Borbet, Spokane, Tosa Alloys... difference?

[Dad]

Hi,
Daughters car has a few badly kerbed alloys so I was looking at EBay to find possible economic replacements (without cracks or welds) but I’m not sure exactly which type she has on her 2016/66 Match (185/60/15 tyres). They all look the same to me in the pictures! I’m assuming (possibly incorrectly) that Borbet was from the earlier models, Spokane around 2016-17 and Tose from 2018? They all seem to be the same design.

Is the model stamped on the inside of the alloy anywhere?

Also if I bought a full set of the 2018 Tosa wheels, would they fit?

Thanks!

[Dad]

The more I look around the more confused I’m getting as I can see different designs of Borbet and Tosa!

Pretty sure she has the Spokane.

[SRGTD]

The information that’s usually stamped into the reverse side of the spokes is
- the VW part number and VW logo
- size and offset
- manufacturer’s name or logo
- certification mark (e.g. TUV, ABE, JWL or similar)

I think the standard alloys on a 2016 Polo Match Edition was a design called ‘Stratford’ - as per picture below;

6D6C957D-2A5C-4086-A018-4554D631E477.jpeg (20.55 KiB) Viewed 914 times

VW do sometimes have the same design of alloys in different sizes for different models of vehicle. If you do an internet search on ‘VW Stratford Alloy Wheel’ you’ll see that VW fitted this design of alloy to certain models of the Golf, Sharan and possibly the Touran, which might explain the different manufacturers (possibly VW used a different manufacturer for each different size?).

The Polo version of the Stratford alloy was a 6Jx15”, PCD (bolt pattern) 5x100, centre bore 57.1 and offset ET40. Part number is 6R0601025AB

The Tosa alloys should also fit; they’re also a 6Jx15” alloy. PCD 5x100, centre bore 57.1 and offset ET40. Part number is 6C06010258Z8

5E55F8F6-F633-4117-AC2F-D866238F4598.jpeg (25.3 KiB) Viewed 914 times

The Spokane for the Polo is the same size, bolt pattern, centre bore and offset as the Stratford and Tosa wheels. Part number for the Spokane is 6R0601025AK

526365A7-860E-439E-B060-3B7496EEE8C4.jpeg (22.76 KiB) Viewed 914 times

So with any luck, it’ll be one of the above and you’ll be able to find some in good condition at a reasonable price. Good luck with your search.

[Dad]

Thank you!

It’s the Stratford design in your pictures but I see the same design described as Borbet and Spokane. Maybe they are the manufacturer?

Here are some examples:-
Borbet
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-Polo-All ... Sw161eqC8o

Spokane
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2016-VOLKSWA ... Sw4kheKVyh

Tosa
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Set-4-Genui ... Sw9RZeRqIp

[SRGTD]

Borbet are definitely an alloy wheel manufacturer rather than the name of a VW alloy wheel design. Borbet manufacture both aftermarket alloys and original equipment alloys for a number of car manufacturers, including VW.

Spokane and Tosa are the names of two of the styles of VW alloys - if you search on the part numbers in my previous post, you’ll see some (but not all) of the wheels in the search results described as Spokane or Tosa. It looks as if the eBay sellers at the links you included in your post have mistakenly named the Stratford alloys as Spokane and Tosa - confusing, but easily done as they are similar .

The screenshot below is from the June 2017 Polo brochure, which shows the Stratford alloys as the standard wheels for the Match Edition (top row, second from left - click on the image for a larger view).

I wasn’t able to find a 2016 edition of the Polo brochure on the internet, but I had a look in the used cars section of VW’s website at 2016 Polo Match cars for sale, and they also do all seem to have Stratford alloys - the same as the later (2017) Match Edition does.

[Dad]

Thanks. I’m going to go and look at the Borbet link I posted above because that looks correct and in the best condition (will match her other lightly scratched alloys!). The one I really need to replace is actually damaged (bent and cracked) and I’ve asked her not to drive the car.

Kids... we were all one once.....