ALL wheel manufacturers in Japan use only the highest grade aluminum ingots. But, along with Enkei’s superior MAT technology, we know that Enkei blends a proprietary formula of additives to increase wheel strength, flexibility and stability. Enkei is currently in their 2nd generation of rim-rolling technology (wheel companies such as Enkei and RAYS continue to increase their know-how and technology always striving for something better). The world’s largest automotive manufacturers (Toyota, Honda, Nissan, etc.) and F1 Racing teams have carefully selected Enkei wheels based upon overall quality and performance. OEM specifications are significantly more severe than testing conducted for aftermarket wheels and all AME wheels are produced under these same standards. The true value of Enkei’s rigorous internal standards is confirmed by their complete dominance in the high-end OEM wheel market.
Some specific examples that could be used is the paint quality between Enkei and other manufacturers. Although it takes a long time to get a new color approved, there are so many internal tests at Enkei that it can not be avoided.
Other manufacturing plants and especially the Chinese plants can kick out new colors every couple of weeks. This is convenient, but the wheels shouldn’t be expected to be used for more than a couple of years and also in areas with snow will cause discoloring, etc.
ALL Enkei wheel paints are tested and approved under strict OEM testing procedures which are used in all aftermarket wheel products. The significance of this is that it is much more expensive to paint wheels using OEM grade paint. Others do not do this and continue to have issues with some of their paints after a few years since they do not have the extensive OEM/Race paint background as Enkei. Some of the paints by other manufacturers have been launched quickly and end up being claims later on.
Enkei will throw out paint after a period of time even though it is still useable by anyone else’s standards. Kyoho has to argue with them since it happens with domestic market products. Each drum of paint costs about $xx,xxx.xx and makes over 10,000 wheels, but Enkei will toss it if Kyoho is not ordering within a fixed period of time.