TheSamba.com :: View topic - How to identify genuine Centerline Wheels

Fri Oct 27, 2006 11:07 am

Hello, I have come across some 4-lug Centerline Wheels for sale. How do I confirm they are genuine Centerlines? The only stampings are the size 15x4.5 on the backside and they appear to be a 1-piece wheel. They are for sale for $90 with weather cracked tires. Is this a good deal? Are they worth it?
Thanks for your help!

Sat Oct 28, 2006 11:24 am

There are a few fakes that were manufactured...

the "not so good ones" are cast an done piece, they have these rivets lookin gthing that are ornimental only, they don't serve any function other than to make the cast wheel look like a centerline. These are not a bad wheel mind you, but a bi of a "poser" in my opinion. Cast is heavier than any spun aluminim design, since cast aluminum is inherently weaker than a wheel metal spun from wrought or rolled aluminum plate

There are other spun aluminum wheels out there that use 15 bolts to hold the halves together, instead of having the signature smashed stainless steel rivets of a Centerline, but you said the wheels you were looking at are not 2-piece.

I wouldn't pay more than $50/wheel for those cast "centerline copies" I hope that helps

Wed Nov 01, 2006 4:55 am

The other thing is that genuine Center Lines have the name around the hole in the middle. Repro wheels won't have this. I don't know if Tom meant repro rather than fakes? I've not heard of any fake wheels being passed off as genuine?

Wed Feb 14, 2007 11:14 am

Sounds like the ones you are looking at are American Eagles. They have the markings on the inside but they are hard to see, not very legible. They aren't bad but like Tom Simon said, they are not Centerlines. For a street wheel, they may be a better choice since they hold-up better if you hit a curb or pot-hole. If you are getting the whole set for 90, that is a good deal. 90 each is a little much considering that is what they cost new back in those days. Hell you can get 8 spoke empis for about that.

Wed Feb 14, 2007 11:18 am

Neil Davies wrote: The other thing is that genuine Center Lines have the name around the hole in the middle...
This is true on the 4-lug wheels, wide 5s don't have the Centerline name on them. Chevy and Ford bolt-pattern wheels have the name on them also.
Centerlines are a distinct 2-piece wheel, you can see the split where the 2 halves meet through the center bore. When you see a Centerline next to a look-alike, the difference is obvious.

Wed Feb 14, 2007 8:48 pm

TomSimon wrote: There are other spun aluminum wheels out there that use 15 bolts to hold the halves together, instead of having the signature smashed stainless steel rivets of a Centerline,

More than likely these (spoken of by Tom) are CMS wheels. Which by the way is a very good quality wheel. Their whole initial design was so that one could quick change the inner and outer halves at the trace or course if needed to accommodate a variety of tires. An ajustable offset if you will.