Fake wheels a danger to drivers

Cheap, fake car wheels that break the moment they hit a small pothole at suburban speeds could be endangering the lives of drivers and pedestrians.

The Australian automotive industry is concerned about a rise in counterfeit wheels, which cost a fraction of the price of genuine wheels and are not subject to Australian quality control.

Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries chief executive Tony Weber says it is especially concerning because replacing wheels is a popular way for consumers to personalise their cars.

"But what so many don't realise that while fake wheels might change the look of their vehicle, they may also change the safety of the car," he told reporters on Monday.

A test of some suspect wheels, conducted by Mercedez-Benz and Holden at Holden's Lang Lang proving ground, showed the fake wheels disintegrating at just 50km/h when driving over small pot holes.

Mercedez-Benz senior engineer Timothy Clark said "knife blade-like shards of metal" broke away from the imitation wheels, while genuine products remained intact.

"A piece of rim breaking away is not only dangerous for the people in the car, but also for those on the side of the road considering how far the piece flew," he said.

While fake wheels may look identical to the real product, Mr Weber advised consumers purchasing second-hand vehicles to take them to the car's official dealer to check the wheels.