The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) has issued a warning exposing potentially lethal flaws in counterfeit alloy wheels following laboratory testing.
The testing was undertaken by the Laboratories for Materials Advanced Testing Services (LMATS) in line with the FCAI's 'Genuine Is Best' campaign which subjected the fake wheels to seven tests.
This included chemical and radiographic analysis, penetrant, tensile, hardness and impact testing, plus metallographic (microstructure) assessment.
The FCAI revealed as a result of the testing major flaws were uncovered such as hot tearing and shattering under pressure.
FCAI 'Genuine Is Best' ambassador Mark Skaife believes that as the wheels are readily available to purchase online, consumers and businesses should be made aware of potential dangers of counterfeit parts.
"The fake wheels were sourced from an Australian-based online store, and at first glance you might think you're getting a great deal.
“But the major concern with fakes is safety, and using them, knowingly or otherwise, means you're taking a huge risk.
"The way to avoid safety concerns posed by fakes is to ensure you or your repairer source genuine parts from the vehicle maker's authorised supply chain.”
LMATS materials engineer Yashwin Mahadea has also backed the testing as a significant step in reducing risks presented by fake wheels.
"Radiographic analysis on the counterfeit rim revealed the presence of large pores and cavities in the centre wheel and spoke area.
"Dye penetrant testing also identified multiple areas of severe porosity in the counterfeit wheel, while no recordable faults were observed on the genuine wheel in either test.”