Info Wanted on Sport Edition

[quackbury]

A number of us have noticed that the Sport Edition A7's look exactly like the ASA JH3's, except they have "made in China" stamped in them. (For that matter they also have "ASA" stamped in them).

And looking at the Sport Edition page onthe Tire Rack site, a lot of the wheels look like previous offerings from AC Schnitzer, Rial, Borbet, maybe even AMG.

Is the Sport Edition factory owned by ASA? Are they paying a royalty to other manufacturers for the use of their designs? Are they TUV approved?

[Valgus]

The Sport Edition is a "made in China" knock-off. Stick with the original. Lots of stories on the news about the quality of Chinese products.

[ddtan]

I have a set of those Sport Editions. So far no problems. Gary at Tire Rack claims that they have not had problems with Sport Edition wheels that they have been selling for the past 5 years. I understand that Tire Rack is no longer selling the ASA JH3's.
For the price and availability, I guess I'm taking my chances.

[link]

The Sport Edition is a "made in China" knock-off. Stick with the original. Lots of stories on the news about the quality of Chinese products.

seriously, your reason against these wheels is that there are lots of news stories about the quality of Chinese products?

Anyway, I have a set of the sport edition E1 wheels. So, far they ride and look great, and you can't beat them for the price.

[Valgus]

Yes, this is an absolutely valid point. Chinese manufacturing is based upon taking good products from around the world, copying them and mass producing with a work force that is paid a couple of bucks per day. The quality of the work is very poor. A company that stamps another wheels name into it is trying to pull the wool over the consumers eyes....I don't like that.

[jenlain]

High wage rates are not a guarantee of high quality. There is significant variability in the quality of manufacturing facilities within China (just as in many other countries). I think it is an over-generalization to assume that all products manufactured in China are of poor quality due to a few stories in the news and low wage rates relative to other countries.

[KrisL]

High wage rates are not a guarantee of high quality. There is significant variability in the quality of manufacturing facilities within China (just as in many other countries). I think it is an over-generalization to assume that all products manufactured in China are of poor quality due to a few stories in the news and low wage rates relative to other countries.

+1

[Valgus]

High wage rates are not a guarantee of high quality. There is significant variability in the quality of manufacturing facilities within China (just as in many other countries). I think it is an over-generalization to assume that all products manufactured in China are of poor quality due to a few stories in the news and low wage rates relative to other countries.

If it is a good wheel, why not stamp the name of the actual company that is making it ? I have no respect for knock-offs. Do a google search of "Sport Edition", not much out there.

[Gary@Tirerack]

High wage rates are not a guarantee of high quality. There is significant variability in the quality of manufacturing facilities within China (just as in many other countries). I think it is an over-generalization to assume that all products manufactured in China are of poor quality due to a few stories in the news and low wage rates relative to other countries.

Well stated.

[Gary@Tirerack]

If it is a good wheel, why not stamp the name of the actual company that is making it ? I have no respect for knock-offs. Do a google search of "Sport Edition", not much out there.

While I would tend to agree on some other products, I wouldn't agree with wheels. Much of wheels is about branding... the center cap of the wheel will show the 'brand' of the wheel. For example your factory BMW wheels weren't 'made' by BMW but were contracted out to another wheel company, and not always the same company as your other BMW. If a company does all the engineering, design, and marketing of the wheel, shouldn't they be the ones with their brand on the wheel rather than the plant that pours the aluminum into the mold? Like BMW, Sport Edition is a brand name, not a wheel manufacturer Just something to think about.