"They’re not knockoffs, they’re licensed knockoffs. There’s a difference."

OSAKA—In a move the rep wheel community didn’t see coming, prestigious Japanese wheel manufacturer RAYS has launched its very own response to the replica epidemic: a new product range aptly named the “MID” Wheel Line.

That’s right. The same RAYS that once stood as the gold standard of forged wheel craftsmanship has now entered the replica market—not to fight it, but to monetize it. And they’ve done so with the kind of subtlety usually reserved for a straight-piped Honda in a residential zone.

“We wanted to offer a product for the enthusiast who wants the look of real wheels without the soul-crushing cost of actual RAYS wheels,” said marketing director Hiroshi Watanabe. “And let’s be honest—most of them weren’t going to buy the real thing anyway.”

The MID in MID Wheels officially stands for “Maruka Intelligent Design,” referring to the manufacturing partner producing these cast wheels outside Japan. Unofficially, however, the internet has already translated it into “Made It Dumb,” “Mediocre In Disguise,” and simply “Mid,” in the modern Gen Z sense of the word—which might be the most accurate.

The lineup includes models like the R26, R06, and TR50, which look suspiciously like the TE37’s half-baked cousin. They’re lighter on the wallet, heavier on the car, and perfectly suited for the guy who risks his life with replicas of the real thing.

“They’re not knockoffs,” clarified Watanabe. “They’re licensed knockoffs. There’s a difference. Somewhere.”

Enthusiasts are predictably split. Purists have already taken to forums to declare this the end of an era. “They sold out,” said one anonymous commenter who pays for his wheels with Klarna. “I miss when RAYS used to mean something.”

But not everyone’s upset. “This is genius,” said Arjun Patel, proud owner of a ‘clean’ FRS and exactly $61 in his checking account. “Now I can flex RAYS branding without a forged wheel budget. My eBay seller is pissed.”

RAYS maintains the MID line is meant to expand their reach and offer better alternatives to true counterfeit products. “If people are going to buy replicas anyway,” Watanabe explained, “they may as well buy ours.”

Whether this is a bold strategy to control the replica market or just a brilliantly disguised cash grab, one thing is certain: RAYS has managed to beat the rep wheel game by becoming its final boss.