Thread: ADV.1's first TUV Certification complete!

amazing congrats


wonder what the paper is?

Originally Posted by donblackie

Because a TUV certificate looks completely different. Google it. What they are showing is not a TUV cert.
That is a certificate of conformity. A TUV certificate specifies a wheel has been tested, has passed, and has been registered/certified by TUV-Rheinland. It also certifies a wheel to an specific vehicle only which is why is so expensive which in turn makes the wheels we buy costly. if in fact the ~$6k wheels are TUV certified, then I can understand the cost. If not, then I cannot see how one justifies the cost of the wheel vs its competitors.

I am not jumping to conclusions. I am just asking for insight and answers/proof of TUV certification on wheels that they claim to have.

aha. I'll try and explain the way I understand it. This will be a little complicated because we are dealing with retarded German laws here, so bare with me.

Here in Germany every modification done to the vehicle needs to be written by the German "DMV" into the vehicles registration in space 22. This can be avoided if the manufacturer gets a "universal allowance certificate, in German "ABE" for the part. If you have an ABE for a part, you always have to carry it in the vehicle incase the cops ask. But this ABE is hard to get, because there has to be a guarantee that the part has the same effect on all vehicles it can be installed on. Example: The foil used for window tinting has the same effect on every car that it is being installed on, so it has an ABE. Same goes for lowering springs, they have the same effect on every vehicle because all springs are manufactured the same way.

But when it comes to wheels, getting an ABE is impossible because there are just too many wheel styles that can be combined with all types of vehicles with different effects. It would cost the company a fortune to get an ABE. That is why it easier for the manufacturer to get a certificate of conformity from the TUV, stating that this specific wheel type (in this case Style 5.1) is conform with all regulations and can be used on German roads.

If I as a customer then order this style of wheels and install them on my car, I still need to have it inspected by the TUV and they will say if it fulfills the requirements (no rubbing, enough space to the inner fender etc. bla bla) or say its not street legal. If all is good, the wheel size and style will be noted in the registration. The certificate of conformity is the base requirement for the wheels to be even considered to become street legal.

Was I able to answer your concerns?

Originally Posted by Germany

aha. I'll try and explain the way I understand it. This will be a little complicated because we are dealing with retarded German laws here, so bare with me.

Here in Germany every modification done to the vehicle needs to be written by the German "DMV" into the vehicles registration in space 22. This can be avoided if the manufacturer gets a "universal allowance certificate, in German "ABE" for the part. If you have an ABE for a part, you always have to carry it in the vehicle incase the cops ask. But this ABE is hard to get, because there has to be a guarantee that the part has the same effect on all vehicles it can be installed on. Example: The foil used for window tinting has the same effect on every car that it is being installed on, so it has an ABE. Same goes for lowering springs, they have the same effect on every vehicle because all springs are manufactured the same way.

But when it comes to wheels, getting an ABE is impossible because there are just too many wheel styles that can be combined with all types of vehicles with different effects. It would cost the company a fortune to get an ABE. That is why it easier for the manufacturer to get a certificate of conformity from the TUV, stating that this specific wheel type (in this case Style 5.1) is conform with all regulations and can be used on German roads.

If I as a customer then order this style of wheels and install them on my car, I still need to have it inspected by the TUV and they will say if it fulfills the requirements (no rubbing, enough space to the inner fender etc. bla bla) or say its not street legal. If all is good, the wheel size and style will be noted in the registration. The certificate of conformity is the base requirement for the wheels to be even considered to become street legal.

Was I able to answer your concerns?

Yes absolutely. But this does not technically in fact constitute that the wheels are TUV certified correct? As I understand it, and Raw has helped me clarify, each wheel would have to be certified for a specific car with a specific offset. This gets very costly. But isn't this why we get charged $6-10k for a set of wheels?

Originally Posted by donblackie

Yes absolutely. But this does not technically in fact constitute that the wheels are TUV certified correct? As I understand it, and Raw has helped me clarify, each wheel would have to be certified for a specific car with a specific offset. This gets very costly. But isn't this why we get charged $6-10k for a set of wheels?

Yes, Raw is correct.

And yes, you will still have to go to a TUV inspector and he will determine if your allowed to drive with the wheels mounted or not. The certificate only states that the wheels may be used in Germany if the vehicle passes inspection.

And the high price for the wheels I guess is based to on the material used and the quality they are made with. But I can only speculate, since I am no wheel expert.

Congrats!

Thanks guys, this has been something in the works now for well over a year. Next month on the 20th we'll be meeting with our German partners for some final documents and future planning. As of right now we've tested several types of our wheels at the TUV facility and have brought all materials, methods and specs of our wheels to TUV standards, meaning each and every wheel we make is 100% engineered and manufactured within the TUV's testing standards and criteria's.

As far as testing certification and the myth behind the magical 3 letters, here's some info to help better understand what it all means. I wrote this earlier today in response to an email from Raw actually regarding the questions asked in the previous page:

"The TUV certifications are 100% individually based on 1 single application per certification. Each certification requires extensive documentation, testing, time, money, etc. which is why custom wheels do not really exist there as they offer too many sizes, fitments, applications, etc. HRE, ADV.1, or anyone who knows what they're doing manufactures to TUV "standards" meaning the guidelines necessary for TUV testing approval are followed, but it doesn’t mean that each wheel style, in every single diameter, in every single possible width, in every single possible offset for every single possible vehicle (literally thousands of combinations) go through individual testing for TUV approval.

Currently we have complete TUV certification on BMW e92 M3 ADV5.1 monoblock in 20x8.5+18 / 20x11+20. You see how specific that is? That 1 wheel is only authorized for use in those exact sizes for that exact vehicle. We have others in the works now that the baseline testing is approved, but never will it be a complete line up of options and styles.

A customer asking for TUV for his Gallardo may live in Germany and if so he can buy them only under the understanding that it's not legal for road use if he gets pulled over, he'll likely be fined and have to remove them. If he's asking if the wheels are made to TUV standards, yes however this doesn’t mean much. Other testing standards are more strict and difficult however people only ask about TUV because it's misunderstood."

I hope this helps : )

Thanks for clearing it up J.! I understand how much German laws and regulations regarding aftermarket stuff is a pain in the a**.

Originally Posted by Germany

Thanks for clearing it up J.! I understand how much German laws and regulations regarding aftermarket stuff is a pain in the a**.

No prob, I think most people have a misconception about the TUV certifications and what it really means. Most think that because it's hard to obtain that wheels that have certification are better than those that aren't. This isn't the case at all, the only reason it's hard is because it costs alot of money, time, and paperwork. The actual testing standards and requirements aren't anything out of the ordinary in fact in some cases even less demanding than some testing standards that we abide by in the US. It's not the strength or material of the wheel requirements that make TUV approval hard, it's the pain in the ass paperwork and money needed to get 1 measly test done. This is why you see cast wheels sold primarily in Germany as they're not custom ordered wheels, they're very limited in size / pcd / et / diameter and application range which makes it possible to obtain certifications much easier as the wheels are mostly just different pcd's and styles within the same mold. Still, not easy for cast wheels and not inexpensive but easiER and LESS expensive than attempting to TUV certify an entire line of forged wheels which consists of literally thousands of possible combinations.

If anyone would like any more information, documentation, certification, or any kind of ification and actually lives in Germany where TUV would actually matter to them, call these guys : ) I'm sure they can explain it to you better than I can...