Wheel Safety & Testing
LKQ reserves the right to refuse to recondition any wheel that is deemed structurally unsound. This includes but is not limited to a wheel that has been welded, straightened, machined, or any wheel that has been repaired by anyone other than LKQ.
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- All received wheels are thoroughly inspected to determine if they are repairable within our safety standards
- Wheels that are unacceptable include any that have damage that compromises the structural integrity of the wheel, such as severe dents, damage in the lughole area, or damage in the outer diameter.
- The testing process ensures that our wheels meet or exceed industry safety standards.
Tests
Annually, one wheel from each reconditioning wheel plant is randomly selected and fatigued tested according to SAE’s Performance Requirements and Test Procedures.
- Radial tested to 1,850,000 cycles (SAE J2530/SAE J328)
- Rotary tested to 190,000,000 cycles, which is double SAE requirements (SAE J2530/SAE J328)
- Impact tested (SAE J2530/SAE J175)
The same wheel then undergoes the salt spray (fog) testing for 336 hours, to ensure it meets environmental standards (ASTM B117-09/ASTM D1654-08).
Learn more about SAE International »
Learn more about ASTM International »
Independent Test Services
To determine the effect of our remanufacturing process on the structural integrity of aluminum wheels, we contracted with Independent Test Services for a one-time assessment. ITS is the same engineering firm that tests wheels for all North American OE wheel manufacturers. Our wheels were evaluated against new wheels on the three primary tests used to assess the OEM and SAE standards.
- Radial Fatigue Test Measure:This test stresses the wheel, with particular focus on the center hub of the wheel, with a heavier-than-normal load in a straight-line simulation
- Rotary Fatigue Test Measure:This test stresses the wheel, with particular focus on the center hub of the wheel, with a heavier-than-normal load in a cornering situation.
- Side Impact Test Measure:This test simulates impacting/curbing the wheels at high speeds.
Test Results: In the Radial and Rotary Fatigue Test Measures, our wheels exceeded both OEM and SAE acceptance measures, and the performance of the new wheels. Our wheels passed OEM and SAE acceptance measures and equaled the performance of the new wheels in the Side Impact Test Measure.
Learn more about our reconditioning process »
Randomly selected OE Style wheels are sent to a third party testing facility to ensure compliance with the requirements of SAE J2530
- All received wheels are inspected to ensure they meet safety regulations and are within safety tolerances
- Only minor repairs are performed, such as for scratches or dings
