Strap In Purist.. Alibaba Wheels Long Term Review/Test

[ChampionshipWhiteFL5]

Ummmm. Literally almost any electronic or consumer good in your house is from China lol you must have a house full of garbage.

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[iforgettopee]

China is a big place. Just like the US is a big place.

"for every one good thing, there are dozens of bad things" analogy applies for everything and every place on the planet

 

[AZCWTypeR]

Generally Chinese made products sold in the USA are produced for a company with quality oversight, so export quality is much better than their domestic products. When I lived there, I couldn't buy quality Chinese made items in country (except arts and crafts).
China has many counterfeit factories and no respect for patents and trademarks.
A bunch of us expats bought CJ750 sidecar motorcycles when we lived there. They are versions of WW2 era BMW's, but lower quality. One neighbor bought a CJ750 from a different dealer and every part was a counterfeit. It looked good from 20 feet, but nothing matched our other bikes.
I say lower quality than BMW, because the engine, transmission, and rear bevel gears all produced plenty of metal flakes at oil changes. They had roller/ball bearing engines, so not good at all.

 

[Evox787]

I’ve been waiting three months for mine, and I’m really happy they’re finally here! Sure, I paid a little more than you did for yours, but I didn’t have to deal with tariffs, tracking down someone who would work with me, or worrying about whether I could trust them.

Most of the so-called “JDM” parts come from the same place anyway—they just slap on a “safety” or “Japan forged” label. In the end, people often overpay and wait longer just because something is marketed as JDM, without even realizing where the parts are really coming from.

I think it was Ed Bolian who hit 218 mph in his Bugatti on Chinese wheels. At the end of the day, a lot of this comes down to paying for a name because you are not a 100% sure if what you’re paying is authentic as you think.

 

[marcusm86]

Haha. Actually technologicaly Wise China blows the US out of the water these days. It’s not even close. From EV’s to bridges to manufacturing. You do know that practically everything in your house come from China right lol

propaganda only gets to the selected ones - imagine thinking a whole country of people are bad bc someone on the TV told you.

 

[Evox787]

propaganda only gets to the selected ones - imagine thinking a whole country of people are bad bc someone on the TV told you.

 

[MooMoo]

I’ve been waiting three months for mine, and I’m really happy they’re finally here! Sure, I paid a little more than you did for yours, but I didn’t have to deal with tariffs, tracking down someone who would work with me, or worrying about whether I could trust them.

Most of the so-called “JDM” parts come from the same place anyway—they just slap on a “safety” or “Japan forged” label. In the end, people often overpay and wait longer just because something is marketed as JDM, without even realizing where the parts are really coming from.

I think it was Ed Bolian who hit 218 mph in his Bugatti on Chinese wheels. At the end of the day, a lot of this comes down to paying for a name because you are not a 100% sure if what you’re paying is authentic as you think.

Gonna have to disagree here. I know you had a dislike for JDM stuff, I get it because I am blown away by some of the JDM practices but you can't say they are all made in the same place and they slap an approval sticker, this is just not true.

I have nothing against stuff made in china, a lot of things now a days are made there and they make excellent products. As far as well lets go with Apex as an example, tons of companies making replicas of them. The real Apex wheels are made in China but not all the reps are made in the same place, does not mean the reps are inferior but that is the unknown part, you do not know what you are getting. There "could be" less QC. Like it or not you are going to pay for QC and warranty and a few other things.

I have been dealing with China on something I got custom made (not car related, well kinda but not a car part) and honestly I had an amazing experience, better than I would say 90% if not more of American or Euro companies, it was fantastic. That said I am not putting my life on the line with it . Not saying I would not trust an ali baba wheel but I do like to know that there is some QC on the product, thats just me.

The other thing is copying, ripping of stuff does not sit well with me. Sure Apex has copied BBS styles more or less but it not exaclty the same, some of these wheels are basically exact copies with even the same logos, that imo is super wack. Its all great until someone copies your stuff and makes money of your hard work. I would love to see someone design their own wheels and work with china, thats rad but getting a design that arleady exists straight up ripped off, wack imo.

Just my 0.2 cents, hope everyones wheels are great

 

[Evox787]

Gonna have to disagree here. I know you had a dislike for JDM stuff, I get it because I am blown away by some of the JDM practices but you can't say they are all made in the same place and they slap an approval sticker, this is just not true.

I have nothing against stuff made in china, a lot of things now a days are made there and they make excellent products. As far as well lets go with Apex as an example, tons of companies making replicas of them. The real Apex wheels are made in China but not all the reps are made in the same place, does not mean the reps are inferior but that is the unknown part, you do not know what you are getting. There "could be" less QC. Like it or not you are going to pay for QC and warranty and a few other things.

I have been dealing with China on something I got custom made (not car related, well kinda but not a car part) and honestly I had an amazing experience, better than I would say 90% if not more of American or Euro companies, it was fantastic. That said I am not putting my life on the line with it . Not saying I would not trust an ali baba wheel but I do like to know that there is some QC on the product, thats just me.

The other thing is copying, ripping of stuff does not sit well with me. Sure Apex has copied BBS styles more or less but it not exaclty the same, some of these wheels are basically exact copies with even the same logos, that imo is super wack. Its all great until someone copies your stuff and makes money of your hard work. I would love to see someone design their own wheels and work with china, thats rad but getting a design that arleady exists straight up ripped off, wack imo.

Just my 0.2 cents, hope everyones wheels are great

I completely understand your point, man. Everything has changed so much in the world that I don’t really think it’s the same niche as it was in the 90s or even the early to mid-2000s.

Hey, power to you it’s your choice and belief. I just don’t really believe in this “market drought.” Like you said, the stuff they make is impressive, and I don’t doubt that. But most of those companies aren’t necessarily keeping up with the times. Some seem to do these types of practices on purpose advertising globally while not meeting demand.

Again, all the power to you. It’s just sad that so many companies here don’t follow the same mantra and instead see customers only as dollar signs just like with JDM parts too, don’t get me wrong. I wish I could get those parts, but their business practices kill me every time. I know someone will tell me, “You need to pay to play,” but in this day and age, it feels like almost everyone is out to get you somehow.

Also, there are companies that outsource. Like you said, there’s usually one company that produces the original parts with good quality but then 30,000 copycats pop up and sell the product using the same pictures. It’s like everything else: someone does something unique, and then copycats rush to do it too, just to go viral on social media. It’s the same concept, but with car parts and everything else.

 

[RODSCIVIC]

I mean JDM parts in Japan are reasonably priced. It's when you try to get them here stateside where is severely overpriced.

This debate has been going on for decades, before it was only Ebay you could get your Fugen and Fays parts.

 

[ICantDriveStick]

Update. Got the tires mounted and balanced yesterday. Shop said they balanced well and without issues which means FedEx didn't manage to do any real damage. Took a pic of the amount of weights on each wheel. Got them ceramic coated last night and threw them on today. Starting at 943 miles with this set. Pulled the alignment pins and have an alignment lined up tomorrow so I can start racking up some miles & drives.

 

[T41WN.1]

Update. Got the tires mounted and balanced yesterday. Shop said they balanced well and without issues which means FedEx didn't manage to do any real damage. Took a pic of the amount of weights on each wheel. Got them ceramic coated last night and threw them on today. Starting at 943 miles with this set. Pulled the alignment pins and have an alignment lined up tomorrow so I can start racking up some miles & drives.

They look great, looking to try some alibaba wheels in the future too, but with the oem design but in god spec.

 

[optronix]

Update. Got the tires mounted and balanced yesterday. Shop said they balanced well and without issues which means FedEx didn't manage to do any real damage. Took a pic of the amount of weights on each wheel. Got them ceramic coated last night and threw them on today. Starting at 943 miles with this set. Pulled the alignment pins and have an alignment lined up tomorrow so I can start racking up some miles & drives.

They do look good, and I guess you were one of the final batches of RE-71RS in what I'm assuming was 265/35-18. I had a chance at grabbing literally the last 4 in the country in Tire Rack's inventory (275s were already gone) and almost did- but I like getting them heat cycled before delivery and since they were coming from different warehouses they told me it wasn't an option so I chose to wait for the RZ. (also 265 is a bit stretched on a 10" wheel)

I mean overall that's a really solid value, tough to deny that. Especially after the "balance test" seems to have been passed.

Did they have any other finishes available? I know what you have matches the Shining Light Metal and it looks like a good match, just curious what other finish options and the relative quality. Some of the glossy finishes on Rays/Volks are part of the reason I like them and ultimately justified the purchase.

 

[CafeApex]

They look great! I think I would run them without a center cap though.

 

[ABPDE5]

I’ve been waiting three months for mine, and I’m really happy they’re finally here! Sure, I paid a little more than you did for yours, but I didn’t have to deal with tariffs, tracking down someone who would work with me, or worrying about whether I could trust them.

Most of the so-called “JDM” parts come from the same place anyway—they just slap on a “safety” or “Japan forged” label. In the end, people often overpay and wait longer just because something is marketed as JDM, without even realizing where the parts are really coming from.

I think it was Ed Bolian who hit 218 mph in his Bugatti on Chinese wheels. At the end of the day, a lot of this comes down to paying for a name because you are not a 100% sure if what you’re paying is authentic as you think.

VT Forged, right? I think mine probably came in same time as yours... have not taken photos, but they look great. No complaints with the experience so far (granted haven't mounted / balanced yet). Similar to yours, mine have no visible branding, etc., and I absolutely love that (wish I could forego branding on everything, lmao). Fake "branding" would bother me, but copying general styles doesn't -- everyone has been doing it forever.

 

[RODSCIVIC]

Keep us updated! They look great!

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