Alloy wheels quandry !

[Happy Jack]

Hi,
Was settled on Supermetal hammer 16" alloys for my Ducato.
SWMBO said watch and wait for black friday or xmass or January sakes. Methinks that's fanciful but swmbo mbo.
They are rated at 1250Kgs per wheel = 2500 per axle.
Weighbridged in full hol trim at 1610 front, 1500 rear.
However, have today seen Fox Viper at £200 less for 4.
BUT, they are rated at 950Kgs each, 1900 per axle.
Still nicely above axle weight but Supermetal much better.
Super metal are made in UK. Fox, don't know.
Fox are gravity cast, would think Supermetal would be pressure cast to achieve density for the higher load rating.
Having looked at various websites can't find any more info except that there is a large range in both makes.
What would you do ?
Does anyone have any thoughts about what else I should be considering.
For example, I know I have to tell my insurer but would they need a TUV certificate ?
Anything else you can think of ?
Thanks.

 

[berni109]

Are you going to bother with a spare? Alloys need a different mount to fit standard steel spare carrier.

 

[Googlebot]

You will need to tell insurer.

I would just get the nice expensive ones, no pockets in shrouds.

Never seen wheels in sales either. ;-)

 

[Lenny HB]

Wheels need to be able to take the plated load of your axle.
So if the plated load of the axle is 2000kg you can't use the Fox Viper.

 

[Grummyb]

I'd go for really cheap steel and shed loads of wine

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Googlebot]

I'd go for really cheap steel and shed loads of wine

To be fair, you have a point.

The way I scrape kerbs it would be a better option.

 

[Happy Jack]

Are you going to bother with a spare? Alloys need a different mount to fit standard steel spare carrier.

Could keep the 15" steel wheel.
But, thinking of 1 6" steel wheel with same tyre.

 

[Happy Jack]

Wheels need to be able to take the plated load of your axle.
So if the plated load of the axle is 2000kg you can't use the Fox Viper.

Lenny, Hi.
My Ducato is 3500 max but not sure if the front is plated higher than the rear.
Will check up.

 

[Happy Jack]

I'd go for really cheap steel and shed loads of wine

Hi Grump.
Thought of that but bumpers fully colour coded silver same as body and side trims and grill which are gloss black.
Alloys will finish it off.

 

[CAB96]

Stick with the Supermetals with the higher load rating.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Two on Tour]

Hi,
Was settled on Supermetal hammer 16" alloys for my Ducato.
SWMBO said watch and wait for black friday or xmass or January sakes. Methinks that's fanciful but swmbo mbo.
They are rated at 1250Kgs per wheel = 2500 per axle.
Weighbridged in full hol trim at 1610 front, 1500 rear.
However, have today seen Fox Viper at £200 less for 4.
BUT, they are rated at 950Kgs each, 1900 per axle.
Still nicely above axle weight but Supermetal much better.
Super metal are made in UK. Fox, don't know.
Fox are gravity cast, would think Supermetal would be pressure cast to achieve density for the higher load rating.
Having looked at various websites can't find any more info except that there is a large range in both makes.
What would you do ?
Does anyone have any thoughts about what else I should be considering.
For example, I know I have to tell my insurer but would they need a TUV certificate ?
Anything else you can think of ?
Thanks.

I bought and fitted a set of 16" Supermetal hammer's to our MH 5 years ago, and they still look as good as new with no corrosion that other alloy's suffer from as the Supermetal hammer's are powder coated not spray lacquered as most other alloy's are.

 

[The joker]

Borbet CW5 16" Mistral Anthracite Gloss from lk perfomance £740.00 for 4 and got £300 for my old alloys

I like them and a good load rating of 1400 kg

 

[Happy Jack]

Stick with the Supermetals with the higher load rating.

Getting round to thinking just that.

 

[Happy Jack]

I bought and fitted a set of 16" Supermetal hammer's to our MH 5 years ago, and they still look as good as new with no corrosion that other alloy's suffer from as the Supermetal hammer's are powder coated not spray lacquered as most other alloy's are.

View attachment 976877

Hi Two.
It's the hammer silver ones I really fancy.

 

[CAB96]

Getting round to thinking just that.

You may be OK with the Fox but personally, I would prefer a better safety margin.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Happy Jack]

Borbet CW5 16" Mistral Anthracite Gloss from lk perfomance £740.00 for 4 and got £300 for my old alloys
View attachment 976881
I like them and a good load rating of 1400 kg

But finicky to clean though ?

 

[The joker]

But finicky to clean though ?

Colours quite forgiving and reasonsable access with an old karcher washing brush head TUV approved as well

 

[berni109]

15 or 16 steel same fit on carrier. Where are you going to fit/put the flat alloy.
Put it inside with you till U get to a tyre place but a wheel and tyre is a big lump. And there is also the difference in studs between alloy and steel although I don't know personally if they are different lengths.

 

[Lenny HB]

Lenny, Hi.
My Ducato is 3500 max but not sure if the front is plated higher than the rear.
Will check up.

3500kg Ducato's are normally as standard 2000kg on the rear and 1850kg on the front.

 

[Nanniemate]

Hi,
Was settled on Supermetal hammer 16" alloys for my Ducato.
SWMBO said watch and wait for black friday or xmass or January sakes. Methinks that's fanciful but swmbo mbo.
They are rated at 1250Kgs per wheel = 2500 per axle.
Weighbridged in full hol trim at 1610 front, 1500 rear.
However, have today seen Fox Viper at £200 less for 4.
BUT, they are rated at 950Kgs each, 1900 per axle.
Still nicely above axle weight but Supermetal much better.
Super metal are made in UK. Fox, don't know.
Fox are gravity cast, would think Supermetal would be pressure cast to achieve density for the higher load rating.
Having looked at various websites can't find any more info except that there is a large range in both makes.
What would you do ?
Does anyone have any thoughts about what else I should be considering.
For example, I know I have to tell my insurer but would they need a TUV certificate ?
Anything else you can think of ?
Thanks.

Are they round ? As this is vital I'm lead to believe

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Happy Jack]

Colours quite forgiving and reasonsable access with an old karcher washing brush head TUV approved as well
View attachment 976919

Hi Joker.
Do they need to be TUV approved for insurers or is that just a good assurance that they are well manufactured.

 

[Happy Jack]

Are they round ? As this is vital I'm lead to believe

Hi Nanniemate.
Didnt think of that but now that you mention that is referred to in the Supermetal bumph on websites as part of the reason they describe them as premium.
No claims like that from Fox.

 

[Happy Jack]

3500kg Ducato's are normally as standard 2000kg on the rear and 1850kg on the front.

Hi Lenny HB,
Could that mean wheels should be rated at least 1000Kgs each for the rear ?
if so, the Fox are underated.
Thought the max of 3500 would be equally distributed.

 

[Happy Jack]

15 or 16 steel same fit on carrier. Where are you going to fit/put the flat alloy.
Put it inside with you till U get to a tyre place but a wheel and tyre is a big lump. And there is also the difference in studs between alloy and steel although I don't know personally if they are different lengths.

One option is to keep the 15" spare in it's carrier and use it only in the event one of the 16" tyres get a puncture.
Actually legal !!!
(And keep some of the old bolts)
Would have to drive carefully and get puncture repaired asap.
But was thinking of getting 16" steel spare if it will fit in the carrier.

15 or 16 steel same fit on carrier. Where are you going to fit/put the flat alloy.
Put it inside with you till U get to a tyre place but a wheel and tyre is a big lump. And there is also the difference in studs between alloy and steel although I don't know personally if they are different lengths.

Didnt consider " Where to put the punctured 16" .
Yes it could go inside the habitation area but would be very awkward and repair would be urgent won't be trip can be continued with.
Will have to investigate a 16" alloy will fit in the carrier.

 

[Googlebot]

Hi Lenny HB,
Could that mean wheels should be rated at least 1000Kgs each for the rear ?
if so, the Fox are underated.
Thought the max of 3500 would be equally distributed.

No, you need to check the weight plate on the vehicle. If it’s a 2000KG axle, each wheel needs to take 1000KG minimum.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Happy Jack]

No, you need to check the weight plate on the vehicle. If it’s a 2000KG axle, each wheel needs to take 1000KG minimum.

OK, got that will check.

 

[JimmE]

We were going to go for the Supermetal wheels too - originally the Hammer and then later the Vault.

In the end, early in the year when we were looking to change, they were on back order and no suppliers were able to get hold of them - so after waiting a few months and failing an MOT due to needing a new tyre, we got a refund and changed to Borbet CWD - slightly more expensive but delivered next day.

I ordered a cheap 16” steel spare, and the kit to fit the alloy wheel into the underslung wheel carrier if needed. Intend to do a ‘dry run’ of that so that I have some idea how it works before needing to do it in the wet and mud at the side of the road…

I liked the Supermetal as they looked fairly ‘original’ and also not too much of a pain to clean. They also fitted the original Fiat centre caps - as do the Borbet CWD.

I believe both Supermetal and Borbet use the original Fiat wheel bolts, at least for the 5x118 PCD hub?

Fox alloys seem popular on cars and small (VW T5) size vans - but agree with others that you need to cover the permitted axle weight rather than your actual (current) weights.

In short - if you can get the Supermetal, all my research on them seemed positive so I’d say they’re worth the extra!

 

[Lenny HB]

Hi Lenny HB,
Could that mean wheels should be rated at least 1000Kgs each for the rear ?
if so, the Fox are underated.
Thought the max of 3500 would be equally distributed.

Yes, rear axle always takes more load than front.

 

[stewartwebr]

My take for what it’s worth would be don’t bother. Over the years I have had nothing but bother with Motorhome alloy wheels and find them more trouble than they are worth. It all started when we bought a Burstner Elegance back in 2010, it had lovely diamond cut alloys, within 6 months they started to develop white veins under the varnish. Burstner kindly replaced them twice in just under 3 years, each time telling me the issue was resolved. We then bought another Elegance, same again 3 sets under Warranty. Then a N&B Flair, not such a nice finish as the Burstner alloys but started to pit after 12 months, again replaced under warranty. Moved to our first Morelo and again same issues, the alloys were the same model as the Flair and suffered the same issue. Morelo replaced under warranty and they were good for 18 months. I complained again and Morelo offered 50% contribution to replacement. On ordering my first Liner I opted for chrome wheel trims, would never have alloy wheels again.
The pictures are of the Morelo ones after 12 months of use.

 

[Two on Tour]

My take for what it’s worth would be don’t bother. Over the years I have had nothing but bother with Motorhome alloy wheels and find them more trouble than they are worth. It all started when we bought a Burstner Elegance back in 2010, it had lovely diamond cut alloys, within 6 months they started to develop white veins under the varnish. Burstner kindly replaced them twice in just under 3 years, each time telling me the issue was resolved. We then bought another Elegance, same again 3 sets under Warranty. Then a N&B Flair, not such a nice finish as the Burstner alloys but started to pit after 12 months, again replaced under warranty. Moved to our first Morelo and again same issues, the alloys were the same model as the Flair and suffered the same issue. Morelo replaced under warranty and they were good for 18 months. I complained again and Morelo offered 50% contribution to replacement. On ordering my first Liner I opted for chrome wheel trims, would never have alloy wheels again.
The pictures are of the Morelo ones after 12 months of use.



View attachment 976991

View attachment 976992

View attachment 976993

View attachment 976994

No corrosion at all after 5 years on my Supermetal hammer's, because they have a powder coated finish rather than the sprayed lacquer, which is one of the reasons that I wanted Supermetal wheel,
Having had the grief of sprayed lacquer on alloy's which does not adhere to aluminium very well without the correct etch primer (which I have never seen used on alloy's) as well as the paint not getting a build-up on the sharp diamond cut edges.