Any experiences with cheap wheels/Rota/notJDMwheels

"YSI-what can brown do for you" (ysi-what-can-brown-do-for-you)
01/31/2014 at 16:25 • Filed to: None

To the sadness of many(just like 2 people), I am under the strong feeling of going with Rotas for my wheels. Now then, any supporters and naysayers should chime in. I kind of want a general idea of what people think about them. Experiences would be great as well. There are people that love them, and then there are people that hate them. So far I understand they are JWL and VIA certified but not TUV certified. They also produce 50,000 wheels a month!!! Anyway, go on then!

DISCUSSION (35)

RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months > YSI-what can brown do for you
01/31/2014 at 16:35

Kinja'd!!!

But I do believe the Rota hate is not justified. Wheels break. I would buy Rotas if I didn't already have some OZs

YSI-what can brown do for you > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/31/2014 at 16:36

Lots of people like to shit on them. Lots of those people also have a slight ego complex but it still happens.

More Power!!and also some brakes. > YSI-what can brown do for you
01/31/2014 at 16:38

I have a set of XXR 522 like pictured but in grey on my daily. They have probably 60,XXX or so miles on them. I was in college when I bought them so I could not spend a small fortune on wheels. I have never had a problem with my set.

RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months > YSI-what can brown do for you
01/31/2014 at 16:39

I've witnessed the hate, but when I see someone with Rotas, my first thought is that they must be an enthusiast. They make some nice looking wheels

YSI-what can brown do for you > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/31/2014 at 16:43

I usually think that too. Not everyone can dish out an extra 1500 for a set of wheels. I could but they would go without tires for quite some time.

I like to think of Volk as the best badge engineers in the business. They make nice wheels no doubt but at 800 dollars and up for one wheel the prices are a bit much.

YSI-what can brown do for you > More Power!!and also some brakes.
01/31/2014 at 16:45

Oh wow! Any track time on them? I really like they way XXRs look and they make them in lots of sizes, unlike Enkei.

Montalvo > YSI-what can brown do for you
01/31/2014 at 16:46

I think they are great as a show piece but I would not want them on my car if I was going to be driving enthusiastically. I have heard about too many of them breaking once out under some stress to really trust them beyond just being an aesthetic.

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > YSI-what can brown do for you
01/31/2014 at 16:48

My general opinion on them is that they're okay for light duty action. Don't expect to hit the track with them and have them hold up though. For my 80HP Corvair that only sees local street duty, XXR wheels would be alright. For a guy with a 140 LM that's autocrossing it on a regular basis, stay away.

lonestranger > YSI-what can brown do for you
01/31/2014 at 16:50

I have zero experience with Rotas, but I also agree with RS Hole that their poor reputation is blown out of proportion. Now, if you're comparing the strength of say, the Rota Grid to the RAYS Volk TE37, of course the Volks are going to be stronger (and lighter), because they're forged. But if you're not tracking your car, cast wheels are fine. Even if you are tracking your car, there's nothing wrong with cast wheels.

gt6xxer > YSI-what can brown do for you
01/31/2014 at 16:50

So long as your abuse is less than Dorifto-master curb-whacker, you should have no quality issues.

More Power!!and also some brakes. > YSI-what can brown do for you
01/31/2014 at 16:51

I did a few laps around COTA a while back, nothing crazy though. I really liked the way they look and I was looking for a specific offset and size for a decent price and they had it.

YSI-what can brown do for you > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street.
01/31/2014 at 16:51

Thoughts on Rotas though? There is a TVR using it for a track wheel!

Ash78, voting early and often > YSI-what can brown do for you
01/31/2014 at 16:53

I think it's just a bad omen that Rota means "broken" in Spanish. Coincidence, sure, but I bet Herr Doktor Scheisseraeder would have abandoned his plans to build wheels under the family name. TUV or not.

YSI-what can brown do for you > lonestranger
01/31/2014 at 16:56

I am not looking for the lightest wheel, just a cheap strong wheel that isn't an RPF1!

YSI-what can brown do for you > Montalvo
01/31/2014 at 16:57

But sooooo cheap!!

PanchoVilleneuve ST > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/31/2014 at 16:57

Rota's main consumer group seems to be people who know about cars and know about wheels but don't have, say, the 2 grand to dump on a set of Volks or whatever.

Montalvo > YSI-what can brown do for you
01/31/2014 at 16:59

Exactly, so if all you want are great looks for pennies on the dollar go ahead but I sure wouldn't want to be in the passenger seat if you start to really carve up some roads.

YSI-what can brown do for you > Montalvo
01/31/2014 at 17:03

I could get some Enkei. They are cheap, but a well known manufacturer. Only problem is I would need to run a slight spacer to make sure the wheel doesn't rub.

YSI-what can brown do for you > Ash78, voting early and often
01/31/2014 at 17:11

Is it really? That is hilarious! Do you think more Rotas break because more Rotas are made?

jlmounce > YSI-what can brown do for you
01/31/2014 at 17:11

WHen purchasing cheaper and repop wheels sourced from china, you just need to ask yourself what your planned intent with them is. If your answer involves anything to do with lapping and R compound tires, you're probably better off going in a different direction. However, for typical street use and some spirited driving on street tires, they are going to be fine.

If you read between the lines on all of the supposed horror stories with broken wheels, usually they broke in an extreme stress situation. Like drifting into a curb, or under a car that has been modified to the hilt and running super aggressive rubber.

I've run some China reps on my old 99 Mustang Cobra. I used them as good looking street wheels. They balanced up properly, didn't have run out issues, looked nice and didn't hurt the wallet. For that purpose, they're great! If you intend on tracking with r compounds, go a different route (or just use the stock wheels).

YSI-what can brown do for you > jlmounce
01/31/2014 at 17:15

The stock wheels are going to be for winter use, these ones will be for a somewhat aggressive summer tire.

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > YSI-what can brown do for you
01/31/2014 at 17:17

Don't know enough about them to have an opinion that matters.

YSI-what can brown do for you > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street.
01/31/2014 at 17:19

Aight, fair enough.

jlmounce > YSI-what can brown do for you
01/31/2014 at 17:29

You'll be fine in that case. I'd have no worries with those wheels, so long as you're not autocrossing/road racing them on R compounds.

EDIT: Based on the picture you posted, it's clear that car hit something and shattered the wheel as a result. Even factory wheels break like that if they're hit right. I've seen pictures of factory C6 Z06 wheels snapping at the hubs. Food for thought.

WhereAreMyPants > YSI-what can brown do for you
01/31/2014 at 17:32

Anyone who thinks Rotas are outright crap is a moron.

They're not as good as really expensive, forged wheels, but they're excellent for day-to-day driving, and some are even pretty lightweight for their strength.

On my Mazdaspeed Miata, I replaced the Racing Hart 17" wheels that it came with from the factory, because the "super strong, super high quality" factory wheels were getting bent, over and over, on crappy DC potholes. I replaced them with 16" Rota Boosts, and never had a single problem over the 30,000 miles I had the car, afterward. Yes, some of that is the increased sidewall, but it's total bull to think they're just going to fall apart.

signintokinjalol > YSI-what can brown do for you
01/31/2014 at 17:41

XXR's have paint problems.

My friend bought a set and his driver side front wheel almost completely peeled away, theres also a Honda Accord with XXR's that is having paint problems. Both sets aren't even a year old.

Rota's are okay. Honestly don't go cheap if you plan on driving hard.

NWAForester > YSI-what can brown do for you
02/01/2014 at 00:27

Another point, Ken Blocks wheels are intentionally designed to shatter on a major impact. One wheel is way cheaper than a wheel and all of your suspension components. Think Crumple Zone, lol

kanadanmajava > YSI-what can brown do for you
02/03/2014 at 09:09

I have no experience with Rotas but I have seen many bad pictures of failed cheap wheels and some have been Rotas.

I think that even crappy wheels are ok if you are just using them for relaxed street driving. But if you are going to make new lap record in your home track and are thinking about hitting some curb stones with high speed you shouldn't choose the cheapest nice looking wheels.

I have a wheel choosing problem myself. I haven't yet found a good solution between price/weight/reliability.

Benzed92 > YSI-what can brown do for you
02/04/2014 at 13:14

Have you looked into Enkeis? They have a few wheels in the low $200 range and I've heard very good things about them. Also, RPF1s are very very light.

YSI-what can brown do for you > Benzed92
02/04/2014 at 13:46

I actually have been looking at Enkeis, the make lots of great wheels in 17x9 but only if you have a 5x114.3 bolt pattern. Otherwise I am limited to 17x8 unless I decide to buy RPF1s but I hate the way they look.

Benzed92 > YSI-what can brown do for you
02/04/2014 at 14:01

The Toyobaru's are 5x100 right? Thankfully my MS6 is 5x114.3, I've been looking a lot at the RPF1s but I'm not sure if I like them or not either.

YSI-what can brown do for you > Benzed92
02/04/2014 at 19:24

Yup, I would check out their PF01SS. They come in a wide array of sizes and look much nicer than RPF1s. I would also recommend the NT03, I wanted some but 17s are only for 5x114.3 people. Here is a pic.

Kinja'd!!!

Benzed92 > YSI-what can brown do for you
02/04/2014 at 19:57

Those NT03s look much nicer in black, one of my friends just got the PF01SS and they look pretty sweet.

PhiLOL (slowcarSLOW-MPGlol) > YSI-what can brown do for you
02/07/2014 at 11:19

Get really cheap with other cars' wheels. Miata wheels are ridiculously light and usually inexpensive.

tim4g63fast > YSI-what can brown do for you
04/07/2014 at 01:16

this should pretty much wrap up this convo. http://custompinoyrides.com/2012/03/questi…