@Kensta
If the wheels carry a legal E marking then they're legal for road use. The question is: what is their safe load rating? They can be legal for general sale but unsuitable for use on certain vehicles. Unless the punter knows to ask, then they could buy something that's unsuitable for their chosen use. That's the punter's problem, not the retailers, of course. If the retailer sells a wheel as "suitable for fitting to a Range Rover Sport", however, then it is reasonable for the punter to expect the wheel to be correctly load rated etc. If it isn't then the retailer is in trouble.

There is the other little issue that the retailer might say "for show purposes" or similar in small print. This might suggest that they're not E marked and thus not road legal. I've seen lighting accessories sold in this way. Of course, the punter is buying them for road use but the retailer has covered themselves - he hopes.

All of this is different to whether a "replica" is legal. In effect, it is legal until the owner of the original design copyright succeeds in a civil case at law. Ie. Kahn etc. will need to sue the retailer for copying their design. But that isn't an issue for anyone other than Kahn, Overfinch et al. Just changing a small detail and then claiming "Overfinch style" may not save them either if it might reasonably be held that the intention of the design is to mimic the original.

In all of this, we just need to make sure that any wheels we buy are E marked and suitably load rated. Anything else is just legal niceties between copyright holders and abusers and not, technically (although certainly morally), our problem.

Oh, and in traditional forum style, IANAL  2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

How do you work out what load rating you need?
Car+passengers+full boot then divided by the weight distribution(axis weight) then halved to give you each wheel?
Or is it in the hand book?

@ RRSTDV8, They do sell the wheels specific for rangerover sport and I bought
a set off them on my last BMW X5 but they were the BMW X5 new style sport wheel but in the 22" fitted and they were made and sold for the x5. If what everyones sayin is right and it's only safe and correct buying high load rated wheels and the lower ones fail then why did my 1050kg overfinch wheels fail 3 times now and they arent fit or safe for use surely that's no better than lower load rated wheels just alot more expensive Java black 2006

Ballsy.

A good starter for 10 is the tyre load rating (960kgs)

So it's reasonable to expect the alloy to be as strong imho RRS gone
Audi SQ5...Gone Audi Q7 S-Line 240 3.0TDI Gone
Audi A6 Allroad Sport 270 3.0TDI

just checking I don't actually have replicas - I have the (older) 'Stormer' alloys which the previous owner said they bought from Ripon Land Rover when they bought the car there.
There's a FF RR in my carpark and noticed they have the same alloys, but the only difference is that it says 'LAND ROVER' on one of the spokes on his, but doesn't on mine.

Does that mean my alloys are not genuine? Or did Land Rover make 2 styles of these Stormers? (I know the new Stormers look very different - business partner has them on his D4). RRS HSE TDV6 Autobiography

The newer wheel aren't called Stormers, they look kind of similar but aren't sold as such.

The actual Stormer (older wheel) doesn't have LAND ROVER on the spoke, no. But there are replicas out there. Like this site? Buy some RRSPORT goodies to show your support!

Yes I suppose the wheel and tyre should have the same load rating but the figures must come from someplace.
It stands to reason that a fully loaded car towing a trailer/caravan etc will need a much higher rated wheel/tyre than one that's just cruising around town.

Thats why L/R have come up with a load rating on their wheels as they have taken into account all what you have just mentioned, seen as L/R don't approve ANY 22" wheels then they arn't intrested in load ratings for them and its down to the manufactures who make them to do all their own trials and test of which by the looks of it arn't. Thats why they are cheap.

Don't some dealers offer 22" alloys with the car? Is that against land rover policy?

If they have taken all that into account then surely the load rating doesn't have to be as high if your never fully loading the car?

You don't get it do you? Land rover have to factor in every eventuality, if you go on holiday with a full load, pick up 4 of your 20 stone mates from the pub, of blasting down the motorway @ 130 mph, they arn't going to put tyres and wheels on the sport that can only carry the weight of the car and one passanger now are they? Think about it for a minute.

Last edited by Ady 555 on Tue May 29 2012 9:25am. Edited 1 time in total

Agreed Ady

To me, as I said in my earlier post, are you willing to take the 'chance' with your nearest and dearest in the car - simples.  ON THE WAY: BMW F21 M140i
MERCEDES GL350 - Metallic Navy Blue w/Grey interior

GOING: BMW F31 335D MSport+ xDrive Touring
GONE: Land Rover Discovery 4 HSE - Stornaway Grey w/Black Interior (wish we'd kept it )
GONE: BMW F10 520D MSport - Carbon Black
GONE:MY12 RRS SDV6 HSE Sumatra/Ivory/Grand Black Privacy glass

Don't get what?
I don't have replica alloys on my car, I'm genuinely interested in this.

The op said reps are crap, I asked for proof.... None given.
Somebody said originals are better, another person said there genuine OF cracked 3 times.... Still no proof.
I asked how they work out load ratings, was told it should match the tyre ratings.... Fair enough, that's probably a very good assumption but still doesn't explain how they calculate it.
You said L/R don't approve of putting 22" wheels on but there are numerous posts about dealers offering them..... Contradiction.
I asked whether it was fair to assume that a car with minimum loading could theoretically run a lower rating than a fully loaded on...... Got a laughable answer back saying I just don't get it........

Of course I don't get it, that's why I'm asking questions lol.

I am looking for facts, not worthless opinions

Ady 555 wrote:

You don't get it do you? Land rover have to factor in every eventuality, if you go on holiday with a full load, pick up 4 of your 20 stone mates from the pub, of blasting down the motorway @ 130 mph, they arn't going to put tyres and wheels on the sport that can only carry the weight of the car and one passanger now are they? Think about it for a minute.

Ballsy wrote:

As for the nugget saying team dynamics alloys are crap Lmfao. You sound like the idiot down the pub that thinks he knows about cars with stupid statements like that.

I can see we're going to get along
Granted I know naff all about Boy racer novas, old TVR's, Team Dynamic Wheels,Clio's and Cinquecento's.... so yeah you obviously know what you talking about, your prowess speaks for its self.



Back on topic, as i said not every replica wheel manufacturer makes sub standard goods but the lack of control in the "replica wheel market" makes it pretty impossible to sort the good ones from the bad ones.

Id rather have my kids in a car which is rolling on some wheels i know are safe.





PS im still waiting on my court date

The dealers that are selling cars with 22" wheels are franchised, and do so at their own risk, L/R DO NOT approve this practice and will reject any warranty claim where possible if related in anyway to the 22" wheels fitted. So its not L/R themselves selling cars with 22" wheels. The reason i put you don't get it was in relation to the comment you made Quote If they have taken all that into account then surely the load rating doesn't have to be as high if your never fully loading the car?. Why would they do this if they have no idea what you or anyone else is using the car for??? They have to cater for everyones use and purpose. Thats why you can increase your tyre pressures when carring a full load to cope with the extra weight, then reduce them back to normal when not carrying excessive weight. Have i made myself a bit more clear now