KMC Wheels Customer Service Review | Moto Metal MO810 Upgrade
TL;DR
I bought a set of KMC XD Series wheels used, ran them for years, then found hairline cracks on the backside where the spokes meet the inner barrel. The cracks were causing air leaks and flat tires on our work truck. No warranty. No receipt. No obligation on their end whatsoever. I emailed KMC customer service expecting nothing and Colin Bowhall had me in a brand new set of Moto Metal MO810 Legacy wheels at 50% off with free lug nuts, shipped FedEx the same day I paid. Seven days of shipping from back east, then Quintero's Tires & Wheels in Fernley, NV dismounted, mounted, balanced, and hand-torqued all four in one shot. Start of issue to wheels installed: under two weeks. Two businesses that earned every bit of this write-up.
The Truck: 2001 Ford F250 Super Duty 7.3L Powerstroke
This is not a garage queen. Our 2001 F250 7.3L Powerstroke does double duty as the Battle Born Clothing delivery truck and the family adventure rig. It hauls custom screen printing and embroidery orders across Northern Nevada during the week and takes us into some of the most remote country in the state on weekends.
Mule deer hunting trips to Jarbidge. Fishing the Walker River. Chasing cutthroat at Pyramid Lake. Nevada is a tough climate and it gets remote and isolated fast, so we need gear that performs and will not let us down. That includes what is between the tires and the hubs.
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| The KMC XD Series wheels in Satin Black before we discovered the cracks. 13 years of Nevada roads, trails, and weather. | ||
The Problem: Cracks on Two Wheels
I had been running a set of KMC XD Series wheels in 8-lug Satin Black on the F250 for years. Bought them used from a third party. I started dealing with persistent air loss. Upon dismounting and inspecting the wheels, I found hairline cracks developing on the backside where the spokes meet the inner barrel. These were not cosmetic. These were structural cracks at a crucial stress point, actively leaking air. A soapy water test confirmed air seeping through the fissures. On a truck that doubles as our business delivery vehicle and family rig, that is not a "deal with it later" situation. That is a safety issue and a business continuity problem.
Now here is the reality of the situation: I bought these wheels secondhand. They were over 12 years old. There was zero warranty coverage. KMC had absolutely no obligation to do anything for me. I knew that going in. But I figured it was worth an email to see what options existed, even if the answer was "sorry, buy new ones at full price."
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| Hairline cracks on the backside of the XD Series wheels where the spokes meet the inner barrel. Structural failure, not cosmetic. Confirmed leaking air via soapy water test. | |
The Email That Changed Everything
I submitted a message through the KMC Wheels web portal explaining the situation. Fully transparent about the third-party purchase and the age of the wheels. I expected a form response, maybe a coupon code, maybe nothing at all.
Within a few hours, Colin Bowhall from KMC got back to me asking for specifics. Not a canned response. Not a "sorry, can't help." A real person asking real questions about the issue.
The next day I sent photos of the cracks via text. Colin called me right after to discuss options. Here is what he said that stuck with me:
"Since you need wheels no matter what, I'd rather take care of you to keep you in the brand. Win-win for both of us."
-- Colin Bowhall, KMC / Wheel Pros (Hoonigan)
That is customer service. Not the corporate poster version. The real thing. Colin set me up with a full set of four Moto Metal MO810 Legacy wheels at 50% off retail, threw in a set of lug nuts at no charge, and had the invoice ready same day. I paid it, and he had all four wheels on FedEx that afternoon.
Let that sink in. Third-party purchase. 13-year-old product. No warranty. No obligation. And they still took care of me with a 50% discount, free lug nuts, and same-day shipping. The wheels shipped from back east and took about 7 days to arrive via FedEx. From the first email to wheels on my doorstep: under two weeks. KMC and Moto Metal earned a customer for life. That is not marketing speak. That is the truth.
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| Brand new Moto Metal MO810 Legacy wheels. Shipped same day from KMC/Wheel Pros. |
The Moto Metal MO810 Legacy
For anyone unfamiliar, Moto Metal is a sister brand to KMC under the Wheel Pros umbrella (now rebranded as Hoonigan). The MO810 Legacy is a cast aluminum wheel available in 17", 18", and 20" diameters with gloss black and gloss black machined finishes. Load ratings go up to 3,700 lbs depending on the bolt pattern and size, which is exactly what you want under a Super Duty that works for a living.
The 8x170 bolt pattern fits the F250 perfectly, and the aggressive spoke design gives the truck a presence that matches the attitude of a 7.3 Powerstroke. These wheels are built for trucks that actually get used, not parked at cars and coffee.
The Tires: Toyo Open Country AT III (35/12.50/18 Load Range F)
We are running Toyo Open Country AT III tires in 35/12.50/18 Load Range F on the new MO810s. In its own right, this has been a phenomenal tire. Excellent off-road traction on the loose stuff we see out in the Nevada backcountry, smooth and quiet on the highway, and great treadwear through the first 10,000 miles. Load Range F means we are not worried about carrying weight or towing, which matters when this truck is hauling custom apparel orders during the week.
The Install: Quintero's Tires & Wheels, Fernley, NV
Here is where the story could have gone sideways. New wheels show up. Now you need someone to dismount the old tires, mount them on the new wheels, balance everything, check clearances, and torque the lugs. I called a few places in Yerington and the experience reminded me why customer service matters so much in the tire and wheel business. Some shops just do not get it.
I had heard good things about Quintero's Tires & Wheels in Fernley, NV, so I gave them a call. They said come on down.
Now, let's be real: as a business owner, I know the last thing a shop wants is a customer showing up with their own parts to install. That is work with lower margin and higher liability. Quintero's did not hesitate.
After a short wait they had me pull the truck in. A team of five jumped on it and got to work. Full dismount, mount, balance, clearance checks, and hand-torqued lug nuts. Their team moves like clockwork. They genuinely have fun doing it. Multiple vehicles in the shop, customers waiting, and they are moving in synchrony like a well-oiled machine, working together to get everyone taken care of quickly without missing a single step.
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| The crew at Quintero's Tires & Wheels in Fernley, NV. Five guys working in sync. Dismount, mount, balance, clearance check, hand torque. No shortcuts. | ||
The Finished Product
Moto Metal MO810 Legacy wheels wrapped in Toyo Open Country AT III 35s on the 7.3 Powerstroke. This truck is ready for another decade of hauling custom embroidered hats, screen printed tees, and laser engraved gear across Northern Nevada, then pointing it toward Jarbidge, Pyramid Lake, or wherever the next trip takes us.
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| Done. Moto Metal MO810 Legacy wheels on Toyo Open Country AT III 35/12.50/18 Load Range F. Ready for work and play. | |
Why This Matters
I run Battle Born Clothing & Print out of Yerington, Nevada. We do custom screen printing, embroidery, DTF transfers, and laser engraving. Every day I am thinking about how we treat our own customers. How fast we respond. Whether we go the extra mile when we do not have to.
What Colin at KMC/Moto Metal did is exactly how I try to run our shop. Someone has a problem? Take care of them. Build the relationship. The sale will follow. It is not complicated, but most businesses get it wrong because they are focused on the transaction instead of the person.
Same thing with Quintero's. They could have turned me away. Customer-supplied wheels, lower margin work, busy shop. Instead, they got it done fast, done right, and I will go back every single time. That is how you build a reputation in a small community. We know how that works at Battle Born because our customer reviews are built on the same principle.
If you are running a truck in Nevada and need wheels, look at Moto Metal and KMC. If you need tires mounted in the Fernley area, go see the crew at Quintero's Tires & Wheels at 806 Old Highway 40, Fernley, NV. Phone: (775) 980-8067. Tell them Rob from Battle Born sent you.
The Timeline (For Reference)
| Day 1 | Emailed KMC through their web portal. Colin Bowhall responded within hours asking for specifics. |
| Day 2 | Sent photos of cracks via text. Colin called immediately. Options discussed. Invoice paid. Four Moto Metal MO810 wheels + lug nuts shipped FedEx same day. |
| Days 3-9 | Wheels in transit via FedEx from the east coast. About 7 days shipping to Nevada. |
| Wheels Arrive | Called Quintero's Tires & Wheels in Fernley. "Come on down." Team of 5 handled full dismount, mount, balance, clearance check, and hand torque. |
| Total | Under two weeks from first email about cracked, leaking wheels to brand new Moto Metal MO810s installed and torqued. |
Need Custom Gear for Your Crew, Club, or Brand?
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