WHEEL SAFETY STANDARDS

SDTW Direct, LLC uses industry leading manufacturing methods to produce wheels that are strong, light-weight, durable and affordable. Our wheels are JWL/VIA compliant, tested and certified. Select options will also be SAE certified. Please keep reading for more information on these safety testing procedures and organizations.

“JWL” (Japan Light Wheel Alloy) is a compilation of standards defined by the Japanese Government to ensure the vehicle’s safety for aluminum road wheels. Every wheel put to market must be tested to meet JWL standards before a wheel can be put out to market in Japan. These standards are generally accepted worldwide as acceptable for most road conditions. That is why you will see these marks on European and other Asian country wheels. Japan Light Alloy Wheel Association, while maintaining close contact with their member companies, carries out research and technical studies concerning the manufacture, marketing and distribution of automotive light alloy wheels. These activities also include market and technical research aimed at developing new demand for industry products plus many other related activities. To achieve these objectives, Japan Light Alloy Wheel Association aims to improve quality of Automobile Light Alloy Wheel and promotes liability of their product in the Automotive-After market. Major objectives also include the following:
In order to maintain safety standards, supports the “JWL” and “JWL-T” technical standard and promotes “JAWA” VIA Registration System.

As confirmation of compliance under Paragraph (1) above with technical standards, this is a voluntary accreditation, and safety of quality is relevant to human life so the Japan Light Alloy Automotive Wheel Testing Council (the “Council”) has set up a registration system for light-alloy disc wheels for domestic market sales (for the after-market) from the third party standpoint (the “VIA registration”).
For registration, a verification test is conducted based on the technical standards provided by the MLIT; judgment and assessment in accordance with the Japan Light Alloy Automotive Wheel Testing Council Regulations (the “Council Regulations”) are performed, and products that comply with the Council Regulations are then registered.

Tests Of JWL Standards:

1.Cornering Fatigue Test

The cornering fatigue test is related to the structural performance of the wheel for passenger cars. Wheels are mounted on a testing machine that simulates cornering under heavy loads. Thus, the cornering test exceeds than any stresses from normal road. This test will put the tire with wheel and using the simulate vehicle weight for 500,000 times and then finding the impact of test.

2. Radial Load Fatigue Test

The redial load fatigue test is fixed to the hub by nuts with a suitable torque specified by vehicle or wheel manufacturer. This load constantly compresses the wheel radially. While the car is running, the radial load becomes a cyclic load with the rotation of the wheel. So, the evaluation of test for finding strength of spokes and hub structure under radial load that is significant performance of wheel structure.

3. Degree Impact Test

The degree impact test focuses heavily on strength between spokes and inner rim of wheel. In this test will put the tire with wheel to get the impact in 13 degrees. Hence, this process could evaluate the bearing capacity of wheel spokes as well.
*Only products that undergo VIA registration may be marked with the VIA mark/stamp.
The Council consists of three organizations, that is, “Japan Aluminum Association (JAA)”, an organization relevant to manufacturing of light-alloy disc wheels, “Nippon Auto Parts Aftermarket Committee (NAPAC) JAWA Division,” an organization relevant to sales thereof, and “Japan Vehicle Inspection Association” (“Vehicle Inspection”) , a third party testing institution, and testing and registration operations are carried out by Vehicle Inspection.
The VIA mark is a registered trademark of Vehicle Inspection, and it is possible to affix it only to products registered with the Council. In addition, the JWL, JWL-T Mark and VIA Mark are applicable in Japan.

Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
The SAE is the Society of Automotive Engineers, or as it is known today, SAE International. SAE International is a professional association and standards development organization for the engineering industry, with a special focus on transport sectors such as automotive, aerospace and commercial vehicles. SAE is renowned for its ratings of automobile horsepower and aerospace industry standards. While none of their recommendations or standards are legally binding, they are generally accepted by industries and government agencies all over the world.

**J2530_201604**

This SAE Recommended Practice provides performance, sampling, and certifying requirements, test procedures, and marking requirements for aftermarket wheels intended for normal highway use on passenger cars, light trucks, and multipurpose passenger vehicles.