View Poll Results: What do you think of ROTA wheels?
They are great and good value for your hard earned dollar! Would rock them!
350
79.91%
They are bootlegs/knock offs with poor quality! Would not rock them!
88
20.09%
Voters: 438. You may not vote on this poll
ROTA wheels and your thoughts on them?
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 14
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From: United States
I ran a set of Rotas for about 3 months on an 07 STI before going to Advans. I've also owned 2 sets of Volks and now waiting on a 3rd set due to come sometime in the early fall. I also agree that people that are going to give their opinion should have owned or have some experience with both products.
I realize that Rotas are knock offs but I think they do a better job as far as the quality as opposed to other companies making replica wheels. I also think that they do offer a good alternative to people that are not wheel ****** and just want a nice looking wheel without breaking the bank for their EVOs.
My opinion, you get what you paid for... in regards to the actual design of the wheels that is, there is a huge difference between the following most common Volk to Rota replica wheels and if you can't tell them apart then you really do not know Volks too well. You may think it is fanboyish but I say how I see it because I have made direct comparison on TE37 to Grid, CE28n to DPTs and RE30 to SVN. The concavity and lip on all 3 of these wheels is vastly different. Also the finish on Volks cannot be beat. Especially colors like Diamond black, Formula Silver and Merc Silver.
As far as the the material... yes Forge is stronger than cast but just because they are forged does not make them indestructible or unable to be bent.
I would say after owner 2 sets of Enkeis.... RPF1s in SBC and NT03s... both in aggressive sizes... for the money, you cannot beat Enkeis. Yes you only get 2 choices to pick from design wise but you get an Original design, light wheels and also from a reputable company. Enkeis can be had for just a bit more than Rotas if not the same especially a used set.
Other great alternatives in between are WEDs, Advans and Gramlights... Advans push the 2k boundary so the WEDs and Gramlights are better choices I think.
OK... enough rambling. I think the Rota subject has been beaten to death on almost every forum I belong to
I realize that Rotas are knock offs but I think they do a better job as far as the quality as opposed to other companies making replica wheels. I also think that they do offer a good alternative to people that are not wheel ****** and just want a nice looking wheel without breaking the bank for their EVOs.
My opinion, you get what you paid for... in regards to the actual design of the wheels that is, there is a huge difference between the following most common Volk to Rota replica wheels and if you can't tell them apart then you really do not know Volks too well. You may think it is fanboyish but I say how I see it because I have made direct comparison on TE37 to Grid, CE28n to DPTs and RE30 to SVN. The concavity and lip on all 3 of these wheels is vastly different. Also the finish on Volks cannot be beat. Especially colors like Diamond black, Formula Silver and Merc Silver.
As far as the the material... yes Forge is stronger than cast but just because they are forged does not make them indestructible or unable to be bent.
I would say after owner 2 sets of Enkeis.... RPF1s in SBC and NT03s... both in aggressive sizes... for the money, you cannot beat Enkeis. Yes you only get 2 choices to pick from design wise but you get an Original design, light wheels and also from a reputable company. Enkeis can be had for just a bit more than Rotas if not the same especially a used set.
Other great alternatives in between are WEDs, Advans and Gramlights... Advans push the 2k boundary so the WEDs and Gramlights are better choices I think.
OK... enough rambling. I think the Rota subject has been beaten to death on almost every forum I belong to
Im sorry your offended, but considering your a silver sponsor, that shows me your trying to peddle something to the evo community, so if its not an item its your services....
Your supposed "knowledge" doesnt mean Jack to any of us considering your some new shop that just came out the woodworks. i dont see anything saying your a wheel expert
Dont worry about my grammar or punctuation, if i wanted to be critized about something so ridiculous i'll just go and post on honda tech with the rest of the youngsters.
Please read your OWN post, the part where i just highlighted. you said volks are better then rota. the only thing you can come up with besides the fact that they are forged wheels and their volk, but yet you said it has nothing to do with money???? but volks are top of the line?? so your basically not making any sense what the **** so ever.... like i said, continue to market your tuning services and turbo vehicle maintenence.. as far as a wheel expertise you have none. your OPINIONS dont tell me any FACTS, please enlighten me and tell me something that is factual and not BS opinions. once again as you said this is America, and i shall speak whats on my mind as well.... Also i well be reporting you to the mods about your product bashing.
Your supposed "knowledge" doesnt mean Jack to any of us considering your some new shop that just came out the woodworks. i dont see anything saying your a wheel expert
Dont worry about my grammar or punctuation, if i wanted to be critized about something so ridiculous i'll just go and post on honda tech with the rest of the youngsters.
Please read your OWN post, the part where i just highlighted. you said volks are better then rota. the only thing you can come up with besides the fact that they are forged wheels and their volk, but yet you said it has nothing to do with money???? but volks are top of the line?? so your basically not making any sense what the **** so ever.... like i said, continue to market your tuning services and turbo vehicle maintenence.. as far as a wheel expertise you have none. your OPINIONS dont tell me any FACTS, please enlighten me and tell me something that is factual and not BS opinions. once again as you said this is America, and i shall speak whats on my mind as well.... Also i well be reporting you to the mods about your product bashing.
Also, I'm not trying to "peddle" anything. I do what I do for the passion, never for the money.
I didnt try to "criticize" you. I was having a hard time reading your no grammar, no paragraph post. Thanks for making it better.
Here are your FACTS:
Its is a FACT that the FORGING process is BETTER then the CASTING process. This is a fact. If you don't believe me, go ask an engineer.
Most of the time, FORGED, higher quality wheels are LIGHTER then CAST rims. This is a fact and something that is very important to a lot of EVO enthusiast, including me.
It is also a FACT, that most for the time, the higher quality rim will have a better finish/final product.
These are all facts, and based on these facts, IMO, I feel that higher quality rims are BETTER then Rota rims.
Also, for the 5th time, I DO NOT care about BRAND NAMES. I buy/use/support what WORKS, even if its cheap or expensive, brand name or not.
I have made perfect sense in every post. You just fail to read it and understand it.
Last edited by Ramen_Noodle; Jun 24, 2011 at 11:44 AM.
I want to clarify that forge wheels are not necessarily stronger. The forging prcoess makes the material stronger, which is why the design of the wheel is such to actually make it lighter than a cast or billet wheel. The amount of load the wheels can endure should be the same in design.
That being said there are casting manufacturabilty issues with porosity and such to why you can't make super huge cast wheels and they have to be forged, but that is just extra information.
The truth is you're never going to be able to fully prove this strength issue, in fact you have no idea what loads the wheels are even designed to withstand. I've seen OEM wheels shatter under the same loads and others pass for simiular weighted vehicles.... what does that mean? Obviously the design intent had different targets for which ever reasons.
That being said there are casting manufacturabilty issues with porosity and such to why you can't make super huge cast wheels and they have to be forged, but that is just extra information.
The truth is you're never going to be able to fully prove this strength issue, in fact you have no idea what loads the wheels are even designed to withstand. I've seen OEM wheels shatter under the same loads and others pass for simiular weighted vehicles.... what does that mean? Obviously the design intent had different targets for which ever reasons.
I'm sorry but obviously as you guys go back and forth its hard not to comment on your generic comments of cast vs forged wheels... reread that post because I think you missed the point.
Forged wheels does not mean they are stronger or lighter than cast, it means they have the ability to be so. Unless you are comparing the exact same wheel shape/design you can not comment on something you don't know about. What strength vs stiffness specs are the wheels made to??? Something you'll never know unless the companies tell you or you try a specific strength test to both wheels, and I hope you have a test field greater than 1.
In addition, there are many different type of wheel alloys, of course will change the characteristics of the wheels strength/stiffness..... As the strength and stiffness will change based on alloy, geometry, and size of the wheel.
What if you compare forged to forged, are they equal?
I'd bet you take a forged Magnesium wheel over Aluminum... or a higher Aluminum/Mag content over Aluminum for the weight differences....
So comparing wheel A cast to wheel B forged is like comparing the tastes of apples to oranges...even replica wheels are still going to have different geometries etc.... So please leave the blanket statements out, as neither of you are wheel experts... I don't claim to be, but I work closely with wheel designers everyday in my field of work... that knowledge rubs off.
So if Rota wheels are crap, please show actual scientific data proving so... not just pictures of wheels that you have no idea how they broke (ie, the forces the wheel actually endured to fracture/bend/etc).... otherwise your comments are opinions, far from facts.
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From: Raleigh, Transplanted from Toronto, Canada
Rota's have their place. Like I said I like them, have ran them and will never say I won't run them again. Nothing wrong with them.
Last edited by SmurfZilla; Jun 24, 2011 at 08:32 AM.
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From: Raleigh, Transplanted from Toronto, Canada
I and i have to add GramLights are not as cheap as Enkei's and Rota's. At least the one I was looking at. I priced out a set of 57PRo's in gold with Ti lip 18X9.5 +20 offset and was given a price of about 3800. I checked with 2 different vendors and they were almost the same on pricing.
I had no clue that Enkei's were as cheap as Rota's. Truthfully none of their wheel designs really do anything for me but that is good to know.
I had no clue that Enkei's were as cheap as Rota's. Truthfully none of their wheel designs really do anything for me but that is good to know.
Last edited by SmurfZilla; Jun 24, 2011 at 08:33 AM.
I have to agree. The amount of EVO's on RPF1's is sickening seem to be the "me too" wheel and I don't even like how they look. Kinda like Slipstreams for Hondas
Say it once say it again.
"When you absolutely have to have the same damn wheel for your EVO as everyone else RPF1 except no substitute"
I don't like how RPF1s look, either, and I've had a set on my Evo for 4 years. Can't speak for anyone else, but I didn't buy them for looks; I bought and run them for their 15.5lb weight at a reasonable price. It's a relatively inexpensive, very light, strong wheel with perfect fitments for an Evolution.
I don't like how RPF1s look, either, and I've had a set on my Evo for 4 years. Can't speak for anyone else, but I didn't buy them for looks; I bought and run them for their 15.5lb weight at a reasonable price. It's a relatively inexpensive, very light, strong wheel with perfect fitments for an Evolution.
Plus, since I like black wheels, I don't really care about wheel design. Black RPF1's look just as good (or better) than black Rota's, at a similar price at a MUCH lighter weight. /argument.
Cleaned this thread again. Tone it down and keep it on topic, arguing and beating a dead horse is not helping this thread for other members who might be seeking real advice or unbiased opinions.
Last warning.
Last warning.
I have to agree. The amount of EVO's on RPF1's is sickening seem to be the "me too" wheel and I don't even like how they look. Kinda like Slipstreams for Hondas
Say it once say it again.
"When you absolutely have to have the same damn wheel for your EVO as everyone else RPF1 except no substitute"
Say it once say it again.
"When you absolutely have to have the same damn wheel for your EVO as everyone else RPF1 except no substitute"
Evolved Member
iTrader: (33)
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 5,313
Likes: 1
From: Raleigh, Transplanted from Toronto, Canada
I have to agree. The amount of EVO's on RPF1's is sickening seem to be the "me too" wheel and I don't even like how they look. Kinda like Slipstreams for Hondas
Say it once say it again.
"When you absolutely have to have the same damn wheel for your EVO as everyone else RPF1 except no substitute"
Say it once say it again.
"When you absolutely have to have the same damn wheel for your EVO as everyone else RPF1 except no substitute"
Like i said I had NO CLUE Enkei's were that cheap because I never looked into them. Good to know.
Last edited by SmurfZilla; Jun 24, 2011 at 08:39 AM.
Is it wrong to quote your own post?
I'm sorry but obviously as you guys go back and forth its hard not to comment on your generic comments of cast vs forged wheels... reread that post because I think you missed the point.
Forged wheels does not mean they are stronger or lighter than cast, it means they have the ability to be so. Unless you are comparing the exact same wheel shape/design you can not comment on something you don't know about. What strength vs stiffness specs are the wheels made to??? Something you'll never know unless the companies tell you or you try a specific strength test to both wheels, and I hope you have a test field greater than 1.
In addition, there are many different type of wheel alloys, of course will change the characteristics of the wheels strength/stiffness..... As the strength and stiffness will change based on alloy, geometry, and size of the wheel.
What if you compare forged to forged, are they equal?
I'd bet you take a forged Magnesium wheel over Aluminum... or a higher Aluminum/Mag content over Aluminum for the weight differences....
So comparing wheel A cast to wheel B forged is like comparing the tastes of apples to oranges...even replica wheels are still going to have different geometries etc.... So please leave the blanket statements out, as neither of you are wheel experts... I don't claim to be, but I work closely with wheel designers everyday in my field of work... that knowledge rubs off.
So if Rota wheels are crap, please show actual scientific data proving so... not just pictures of wheels that you have no idea how they broke (ie, the forces the wheel actually endured to fracture/bend/etc).... otherwise your comments are opinions, far from facts.
I'm sorry but obviously as you guys go back and forth its hard not to comment on your generic comments of cast vs forged wheels... reread that post because I think you missed the point.
Forged wheels does not mean they are stronger or lighter than cast, it means they have the ability to be so. Unless you are comparing the exact same wheel shape/design you can not comment on something you don't know about. What strength vs stiffness specs are the wheels made to??? Something you'll never know unless the companies tell you or you try a specific strength test to both wheels, and I hope you have a test field greater than 1.
In addition, there are many different type of wheel alloys, of course will change the characteristics of the wheels strength/stiffness..... As the strength and stiffness will change based on alloy, geometry, and size of the wheel.
What if you compare forged to forged, are they equal?
I'd bet you take a forged Magnesium wheel over Aluminum... or a higher Aluminum/Mag content over Aluminum for the weight differences....
So comparing wheel A cast to wheel B forged is like comparing the tastes of apples to oranges...even replica wheels are still going to have different geometries etc.... So please leave the blanket statements out, as neither of you are wheel experts... I don't claim to be, but I work closely with wheel designers everyday in my field of work... that knowledge rubs off.
So if Rota wheels are crap, please show actual scientific data proving so... not just pictures of wheels that you have no idea how they broke (ie, the forces the wheel actually endured to fracture/bend/etc).... otherwise your comments are opinions, far from facts.
Isnt it also true that MOST FORGED rims weight less then CAST rims? IMO the answer is YES.
Also, dont you feel that most of the time, a FORGED, higher quality rim has a better finish/final product? IMO the answer is YES.
I never said just because the rim is FORGED means it will automatically be stronger and/or lighter. But most of the time a FORGED rim IS lighter and stronger then a CAST one. Not always, but most of the time.
And once again, I NEVER said Rotas were "crap". Do NOT put words in my mouth.
Last, I said how the rim in the picture broke, maybe you missed that.
I don't like how RPF1s look, either, and I've had a set on my Evo for 4 years. Can't speak for anyone else, but I didn't buy them for looks; I bought and run them for their 15.5lb weight at a reasonable price. It's a relatively inexpensive, very light, strong wheel with perfect fitments for an Evolution.
I also dont think RPF1s are the best looking rim, but am I trying to win a car show? Nope!
Im trying to have the lightest rim that stands up to my abuse, without costing an arm and a leg.
Last edited by Boosted Tuning; Jun 24, 2011 at 12:17 PM.