Genuine vs Aftermarket Santiago alloys is there a difference?

[I wanted a GTi]

Of course, approval stamps can be faked along with everything else, they aren't exactly secure markings.

Someone I knew who made motorbike race exhausts used to offer a quick BSI kite stamp to stop plod from chewing you up when they walk around popular cafes at the weekend ;-)

I made Cornish pasties the other day, because they were made in the West Midlands they were fake but I still think they were as good if not better than anything I've tasted when I've been in Cornwall.

I might start making wheels next.

[I wanted a GTi]

Excellent post SRGTI
Good facts covered there about cover.
For instance my current insurer won't allow wheel spacers. They're quite happy with engine and wheel mods but spacers are the work of the devil in their eyes.
Anyone want a mint set of Sparco spacers?

Anyway, back on topic and very good points in the other posts in this thread.
I meant to reply the other day but got waylaid, however itavaltalainen covered much of what I was going to say.
There are castings and there are castings.
When you look around UK wheel 'specialists' you'll see a plethora of Chinese reps.
Have a look on German and other Euro websites and you'll see none in many markets.
The reason being, as posted above, these wheels haven't passed stringent safety tests.
I'm sure they're not all death traps but they won't have undergone stringent and expensive TUV testing.
But I'm not anti replica. Far from it, just be careful.
Having safety stamps on the back of the wheel is a good pointer as to how well made the wheels should be. Look for JIL or JWL which is an internationally recognised standard.

What size are your spacers? I've got some 20mm ones for the back but as yet I've to get some for the front.

[Exonian]

Of course, approval stamps can be faked along with everything else, they aren't exactly secure markings.

Someone I knew who made motorbike race exhausts used to offer a quick BSI kite stamp to stop plod from chewing you up when they walk around popular cafes at the weekend ;-)

I made Cornish pasties the other day, because they were made in the West Midlands they were fake but I still think they were as good if not better than anything I've tasted when I've been in Cornwall.

I might start making wheels next.

I hope your pasties were made properly, I'm very particular about pasties.


You don't hear too many horror stories of replica wheels splintering into a million pieces on the highway resulting in mass death.
I'd think the supplying dealer would be highly liable if the wheels were unsafe. Bit late to find out if you've turned yourself into being a bit dead granted...

[Exonian]

Excellent post SRGTI
Good facts covered there about cover.
For instance my current insurer won't allow wheel spacers. They're quite happy with engine and wheel mods but spacers are the work of the devil in their eyes.
Anyone want a mint set of Sparco spacers?

Anyway, back on topic and very good points in the other posts in this thread.
I meant to reply the other day but got waylaid, however itavaltalainen covered much of what I was going to say.
There are castings and there are castings.
When you look around UK wheel 'specialists' you'll see a plethora of Chinese reps.
Have a look on German and other Euro websites and you'll see none in many markets.
The reason being, as posted above, these wheels haven't passed stringent safety tests.
I'm sure they're not all death traps but they won't have undergone stringent and expensive TUV testing.
But I'm not anti replica. Far from it, just be careful.
Having safety stamps on the back of the wheel is a good pointer as to how well made the wheels should be. Look for JIL or JWL which is an internationally recognised standard.

What size are your spacers? I've got some 20mm ones for the back but as yet I've to get some for the front.

What make are your rears?
I'd recommend 12 front. You can get away with 15 though.

[I wanted a GTi]

Of course, approval stamps can be faked along with everything else, they aren't exactly secure markings.

Someone I knew who made motorbike race exhausts used to offer a quick BSI kite stamp to stop plod from chewing you up when they walk around popular cafes at the weekend ;-)

I made Cornish pasties the other day, because they were made in the West Midlands they were fake but I still think they were as good if not better than anything I've tasted when I've been in Cornwall.

I might start making wheels next.

I hope your pasties were made properly, I'm very particular about pasties.


You don't hear too many horror stories of replica wheels splintering into a million pieces on the highway resulting in mass death.
I'd think the supplying dealer would be highly liable if the wheels were unsafe. Bit late to find out if you've turned yourself into being a bit dead granted...

I've been making them to the authentic recipe for over 20 years. Would you like to try some?

[I wanted a GTi]

Excellent post SRGTI
Good facts covered there about cover.
For instance my current insurer won't allow wheel spacers. They're quite happy with engine and wheel mods but spacers are the work of the devil in their eyes.
Anyone want a mint set of Sparco spacers?

Anyway, back on topic and very good points in the other posts in this thread.
I meant to reply the other day but got waylaid, however itavaltalainen covered much of what I was going to say.
There are castings and there are castings.
When you look around UK wheel 'specialists' you'll see a plethora of Chinese reps.
Have a look on German and other Euro websites and you'll see none in many markets.
The reason being, as posted above, these wheels haven't passed stringent safety tests.
I'm sure they're not all death traps but they won't have undergone stringent and expensive TUV testing.
But I'm not anti replica. Far from it, just be careful.
Having safety stamps on the back of the wheel is a good pointer as to how well made the wheels should be. Look for JIL or JWL which is an internationally recognised standard.

What size are your spacers? I've got some 20mm ones for the back but as yet I've to get some for the front.

What make are your rears?
I'd recommend 12 front. You can get away with 15 though.

H&R and I'm thinking 15mm but I suppose 2mm isn't important unless you're a woman

[Exonian]

Of course, approval stamps can be faked along with everything else, they aren't exactly secure markings.

Someone I knew who made motorbike race exhausts used to offer a quick BSI kite stamp to stop plod from chewing you up when they walk around popular cafes at the weekend ;-)

I made Cornish pasties the other day, because they were made in the West Midlands they were fake but I still think they were as good if not better than anything I've tasted when I've been in Cornwall.

I might start making wheels next.

I hope your pasties were made properly, I'm very particular about pasties.


You don't hear too many horror stories of replica wheels splintering into a million pieces on the highway resulting in mass death.
I'd think the supplying dealer would be highly liable if the wheels were unsafe. Bit late to find out if you've turned yourself into being a bit dead granted...

I've been making them to the authentic recipe for over 20 years. Would you like to try some?

I'd love one. If you're ever heading towards Cornwall drop one in. It'll have gone to a good home!
I've got a very long lineage of Cornish ancestry (quickly glossing over the Irish and English bits of me)  so I'm always open to test drive a pasty.

Going back to spacers, well you can't buy better than H&R so you're well sorted there. ECS flush kit is 15mm front I seem to remember. As you say, a few mm shouldn't make too much difference. What wheels are your sister's ClubSport running on?

[dubber36]

Back to replica wheels, it's not unheard of for dealers to replace damaged wheels on used cars with reps as they are often cheaper than decent referbs, especially on diamond cuts. I bet there a fair few people driving round on reps that don't even know it.

[I wanted a GTi]

Back to replica wheels, it's not unheard of for dealers to replace damaged wheels on used cars with reps as they are often cheaper than decent referbs, especially on diamond cuts. I bet there a fair few people driving round on reps that don't even know it.

I'd would go absolutely spare if they put a rep on my car.

[I wanted a GTi]

Of course, approval stamps can be faked along with everything else, they aren't exactly secure markings.

Someone I knew who made motorbike race exhausts used to offer a quick BSI kite stamp to stop plod from chewing you up when they walk around popular cafes at the weekend ;-)

I made Cornish pasties the other day, because they were made in the West Midlands they were fake but I still think they were as good if not better than anything I've tasted when I've been in Cornwall.

I might start making wheels next.

I hope your pasties were made properly, I'm very particular about pasties.


You don't hear too many horror stories of replica wheels splintering into a million pieces on the highway resulting in mass death.
I'd think the supplying dealer would be highly liable if the wheels were unsafe. Bit late to find out if you've turned yourself into being a bit dead granted...

I've been making them to the authentic recipe for over 20 years. Would you like to try some?

I'd love one. If you're ever heading towards Cornwall drop one in. It'll have gone to a good home!
I've got a very long lineage of Cornish ancestry (quickly glossing over the Irish and English bits of me)  so I'm always open to test drive a pasty.

Going back to spacers, well you can't buy better than H&R so you're well sorted there. ECS flush kit is 15mm front I seem to remember. As you say, a few mm shouldn't make too much difference. What wheels are your sister's ClubSport running on?

Hope to be going down later in the summer so I'll make you a batch.

She has Pretoria's on it, the car has every extra she could tick.