rogue for this and they couldn't provide. Rogue told me that all they do is re sell them from JB Wheels. I asked JB Wheels for the certificate and got nothing. In the end, I wasted about 800 pounds which were the price of the wheels as I could reuse the tyres. I've wasted hours in time.

I've now bought Borbet wheels which are made in the EU and have all the relevant testing documentation.

We pay alot of money for these vans. Putting nice looking cheap Chinese wheels on doesn't make sense. In the end t's the wheels and tyres that keep us and others safe on the road.

You just need to do your own research.

Hi shane

The problem didn’t come when you told your insurance company. It was when you decided to move to Switzerland

In Switzerland you require a TUV approved wheel, we don’t advertise these wheels as having that, only that they are load rated and tested to 1250kg

We have TUV approved wheels on our website, but you opted for the more economy option.

We’ve provided you with the test certificate to prove the load rating is correct at 1250kg

The same certificates used on many aftermarket wheels across the uk for the last 30 years, which are happily accepted by insurance companies

We’ve provided you with the origin of the wheels and even the address of the factory they were made in

The wheels in question were for a Ducato, yet you keep posting the same scathing reviews on every forum

We do not require to have TUV approval in the uk, nor do we ask our customers if they plan on moving to Switzerland or Germany with every purchase

We’ve offered you a full refund even though the wheels have been on for over a year, and you’ve been bad mouthing us since last may

The matter is now with our solicitors and we will open a case of defamation

Rogue alloy

 

[Roguealloyco]

Bit harsh Sidepod, if you go to a website that advertises wheel and tyre packages specifically for your type of van then I think you should reasonably expect that they would comply with local standards. You can’t know everything about everything.

On the TUV testing, perhaps it’s worth compiling a list of manufacturers that do have the necessary certificates. Sounds like Borbet do for a start.

The wheels had a load rating of 1250kg, which was 250kg more per wheel required for his Ducato… the wheels also have a lifetime structural warranty so are not ‘bad quality’

 

[Roguealloyco]

I agree , the wheels would have to be delivered to check that out.

thats why legit wheels cost more Than untested wheels.

Untested does not necessarily mean dangerous or rubbish but you have to question why they are untested.

The seller can’t specifically claim they are load rated to 1250kg, when they (the seller) know very well they are not formally rated and therefore not compliant with U.K. insurers as claimed, which tells you something about the business IMO

The wheels had a load rating of 1250kg, which was 250kg more per wheel required for his Ducato… the wheels also have a lifetime structural warranty so are not ‘bad quality’

We have provided the customer with the correct load rating certificates accepted by insurance companies, the wheels aren’t, nor were they sold as being TUV approved, which he now requires as he’s moved to Switzerland

 

[Corradobrit]

 

[Roguealloyco]

If OP paid with a credit card I would be initiating a charge back as thew wheels are not suitable for advertised purpose with insurance and liability implications.

The wheels had a load rating of 1250kg, which was 250kg more per wheel required for his Ducato… the wheels also have a lifetime structural warranty so are not ‘bad quality’

We’ve provided the relevant load certificates

But they don’t comply with Swiss laws, this is where he has now moved too

 

[Roguealloyco]

Simply return the unused wheels to the company?
10% restocking charge

if they won’t take them back go small claims

View attachment 117581

View attachment 117582

The customer has move to Switzerland, which have different laws to the uk

We didn’t advertise these wheels as having TUV approval, so have not mislead anyone

The wheels had a load rating of 1250kg, which was 250kg more per wheel required for his Ducato… the wheels also have a lifetime structural warranty so are not ‘bad quality’

 

[Corradobrit]

A move to Switzerland adds a new wrinkle. The legal requirements there and in Germany are completely different. If this is the situation then we're dealing with a very different kettle of fish. Good to hear 2 sides of the story.

 

[Roguealloyco]

A move to Switzerland adds a new wrinkle. The legal requirements there and in Germany are completely different. If this is the situation then we're dealing with a very different kettle of fish. Good to hear 2 sides of the story.

 

[Roguealloyco]

We went above and beyond for this customer

We obtained information on the wheels/factory/factory workers.. something we’ve never been asked to do as it just isn’t relevant in the uk

The Swiss required TUV approval, the wheels don’t have it, he then threatens ‘social media reviews’… here we are are

We sent the wheels to Barnsley. We ship to Switzerland, had he have bought them and wanted them there, we wouldn’t have shipped as customs would’ve been very difficult with anti dumping taxes

We sell tuv approved wheels, he opted for our own brand

 

[ArunAlec]

A move to Switzerland adds a new wrinkle. The legal requirements there and in Germany are completely different. If this is the situation then we're dealing with a very different kettle of fish. Good to hear 2 sides of the story.

Sounds like a can of worms….. would non TUV wheels fitted to a Uk vehicle travelling in Europe be legal under European law, ie could you get prosecuted ?

 

[Grigio Van Grigio]

Hi shane

The problem didn’t come when you told your insurance company. It was when you decided to move to Switzerland

In Switzerland you require a TUV approved wheel, we don’t advertise these wheels as having that, only that they are load rated and tested to 1250kg

We have TUV approved wheels on our website, but you opted for the more economy option.

We’ve provided you with the test certificate to prove the load rating is correct at 1250kg

The same certificates used on many aftermarket wheels across the uk for the last 30 years, which are happily accepted by insurance companies

We’ve provided you with the origin of the wheels and even the address of the factory they were made in

The wheels in question were for a Ducato, yet you keep posting the same scathing reviews on every forum

We do not require to have TUV approval in the uk, nor do we ask our customers if they plan on moving to Switzerland or Germany with every purchase

We’ve offered you a full refund even though the wheels have been on for over a year, and you’ve been bad mouthing us since last may

The matter is now with our solicitors and we will open a case of defamation

Rogue alloy

@SheffieldSteel, you have right of response here. Please do so. If this is correct, you have deliberately misled us all and I wouldn’t blame Rogue Alloys for taking legal action.

 

[Corradobrit]

Sounds like a can of worms….. would non TUV wheels fitted to a Uk vehicle travelling in Europe be legal under European law, ie could you get prosecuted ?

I think it is only required to meet these standards if the vehicle is registered and insured in CH or DE. The OP's wheels would have been reflagged as non compliant during the visual inspection required before it can be registered in CH.

 

[Velma's Dad]

Sounds like a can of worms….. would non TUV wheels fitted to a Uk vehicle travelling in Europe be legal under European law, ie could you get prosecuted ?

Probably. In Austria on the other hand, probably not. Because in Germany everything is forbidden which is not allowed, whereas in Austria everything is allowed which is not forbidden. (And in France, everything is allowed even if it's forbidden.)

 

[Perfectos]

@SheffieldSteel , your Profile states U.K. !

all the post I read refer to U.K. compliance / insurance / consumer protect etc etc .

did you fit and use the wheels for a year ?

did you deliberately mislead this and other forums?

I think you owe a full disclosure ?

 

[Californication69]

Nice to hear both sides of the story.

 

[Roguealloyco]

Sounds like a can of worms….. would non TUV wheels fitted to a Uk vehicle travelling in Europe be legal under European law, ie could you get prosecuted ?

We have customers on our wheels travelling the world, the arctic circle and across the Sahara

Unless they decide to reside in Switzerland or Germany and therefore need an mot in those counties they have to meet the laws of the land

Which they will then need tuv approved parts that are aftermarket

 

[Californication69]

We have customers on our wheels travelling the world, the arctic circle and across the Sahara

Just spitballing here, so if, let’s say, someone I know, has the paperwork from the Chinese factory that produces the wheels for a UK importer & reseller, that’s showing the Chinese tests and can confirm it’s rated to 1250KG, and spin and drop tests, etc.
Does that suffice for UK insurance if you tell them you have aftermarket wheels and they are load rated to 1250kg for each wheel?
It’s very much a grey area for customers, insurance and suppliers of wheels?
Or is it clear cut, just curious, for that person I know
I did notice my insurance would only cover me travelling to certain countries, so would need specialised insurance to cover, going to different countries/ continents, but I guess travelling through, let’s say Switzerland, the Swiss wouldn’t care what I was driving on, even lumps of cheese would suffice, as I don’t live there ?

 

[Corradobrit]

@SheffieldSteel , your Profile states U.K. !

all the post I read refer to U.K. compliance / insurance / consumer protect etc etc .

did you fit and use the wheels for a year ?

did you deliberately mislead this and other forums?

I think you owe a full disclosure ?

View attachment 117609

I guess he overlooked that little detail although has been a member here since 2014, so nothing too egregious. He drives a Ducato now.
Obfuscating key information though is a huge problem and deceptive in order to make a point and smear a vendor.
As already mentioned Rogue are well within their rights to seek legal redress. Better lawyer up SS, but deleting all these mischievous threads would be a good start.

 

[Roguealloyco]

Just spitballing here, so if, let’s say, someone I know, has the paperwork from the Chinese factory that produces the wheels for a UK importer & reseller, that’s showing the Chinese tests and can confirm it’s rated to 1250KG, and spin and drop tests, etc.
Does that suffice for UK insurance if you tell them you have aftermarket wheels and they are load rated to 1250kg for each wheel?
It’s very much a grey area for customers, insurance and suppliers of wheels?
Or is it clear cut, just curious, for that person I know
I did notice my insurance would only cover me travelling to certain countries, so would need specialised insurance to cover, going to different countries/ continents, but I guess travelling through, let’s say Switzerland, the Swiss wouldn’t care what I was driving on, even lumps of cheese would suffice, as I don’t live there ?

You would have the ask the Swiss that

The tests our wheels go through, and the documents we receive are sufficient enough for lots of customers that ask for us to provide them for their insurers

We also work with a lot of weight engineering companies when people want to increase the weight their van can carry, some as high as 5,000kg

These certificates are also enough for those guys, and have been for many years

Funnily enough we are in talks with TUV about gaining the approval on some of our models as we have motorhome manufacturers in Germany that want to use them from factory

 

[sidepod]

So the wheels in question are “tested” and “rated “ at 1250kg?

I’m not sure what that means without an independent testing authority certifying them?
For all we know it could just be a static load test, something that’s completely different to a high speed kerb strike or long term fatigue testing.

Just playing devils advocate here but in my job I’ve seen how much wheels deflect under load.

It’s a delicate subject this as many people just go with the bling factor and their vans rarely see anything like a full loading cruising around the lanes of the uK. The point being a failure would be pretty rare but for all the wrong reasons.

It does look as if the OP has an axe to grind?

 

[andyinluton]

I guess he overlooked that little detail although has been a member here since 2014, so nothing too egregious. He drives a Ducato now.

He’s also forgotten to mention that he previously lived in Switzerland, Had trouble importing a Swiss registered Cali into Ireland etc etc sounds like he should have been well aware of the TUV requirements before he bought the wheels….

 

[Roguealloyco]

So the wheels in question are “tested” and “rated “ at 1250kg?

I’m not sure what that means without an independent testing authority certifying them?
For all we know it could just be a static load test, something that’s completely different to a high speed kerb strike or long term fatigue testing.

Just playing devils advocate here but in my job I’ve seen how much wheels deflect under load.

It’s a delicate subject this as many people just go with the bling factor and their vans rarely see anything like a full loading cruising around the lanes of the uK. The point being a failure would be pretty rare but for all the wrong reasons.

It does look as if the OP has an axe to grind?

The wheels are VIA and JWL tested

Which included various testing, cornering and bending stress, also impact testing

They aren’t TUV tested, which is a seperate body

 

[Perfectos]

I never mentioned any TUV, or DOT. You made that up. I'm passing on my recent experience. Take it or leave it if safety is not an issue to you.

@SheffieldSteel you called @sidepod comment out , when in fact he called it 100% !

you deliberately forgot to mention that you had run the wheels for a year on a Ducato, ex Swiss post Van (not a cali),!
before moving to a country which has different compliance requirements to the U.K.

you have deliberately sought to deceive and spread Vitriol about a U.K. company and cause harm to that company.

A company whom have the right to respond to your posts In public forums where you have chosen to spread your version of the truth, which turns out to be you have been economical with the truth at best ?