3 Genuine + 1 replica Alloy wheel...is my car safe?

[janus909GTI]

hey guys,

already discussed this briefly in another post but am keen to get a couple more views with a more appropriate subject title....

short story, bought 4 new alloys being promised a set of genunies, turns out 1 is a replica!

i want to know if it is first off "safe" to run the car on 3gens / 1 rep - and secondly could this still damage the car?

Personally i cant see how it would be unsafe or potentially likely to damage the car as the wheels are exactly the same size and all we will running newly bought tyres 225/40 18".......... however, i'm not the expert, you fine gentlemen are (and women)

Thanks everyone..... "praying for a positive response" 

[Beattie]

I dont see why it would be unsafe as if u run on 4 reps it'll be fine and if u run on 4 gens it'll still be fine, a wheels a wheel i guess and the reps usually mark easily imo and maybe arent as good of copy as the gens look. Im no expert either but to be honest it shouldnt be a problem.

[janus909GTI]

yeah, i figured the alloy is prob more prone to scratches / buckling but as long as its safe to run then thats all i care about coz i can get the wheels on the car and just take my time to find a new original to complete the set!

[TurboTrev]

Don't know why you've started a new thread rather than adding to the original, but as I said on that thread: 

"The replica is very likely to be both a different width and offset (ET) - have you checked - it should be stamped somewhere?  If it is a different width/offset I wouldn't use the replica, try and buy another genuine wheel."

Have you checked the above?

[janus909GTI]

Don't know why you've started a new thread rather than adding to the original, but as I said on that thread: 

i just wanted to create a more specific topic.... 

all that i can see that is stamped on the back is the weight and this "510618X 7.5J" followed by "M888" underneath, thats all??

the replica has the same size tyre as the 3 originals, 225 / 40 .... does that not mean they are the same width?

[gizmo68]

No that could mean ANYTHING.

You really need to find out the ET and width of the wheels.
Different weight wheels will also make the car handle differently, for immediate use i would run it on the rear but buy another genuine one ASAP.

[janus909GTI]

ok ive found out that apparently all monza replicas are 8x18 and any that are 7.5x18 will be genuine, so if that is the case the 1 rep i have is half an inch wider.  But they still both use a 225 tyre....the amount of tyre in contact with the floor will be the same.

i cant figure out what the offset of the replica alloy is, is there anyone else who is running a set of replicas who know the offset details of the alloy? or are all the replicas different?

this is giving me a right headache, thank you for all your help so far...

anyone else on the forum running rep / originals or experience of doing this?

[janus909GTI]

any thoughts anyone....

putting the 4 new tyres on 2moro so keen to avoid if its a bad idea..........

[gazbutS3]

the x7.5J you quoted earlier indicates that the rim is 7.5 inches wide

[janus909GTI]

ahhh yes, good spot....

so what i said wasnt right about all reps being 8inches wide. does anyone know the width of the genuine monza 2?

[gazbutS3]

gen are 7.5

[TurboTrev]

Can you see a stamp/casting that says ET51 or ET45 or ET followed by 2 other numbers?  Both the originals and replica should have these markings somewhere (originals are 18x7.5J and ET51). 

Replicas are usually ET45 and 8J wide - I have not seen a 7.5J replica which yours seems to be, which is strange?  If the replica is definitely marked 18x7.5J and if it is also marked as ET51 then it matches the originals exactly, so you'll be fine.

[janus909GTI]

Can you see a stamp/casting that says ET51 or ET45 or ET followed by 2 other numbers?  Both the originals and replica should have these markings somewhere (originals are 18x7.5J and ET51). 

Replicas are usually ET45 and 8J wide - I have not seen a 7.5J replica which yours seems to be, which is strange?  If the replica is definitely marked 18x7.5J and if it is also marked as ET51 then it matches the originals exactly, so you'll be fine.

ill have another look tomorrow, see if i can see any more stamps on the rep, is there any other way to figure out the offset without it being printed?

[janus909GTI]

just double checked the replica alloy,

ET is engraved onto the rear but there is no number following on afterwards which is pretty useless....

although thinking about it...........

"510618X 7.5J" that number which i listed before, perhaps the 51 at the start refers to the offset??

[gazon69]

just double checked the replica alloy,

ET is engraved onto the rear but there is no number following on afterwards which is pretty useless....

although thinking about it...........

"510618X 7.5J" that number which i listed before, perhaps the 51 at the start refers to the offset??

If the number above is from the rep then off set is et51 wheel size is18x 7.5" wide. By the looks of things you'll be fine running all four