Thread: Incorrect rated rims

Originally Posted by Meccles

Wow must be my lucky day! Just had LRA on the phone. Very polite and helpful. Also, it is LRA policy that their dealers are not supposed to fit aftermarket wheels, they are supposed to fit only genuine rims. They indicated that they will be contacting the dealer on this one.

This just might turn out OK for you.

I think wheels, (and other stuff), are such a grey area that no one really understands the details so LR, (the Factory), routinely insists the dealers only use their supplied and marked up products.

This dictate usually does not go over too well in the Used Car department as the Factory can't lose; this also tends to explain why used cars on the dealers lot generally cost more than on a sand lot. The current wheels will look good on a Toyota and your new Stormers will look just like the ones taken off except they will meet spec even according to an insurance company - that assumes Genuine Stormer are available in Oz.

In the case of a Land Rover, I think this rating stuff matters as often these vehicles are used in extreme service rather than just as grocery getters. It seems more often than not, Land Rovers are pictured balancing on two wheels and then dropping down on to one corner, and not always gently.

Contacted today by the dealer. They have done their own investigation and come to the same conclusion. Upshot is that new genuine Land Rover Stormer rims are now on order and will be fitted once they arrive from the UK.
For everyones info, the dealer, Bruce Lynton Land Rover, based in Southport, have been good to deal with. Once we identified the problem they were helpful and prompt in trying to rectify it. They have learn't, as have I, the details of wheel/rim replacement. I really can't complain about their response or attitude in my dealings with them. This will be an expensive exercise for them and has been a bit of a pain in the butt for me, but the end result should be right rims on the right car, supplied by the right people, without too much drama. They did not hesitate to do the right thing.
I will be using them again.

Good to hear you have it all sorted. Sounds like great service too. Well done

It sounds like LR believes wheel rating matters. It may of course be a cunning marketing move - spend a little to make even more, but in this case, I think not.

Whenever one alters a design, particularly for off road vehicles, the failure path changes. When it is the drive train, and I would regard tyres and wheels as part of the drive train, sometimes the results of a shifted weak spot can be more undesirable than perhaps otherwise would have been the case.

Everyone involved is to be complemented as to the outcome. In this case, all parties involved were winners; knowledge learned and acted upon with no prior unfortunate events.

Update, was on Gold Coast today. David Berzins at Bruce Lynton LR very helpful as he has been over last 6 months of this saga. My RRS is now fitted with 4 x genuine LR Stormer 20" alloys, complete with genuine center caps.
Very helpful, friendly. Really couldn't ask for more. Once car is clean I will take a photo as "proof" and post.

Originally Posted by Meccles

Update, was on Gold Coast today. David Berzins at Bruce Lynton LR very helpful as he has been over last 6 months of this saga. My RRS is now fitted with 4 x genuine LR Stormer 20" alloys, complete with genuine center caps.
Very helpful, friendly. Really couldn't ask for more. Once car is clean I will take a photo as "proof" and post.

Noting of course they were prepared to have you drive of wheels that were a safety hazard. But it does show that sticking your ground and persevering can result in a good outcome - glad it all came together.

Garry

In fairness to the dealer they never saw inside the rims. They purchased "correct" rims from aftermarket wheel/tyre supplier who was supposed to have provided fit for purpose rims. And they were fitted at the tyre place, not the dealers. The fault really lies with this wheel/tyre supplier for fitting them in first place, a reputable wheel/tyre outfit should have spotted the error right from the start.

Never, ever, trust what a tyre dealer says about tyres and rims.

With very few exceptions most of them just throw on anything roundish and blackish that can be made to fit then call it good.