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FAQ

Subject: Registration

Subject: Transport & Delivery times

Subject: Technical Information


Subject: Registration

Have the new wheels to be inspected from the Technical Inspection Agency?

In general is following effective: Differs the technical data of the wheels (width/size) from the guidelines of the vehicle registration and it doesn't exist a General Operating License then the inspection and approval of the Technical Inspection Agency has to take place.

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Is there an existing Technical Inspecting Agency who does single-parts appraisals for the wheels?

A Technical Inspection Agency is a common form for the authorization of tuning parts. Those part reports includes strict obligations and instructions. To avoid incorrectadjustments of the tuning parts or that modifications are being done wrong, so you have to represent your vehicle after all modifications to a Technical Inspecting Agency inspector. At wheels4low.com only specific indicated wheels have a TIA parts certificate.

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Is the registration for the wheels also without the Technical Inspection Agency parts certificate possible?

Of course the wheels can be registered also without the TIA parts report and they are permitted for the road conditions as well. All registration relevant data is from the manufacturer already molded in the wheels.

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Could there occur any problems with the registration?

Occasionally problems can occur with the registration of the wheels. Reasons for this vary and often differ in each case. Frequent reasons are inexperienced inspectors (until now no registration of US chrome wheels), insufficient enquiry before the purchase of the wheels and unprofessional adjustment on the vehicle itself.

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How does wheels4low can help you with the registration?

Wheels4low supports you from the beginning on professional and competent. Our customer support will announce all important technical data to each specific wheel, gives you registration relevant information and provides references as well. Gladly we like to suggest an inspector in your area who provides sufficient knowledge about approval and inspection of chrome wheels.

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What is the wheels4low- trust-guarantee?

Trust is good, guarantee is better. In case after checking all your requested information and we confirmed to you the registration with our partners and with hindsight however this is not possible then you can return the wheels to us within one month of purchase. The right to return the wheels doesn't count for wrong statements from your side, by unprofessional installments, insufficient free movement or other technical lacks of the vehicle.

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Subject: Transport & Delivery times

What is a normal duration of the delivery?

According to availability from the supplier we can deliver your ordered chrome wheels within 4 - 6 weeks to you. The exact delivery date will be announced to you after your order is received. Of course we will inform you in time if any changes occur in the delivery.

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Why does the delivery takes such a long time?

All wheels from wheels4low are original US-chrome wheels and are individual ordered and manufacturered for each specific customer order. To have all variations in the warehouse is for business management reasons and logistic reasons not possible. Thru centralized buying we are reducing the shipping & handling costs and we can provide savings direct to our customers.

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Is a faster delivery of the wheels possible thru wheels4low?

As additional service we are offering an express delivery. Thru this service we can delivery the wheels within 2 -3 weeks. Please contact our customer service regarding costs and specific delivery dates.

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Which transport costs normally occur?

The costs for the shipping & handling of the chrome wheels are as follows:

Within Germany:
10,00 Euro DHL/UPS Parcel (500 Euro per wheel insured)
12,50 Euro GLS Express Mail 17 or 18 inch wheel (up to 750 Euro per wheel insured)
14,00 Euro GLS Express Mail 19, 20, 22, 24 inch wheel ( up to 750 Euro per wheel insured)
14,00 Euro GLS Express Mail for a complete wheelset (up to 750 Euro per wheel insured)
International:
20,00 Euro Benelux, Denmark, Austria - GLS Express Mail for wheels or ready mounted wheel/tire combination up to 750 Euro per wheel insured
25,00 Euro France, Italy, Great Britain - GLS Express Mail per wheel or ready mounted wheel/tire combination up to 750 Euro per wheel insured
32,50 Euro Ireland, Finland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden - GLS Express Mail per wheel or ready mounted wheel/tire combination up to 750 Euro per wheel insured
32,50 Euro Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia - GLS Express Mail per wheel or ready mounted wheel/tire combination up to 750 Euro per wheel insured
32,50 Euro Switzerland DHL Parcel International only wheels up to 20 inch to 500 Euro insured

Shipping & Handling costs in all other countries are on request. Own shipping service and self pickup is possible.

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Subject: Technical Information

Which technical information should be considered with the selection of the wheels?

Chrome wheels are characterized as follows: 7" x 16", ET 38, LK 4/100:

  • 7 is the Wheel width (measurement in inches)
  • 16 is the wheel diameter (measurement in inches)
  • ET 38 ist die Einpresstiefe, das hei_t: wie weit die Felgenanschraubfl‰che von der Felgenmitte entfernt ist. (Angabe in mm) ET 38 is the Offset this means: is measured between the wheel centre-line and the wheel seating face. (Measurement in mm)
  • LK 4/100 is standing for Bolt pattern - Diameter: accordingly means 4/100 mm at the wheel which is fastened with 4 bolts and the bolt circle diameter, in which the bolts are mounted, is 100 mm.

other possible details:

  • H2 - wheel with Double Humb (on the wheel shoulder all around running humps which are for the lateral load)
  • Is another number located behind the LK 4/100, so is that the Diameter of the Centerline (Centering of the wheel hub)

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What to consider about the offset?

The offset is not the measurement on which you can see how good the tire looks on the vehicle. It gives you a lead if the tire fits under a specific fender and or if the fender needs to be widened or not.

A little bit describing theory: The offset (measurement in mm) is indentified as the distance from the centerline of the wheel to the mounting surface of the wheel, so the brake drum or brake rotor disk. The distance between the wheel flanges is the rim width. The rim width is in inches indicated. One inch are 2,54 cm. For example a "7,5-inch-wheel" is approx. 19,05 cm width.

At a Offset of Zero is the flange exactly at the wheel centre, so the wheel banks to the inside and as well to the outside. A 7,5 inches width wheel with the offset of zero, so 9,525 cm on the outside and 9,525 on the inside. A positive offset (for example offset +35) means, that the wheel banks closer to the inside, (direction to vehicle centerline) as to the outside (direction to wheel arch).

If two wheel pairs are standing for disposition, one is plus and the other one minus 35 offset then in the usage of the other offset the change of the entire track width to 140 mm is recommended. (offset +35 mm: 35 mm + 35 mm = + 70 mm; offset - 35 mm: 35 mm + 35 mm = - 70 mm).

The tread of the tires changes the location consequently not thru the different width of the wheel but rather through the offset. An appropriate sufficient tread coverage is necessary. If this is not the case a narrow wheel doesn't help but one with a larger offset.

Another criteria for the usage of the correct offset is the influence on the kingpin offset. (Distance dimension between left and right tire on the front suspension based on the center-line of the wheel seating face). The kingpin offset has influence on the track stability and depends on the offset. With a positive offset the kingpin offset is reduced. Reversed (negative offset or if wheel spacers are used) the kingpin offset increases. If a smaller kingpin offset is used and with it a positive/ standard offset is choosen then the vehicle is much easier, more comfortable and in extrem driving situations just much better to control. And with a smaller kingpin offset/ positive offset the optical characteristic is a matter of taste.

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What you have to consider about the bolt pattern?

The bolt pattern is the name given to the centers circle of the wheel bolts that secures the wheel to the brake drum or brake disk.

JVarying from one manufacturer to the next, various bolt pattern diameters and numbers of holes are on the market. If a wheel manufacturer wants to create a huge market share on motor vehicle accessories he would need to consider over sixty different wheel flanges from the manufacturer's. Basically vary the wheels in bolt pattern numbers, in bolt pattern, in the diameter of the wheel hub hole and the offset. In consideration of the variety and to fulfill the customers desires some wheel manufacturer's deliver them in the exact customers wishes with the desired offset and bolt pattern which is drilled at the time of ordering.

Another alternative is the usage of bolt pattern adaptors which are mounted between the wheel and the wheel flange: on the vehicle side the bolt pattern diameter and on the wheel side the one on the wheel itself. Overlapping of the existing drill holes from different bolt patterns (see sketch on the right) so a two-disk-version should be used.



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Which characteristics and measurements exist on tires?
  • Tire Manufacturer (Trademark)
  • Profile Indication/Tire Type
  • Tire Cross-Sectional-Width in mm
  • Proportion of tire height to tire width in %
  • Radial Ply Tire
  • Wheel Diameter in inches
  • Index Number for the tire load capacity
  • Speed-Index
  • Tubeless
  • Date of construction (XX = Week, X = Year, smaller as 9. decade)
  • Tread Wear Indicator (1,6 mm)
  • Additional information for tires with increased load-carrying capacity
  • Instruction for winter capability for Winter- and Year-round tires

Resource: "Reifenfibel", 1. Edition 1999, Switzerland, Copyright by Bridgestone, Contiental, Dunlop, Goodyear, Michelin, Pirelli

Which regulations do exist and should be considered?

The technical performance of the tire equipment is settled in article 36 StVZO. (Road Traffic Licensing Regulations) Accordingly are passenger car tires standardized after european regulations ECE-R 30. This applies to the labeling on the tire shoulder. It provides all important data about the tire itself. This information is collected for the motorist - the standard also indicates on this side the manufacturer's brand name and tire type.

Tire Width (3)
Measured in mm (for example 175 mm). On regular passenger vehicles the tires have the cross-sectional-width ranging from nominal 125 mm (for example 125/80 R 12) up to approx. 335 mm (for example 335/30 R 19). The width increases in 10-mm steps. Special tires for brand new wheel-tire-systems (for example TD-tires from Dunlop or TRX-or TDX-tires from Michelin) have different width measurement in mm. Ranges from 160 to 240 mm. The actual width differs from the usual production tolerance insignificant from the nomial specifications and also varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. It also depends on the width of the wheel on which the tire is mounted. The standardization of the tires allows to mount tires on rims with different widths. Widths varieties are the cause that only specific vehicles can use only specific brand name manufacturer's or simply can be mounted in combination with specific wheels. In those cases exclusively used tires which in all conditions with security (also at the deflect and at the steering angle) in full and free movement (control check). The usability of snow chains can be bounded on specific tire fabricates and wheel widths. Please pay close attention in the motor vehicle registration law and instruction manual.

Heights-Width-Proportion/Series ....../50,/60,/70,/80 (4)
Proportion of the tire cross-sectional of heigth and width in percentage. One /50 means that the tires height is half the size of the tires width. With decreasing proportional numbers the tire shoulder/flank is decreasing as well - common appearance of a sporty passenger vehicle (225/45...). Exception: At tires with 80th-and/82nd-Series used to be the ".../80" was in the describtion not usual. That's why in older vehicle documentation is still written "155 R 13". With todays purchase of tires it would match with "155/80 R 13".

Construction method of tires (5)
R" is standing for "radial" (sometimes announced in long form). This is nowadays typical construction method with radial arranged synthetic fibre (casing quality). Until the years of 1960 was the diagonal tire standard. For special occasions today it is still produced (for example oldtimer automobile) and instaed of "R" a "D" or "-". Advice: Strictly mount only tires of one style of construction. Mixed set of tires - diagonal- and radial tires on a vehicle is not allowed according to StVZO (Road Traffic Licensing Regulations).

Wheel Diameter (6)
The wheel diameter is similar referred to the surface on which the tire is seated. This result is alos usually expressed in inches. The measurement is from 10" to 20". On TD-tires from Dunlop and TRX-, TDX-tires or the PAX-System from Michelin is the wheel diameter measured in mm. The most popular diameter are from 315 mm to 440 mm.

Load Index LI (7)
Characteristic number for the loading capacity of the tire. Each LI-value, displayed in a chart, has a specific loading capacity of the tire at a given air pressure. Example: "85" = 515 kg. The mouned tire should be according to the LI which is written down in the vehicle documents. Higher values of the LI are acceptable. Additional information "Reinforced": (12) Indication on tires with especially higher loading capacity (for pickup trucks, minivans, vans, sport utility vehicles...). Decisive is here also the appropiate high LI-Index number.

Speed symbol (GSY, also "Speedindex") (8)
Code letter which indicates the allowed maximum speed of the tires. The letters are following speed categories assigned (here displayed: common GSY for passenger cars).

GSY M N P Q R S T U H V W Y ZR
km/h 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 240 270 300 >240

Directionally-Orientated Tread Patterns
Predominant on tires with special profile design is gravened on the tire shoulder, words like "Rotation", "Rotating Direction", "Direction" and in combination with a running direction arrow. During the tire installation is the pre-set running and rotating direction to consider.

Date of Manufacturer(10)
Previous Codification-System: The last 3 figures the so called "DOT"- number represents the date of production. The first two sites mention the production week, the last figure is the ending number of the year. For example: 409 = 40. week 1999. That we have something to do with the nineties is also indicated through a little triangle (on the right side next to the 3-digit number).

New indentification from 1.1.2000: Now 4-digit key number. 0100 = 1. week 2000.

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Which variations between vehicle registration certificate and tires is allowed?

Differing from the basic principle, that the indication in the vehicle registration certificate and on the tires have to match, following exceptions apply:

  • Lastindex LI: Lastindex of the mounted tires can be greater then in the registration of the vehicle certificate. For example: vehicle certificate 165/65 R 13 76 T, tire label: 165/65 R 13 77 T.
  • Geschwindigkeitssymbol: Er darf "höherwertiger" sein als die entsprechenden Eintragungen in den Papieren. Beispiel: Fz.-Schein 185/65 R 14 86 H, zulässig sind Reifen mit Aufschrift: 185/65 R 14 86 V.
  • Winter- and Year-around tires: the speed-index is valid for low maximum-speed when in the vehicle documents for summer tires indicated. In those cases a sticker must be added in the field of view for the M + S-tires with the acceptable maximum-speed. For example: vehicle certificate 195/65 R 14 89 H (summer tires), acceptable also tires with labelling: 195/65 R 14 89 QM+S. In this case is also the acceptable mamimum-speed of the vehicle through the speed of the tire restricted and unconditionally to maintain.
  • P-Tires (american classification, indentification for example 225/60 R 15...). You can use it, in case they are labeled as ECE-R30, this means factory identification must be shown in the exact same form like in the handout. Is the identification different from the ECE-R 30 ( no load-index, no speed-index), so the tire manufacturer has to provide a written statement about the appropriate requirements of the ECE-norm. This confirmation has the driver to carry along all the time. Are in the documentation (especially in the US-Models) "P"-tires listed then you can also use ECE-R 30 verified tires if with exception of the missing letters "P" the identification on the tires with registration of the vehicle documents are identical.
  • ZR-, VR-Tires. If they are listed in the documents of older vehicles, it is allowed to use tires with the same size W-tires (up to 270km/h) and with enough load capacity, if the vehicle max. speed 260 km/h (as per vehicle registration certificate digit 6) is not exceeded and no other type- or manufacturer commitment (digit 33) exists in the paperwork. In case of doubt you should contact the vehicle or tire manufacturer for further information.

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