Unique Wheels Direct Wheels & Tires

ALL NEW LAY-A-WAY PROGRAM

2010-03-18T09:38:00.000-07:00

We are proud to announce that we are now accepting Lay-Away and Pre-Orders.

All orders require a 10% NON-REFUNDABLE deposit. After initial deposit we will set up a schedule of payments ranging from BI-Weekly to monthly. Payments are accepted as CASH, MONEY ORDER, or CREDIT CARD. We do NOT accept personal checks.

Our program is designed to give our customers 120 days to pay their order in full and can be extended per our discretion. Any money after the 10% deposit, will be refunded due to cancellation per customer request. There are no exceptions to this policy.

For more information please call us at 407-437-8359.

Pre-Orders: All pre-orders require a 10% deposit and when orders arrive, payments are due in full.

Tire prices increasing again!

2009-12-07T07:11:00.001-08:00

FYI: Jan. 1 Price Increase- Hankook 5%, Toyo 6%, Kumho 8%, Continental/General 5%, Yokohama 6%, Bridgestone/Firestone 5%, Cooper 7%, Nexen 7%

Tire Prices go up 01/2010

2009-12-05T13:11:00.000-08:00

As you know, with the Economy in the state that it is, prices are on the rise. Tire prices are going up again in January 2010. With the new Chinese Tarriff in effect, and the cost of materials rising, this surely is not surprising. Below are a few articles I would like to share to our customers for a better understanding on the raising prices on tires!

Hankook raising prices Jan. 1 up to 5%

Tire Business staff report

WAYNE, N.J. (Dec. 4, 2009) — Hankook Tire America Corp. is raising prices by up to 5 percent in the U.S. on its full line of passenger, light truck tires and medium duty truck tires, effective Jan. 1.
The amount of the increase will vary by product line and/or size, Hankook said.
“The ongoing rise in the cost of raw materials and energy consumed in manufacturing and distribution continues to impact our industry,” said Todd Hershberger, senior vice president. “We are making every effort possible to control costs and improve and expand our production capacity.”
The last time Hankook Tire raised prices in the U.S. was Oct. 1, 2008.

Toyo raising prices by up to 6% Tire Business staff report

CYPRESS, Calif. (Dec. 4, 2009) — Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. will increase prices Jan. 1 on Toyo-brand consumer and commercial tires by up to 6 percent, depending on product, due to escalating raw material costs.
“We appreciate the continued support and understanding of our dealers as we manage our firm commitment to providing the highest quality products, with the steep increase in costs affecting our industry,” said John Hagan, senior director, sales operations for Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp.
Toyo last raised prices in the U.S. on Nov. 1, by up to 5 percent for its Extensa A/S passenger tires and Open Country H/T and A/T light truck tires. Prior to that Toyo’s last price increase was Oct. 1, 2008.

Kumho to raise prices up to 8% Tire Business staff report

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. (Dec. 4, 2009) — Kumho Tire U.S.A. Inc. will raise prices Jan. 1 on Kumho-brand passenger, light truck and commercial tires by up to 8 percent to offset the rising cost of raw materials.
Kumho last raised tire prices in the U.S. Oct. 1 but only on tires imported from China. That increase was up to 12 percent.
Prior to that, Kumho’s last price increase was Sept. 1, 2008.
Rancho Cucamonga-based Kumho Tire U.S.A is the U.S. distribution arm of South Korea’s Kumho Tire Co. Inc.

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2009-12-04T12:10:00.000-08:00

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Unique Wheels Direct

Discount Custom Wheels and Tires!

2009-11-21T13:55:00.000-08:00

Have you seen?

2009-10-13T17:33:00.001-07:00

Have you seen Unique Wheels Direct's favorite websites? Please take a moment to visit www.galsinthegarden.com and www.streetsceneperformance.com.

Breast Cancer Awareness

2009-10-05T17:57:00.000-07:00

During the month of October,

Unique Wheels Direct will donate $1 for every purchase made from our website to the Susan G. Komen foundation. Show your support today!

www.uniquewheelsdirect.com

TI Wheels now at Unique Wheels Direct

2009-09-30T15:41:00.001-07:00

www.uniquewheelsdirect.com

UNIQUE WHEELS DIRECT END OF SUMMER TIRE BLOW OUT SALE!!!!

2009-09-18T18:33:00.000-07:00

We are having our first end of summer tire blow out sale on all overstock tires. We carry all the top brands of wheels and tires and do from 15" to 30" wheels. We are based in Orlando and offer the best prices to you! If you are looking for new wheels or tires please check us out on the web at www.uniquewheelsdirect.com to view our selection or give us a call at 407-437-8359. here are some of our overstock tires that we are giving incredible deals on.

Tire Size: 225/40/18

1. Nankang NS-ll - ~~Was:$100.00~~ NOW:$95.00
2. Nexen N-5000 - ~~Was:$100.00~~ NOW:$90.00
3. Nexen N-3000 - ~~Was:$100.00~~ NOW:$90.00
4. Kumho Ecsta AST- ~~Was:$101.00~~ NOW:$100.00

Tire Size: 245/35/20

1. Nexen N-3000 - ~~Was:$125.00~~ NOW:$115.00
2. Nankang NS-ll -~~Was:$140.00~~ NOW:$130.00
3. Kumho Ecsta SPT -~~Was:$150.00~~ NOW:$140.00

Tire Size: 245/30/22

1. Nexen N-3000 -~~Was:$175.00~~ NOW:$169.00
2. Falken FK-452 -~~Was:$175.00~~ NOW:$169.00

Tire Size: 305/35/24

1. Nexen Roadian HP-~~Was:$250.00~~ NOW:$200.00
3. Nankang N-990 -~~Was:$210.00~~ NOW:$200.00

Make sure not to miss out on these deals, we also have the ability to ship any where in the US!! If you are looking for a specific brand of tire please let us know and we will do our best to make sure you get what your looking for. At Unique Wheels Direct we have the wheels you want and the tires you need!

U.S. to Impose Tariff on Chinese Tires

2009-09-14T19:39:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration will put steep import duties of 35% in the first year on Chinese passenger and light truck tires, responding to what the U.S. International Trade Commission determined to be a surge of Chinese tire exports that has rocked the domestic U.S. tire industry and displaced thousands of jobs, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk announced Friday night.

China's government responded quickly to the announcement, saying in a statement that it "strongly opposes" what it called "a serious act of trade protectionism." China "reserves the right to make further response," the Ministry of Commerce statement said.

On Sunday the ministry said it was investigating U.S. automotive and poultry product imports following complaints from local industries that some of these products are being dumped in the Chinese market or are benefiting from subsidies, "seriously affecting" domestic industries.

The investigation is "obviously not a retaliatory move" but is a response to concerns expressed by domestic industries, a state-radio report said Sunday.

President Barack Obama campaigned for the presidency using tough trade rhetoric and appealing to union workers. He said he would renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement to incorporate stricter labor and environmental standards. And he said China must abide by the rules of the WTO or face consequences.

Since Inauguration Day, however, the president has toned down his stand. At the April G20 meeting in London and the July G8 meeting in Italy, he led leaders pledging to resist protectionism as a global recession led to rising worker anger. But administration officials have indicated they were taking a stern look at the ITC's findings of an unfair Chinese export surge in the tire market. Mr. Obama announced last night he was instructing the secretaries of commerce and labor to expedite consideration of additional tire worker assistance under the Trade Adjustment Assistance program, which offers education, retraining and other aid to workers whose lives were disrupted by trade agreements and unfair trade practices.

The case was originally brought by the United Steelworkers. Notably, the tire industry didn't join the case -- tacit recognition that it has long ago left the US market for the low-end tires at issue.

President Obama's action stands in contrast to that of his predecessor. President George W. Bush rejected four ITC recommendations for tariffs against China.

The U.S. announcement of 35% import tariffs, which would decline to 30% in the second year and 25% in the third, comes at a sensitive time. The heads of state of the 20 largest economies arrive in Pittsburgh in less than two weeks for a summit of the Group of 20, amid rising trade tensions and looming economic disputes. The United States needs China to help float a U.S. deficit expected to reach $1.56 trillion this year. Mr. Obama is also likely to seek new sanctions against Iran to combat its nuclear program, and China's vote on the United Nations Security Council is pivotal.

But administration officials said the president couldn't ignore findings that they said were violations of China's obligations under the rules of the World Trade Organization.

"The President decided to remedy the clear disruption to the U.S. tire industry based on the facts and the law in this case," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said in a statement.

United Steelworkers backed the Obama administration's decision to impose tariffs on Chinese tires. "The President sent the message that we expect others to live by the rules, just as we do," USW International President Leo W. Gerard said in a statement.

Vic DeIorio, Executive Vice President at GITI Tire, the largest manufacturer of tires in China, said he was "deeply disappointed" by the decision.

"By taking this unprecedented action, the Obama administration is now at odds with its own public statements about refraining from increasing tariffs above current levels," Mr. DeIorio said. "This decision will cost many more American jobs than it will create. It will also increase costs for, and take away choices from, American consumers."

The Chinese government's statement, issued by commerce ministry spokesman Yao Jian on the ministry's Web site, said the U.S. decision "not only violates WTO rules, but also runs against U.S. pledges at the G-20 summits, constitutes an abuse of trade remedy measures, and sets an extremely bad precedent in the current backdrop of a world economy in crisis." China could refer the case to the WTO, the statement said.

With its massive export sector battered by the global recession this year, China's government has repeatedly voiced concern about protectionism. Premier Wen Jiabao called attention to this issue Thursday at a speech to the World Economic Forum in Dalian, China, saying "we must be on guard against, and act to correct, all kinds of hidden protectionist activity." Critics have accused China of itself making protectionist moves, such as the government's rejection earlier this year of a bid by Coca Cola Co. to buy a Chinese juice maker.

Between 2004 and 2008, China's tire production capacity surged by 152% and is projected to jump an additional 16% by 2010. At 235.2 million tires, China's production capacity in 2008 was more than three times greater than its shipments to its home market. U.S. imports of tires from 2004 to 2008 jumped from 14.6 million to 46 million. China's share of the U.S. tire market surged 255% in that time, to 16.7% from 4.7%.

Meanwhile, four U.S. tire plants closed in 2006 and 2007. Three more are planned for closure this year. There were 5,168 fewer workers in the U.S. tire industry in 2008 than there were in 2004.

"When China came in to the WTO, the U.S. negotiated the ability to impose remedies in situations just like this one," Mr. Kirk said. "This Administration is doing what is necessary to enforce trade agreements on behalf of American workers and manufacturers. Enforcing trade laws is key to maintaining an open and free trading system."

Mr. Kirk said U.S. trade negotiators consulted with China and timed the release for the start of the Chinese business day. The first tariffs should take effect in 15 days. The tariffs would come on top of 4% tariffs already levied on all passenger and light-truck tires imported into the U.S. market.

Trade lawyers said the decision could invite a raft of similar petitions for temporary protection from Chinese imports. Such so-called safeguards -- meant to give U.S. industry a breather in the event of a sudden surge of Chinese products -- were negotiated as part of China's accession the World Trade Organization at the beginning of this decade. U.S. businesses won't be able to seek such safeguards after 2013.

DUB Pimpstar

2009-09-08T14:45:00.001-07:00

Labor Day Weekend Sale

2009-09-03T08:46:00.000-07:00

LABOR DAY WEEKEND SALE!

THIS WEEKEND ONLY!

Save 5% on select wheels and tires AND receive a

FREE GIFT

on all purchases!

Offer valid 09/03/2009 til 09/07/2009

Check www.uniquewheelsdirect.com for more details.

Have a question?

2009-09-01T21:42:00.000-07:00

Unique Wheels Direct goes to great lengths in order to ensure our customers can get the help they need. In order to this effectively, we have added a new AIM feature to our website. Simply type your message, and one of our representatives will reply! Check it out today! We look forward to answering all your questions!!!

Fitment Guarantee

2009-09-01T21:38:00.000-07:00

Fitment Guarantee

Unique Wheels Direct goes to great lengths to ensure that your wheel and tire purchase will correctly fit your vehicle. We are constantly updating our information to keep up to date with current fitments.

Unique Wheels Direct guarantee's that your wheel and tire purchase will fit your specific application. If not, simply give us a call and we will exchange your wheels or tires at no charge, in order to make them fit correctly. However, if wheels and tires were purchased mounted and balanced from us, and do not properly fit, there will be a $40 dismantle charge per wheel/tire. Tires MAY not be exchanged or returned once they are driven on! We HIGHLY recommend our customers test fitting all wheels and tires prior to installation in order to ensure full refund or exchanges.

Should you encounter fitment problems with an online order, Unique Wheels Direct, at its sole discretion, will either refund or exchange your wheels at no cost to you. Check us out at www.uniquewheelsdirect.com and shop for your wheels and tires!

2009-08-24T15:22:00.000-07:00

Price Match Guarantee

Found is cheaper somewhere else? Let us know! We offer price matching on all available products. Simply send us an email or call us at 407-437-8359, with the competitor and the wheel and tires you are looking for and we will meet or beat their prices. All price matching is done to our discretion. All price matching MUST be on the EXACT wheel and tires.

2009-08-24T13:34:00.001-07:00

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Wheel and Tire buying tips!

2009-08-21T20:53:00.000-07:00

Ever shopped for wheels and tires and wondered what all of those fancy words like offset, backspacing and up-sizing mean? Shopping for wheels isn't as easy as most think! There are alot of factors that come into play. The first is to determine the correct Bolt Pattern and Offset for your vehicle. Also, many need to take into consideration on the wheel width in which they are looking to use. For example, if you have a Honda Civic, you would not want to use a 9inch wide wheel. The reason is that the wheel would be extremely wide and would not allow for proper turning. There are various wheel and tire guides that can be used in guidance to help choose the proper wheels for your application.

Need tires too but not sure how to choose the perfect tire? Just like shopping for wheels, there are several things you need to take into consideration when shopping for tires.

The first step to shopping for tires is to determine when you need them. One simple way to tell is the "penny rule". You simply take a penny, place it upside-down at the bottom of your tire's tread, and if you can see the top of Lincoln's head poking above the tire tread you need to get new tires. However, most tires now have wear bars, which are colored lines that show up when a tire is worn out.

After determining that you need new tires, you need to take a look at the sizes you need. Tire sizes are usually printed on the sidewall of tires as a series of letters, numbers, and sometimes slashes. If you have aftermarket wheels or intend to use a lower/higher profile or width of tire, it is especially important to know how to read tire sizes.

Tire sizes are usually displayed in a format like this:

P225/40/R18

The P simply means the tire is classified as a "passenger" tire.

The 225 is the width of the tire, measured in millimeters. This should be matched properly to your wheel width.

R18 is sometimes displayed as just a number. The "R" stands for radial. This number is the inner diameter of the tire in inches, which should correspond to the diameter of your wheels.

Next is to analyze your average driving conditions to determine if you most frequently drive on dry roads, a combination of both wet and dry roads, or primarily wet roads. Also, make sure to factor in the possibility of seasonal extremes, such as snow etc. Today most customers purchase an all-season tire because they are good to use all year long!

Also take into consideration the Performance and Speed Ratings. These can help to determine the best tire for your needs.

Common Wheel and Tires Terminology

Air pressure - the measure of the force exerted by the air inside a tire, measured in pounds per square inch (psi)

Aspect ratio - the relationship between a tire's section height and its section width. It is calculated by dividing the section height by the section width. When the section height is half of the section width, the aspect ration is 40. In a tire size description, it would be the 40 in P205/40r16. Also known as the tire's profile or the series. In general, tires with a lower aspect ratio have shorter, stiffer sidewalls that resist cornering forces and improve lateral stability.

Asymmetric - tires that have differing tread patterns on each half of the tire

Camber - the angle of the centerline of a tire and wheel relative to completely vertical.

Cast - wheels that are made from liquid metal being poured into a mold. Low pressure casting involves pouring into a mold,while counter pressure casting involves sucking the metal into the mold like a vacuum. The counter pressure technique reduces impurities making the wheel much stronger than a low pressure cast rim.

Caster - the angle between the vehicle's steering pivot axis and completely vertical.

DOT - stands for Department of Transportation. The 10 digit code appearing after the DOT designation gives information such as the week and year the tire was produced, as well as the manufacturer, plant, tire line, and size.

Forged - Considered to be the best wheel manufacturing technique, forging allows for the compression of an aluminum billet into an aluminum wheel using over 13 million pounds of pressure combined with heat.

Hub centric - a wheel with a center bore made to match up with a vehicle's hub diameter.

Hub rings - hard plastic or aluminum rings mounted on a vehicle's hub before the wheel. They ensure the wheel is perfectly centered on the vehicle's hub.

Load index - a number used to represent the maximum weight a tire can support. The index number corresponds to the actual load carrying capacity. Truck tires use a different system incorporating letter codes to establish a Ply Rating.

M+S - a sidewall marking indicating that the tire is approved for Mud & Snow use.

Mounting - installing tires onto wheels

Overinflation - when a tire is inflated more than the recommended vehicle air pressure. This might be done for better performance but has negative consequences including: a less comfortable ride, damage to the tires and stress on the suspension.

P - metric system - a system for specifying tire sizes using the treadwidth (millimeters), the aspect ratio, type or tire construction and the rim diameter (inches).

Plus sizing - changing from the original stock tire size of your vehicle. Plus sizing your wheel & tire combination was designed to enhance vehicle performance and looks by allowing fitment of larger diameter rims and lower profile tires. This is important because larger variances can cause problems with transmission shift points which can decrease fuel mileage.
It can also confuse braking system computers which can even lead to brake failure.

PSI - the most common measurement unit for tire pressure. It stands for pounds per square inch and it measures the force exterted by the air inside a tire.

Radial tire - tires built with plies running perpendicular (90 degrees) across the crown of the tire. To strengthen the read, these tires require belt plies going circumferentially around the tire.

Rim width - the measurement between the flanges of a rim

Rotation - moving a vehicle's tires from left to right and from front to rear. This is done in a set pattern and should be done periodically. Its purpose is to prevent uneven tire wear and to extend tread life.

Section width - the distance between the sidewalls at their widest point of an inflated tire not under load.

Sidewall - the side portion of a tire between the tread and the bead. >More Info

Speed rating - a letter that identifies a tire's high speed durability. A tire's capabilities are tested at preset speedsand the results of these tests determine the tire's speed rating. Speed Ratings include: Q, S, T, U, H, V, Z, W, Y

Rating Maximum Speed (mph)

L 75

M 81

N 87

P 93

Q 99

R 106

S 112

T 118

U 124

H 130

V 149

Tire sizing guide - A guide to provide the correct tire size.

Plus sizing program - a guide to educate people on how large or small you can fit tires given certain o.e. information

Tread depth - the distance from the top of the tread to the grooves in a tire. This measurement is taken at the centerline of a tire and is measured in thiry-secondths of an inch.

Tread pattern - the arrangement of grooves, blocks, sipes and channels on the tread.

Tread shaving - shaving some of the tread from a tire for optimal performance and durability in racing applications.

Tread wear - also called the tread life, it is the measure of how long a tire lasts. It is measured in miles or kilometers.

Tread wear indicators - narrow rubber bars built into the tread grooves that define the tire's legal wear out point. Also called the wear bars, they are even with the tread when 2/32" of tread is left and then the tires are ready to be replaced.

Treadwidth - the width of a tire tread, normally measured in millimeters. In 195/50R15 the treadwidth is 195mm.

Underinflation - a tire with less than the recommended air pressure for a given load. This may lead to tire rollover and deflection.

UTQG - The Uniform Tire Quality Grading rating is a quality rating system developed by the American Department of Transportation. It is designed to tell consumers the relative performance of passenger tires

Wheel weights - weights attached to a wheel to balance a tire & wheel. The weights can be on the inside or outside of the wheel and can be clipped, taped or self-adhered to the wheel.

Plus sizing program - a guide to educate people on how large or small you can fit tires given certain oe information

Wheel Alignment - refers to the correct angle settings of suspension components - the 3 alignment settings are caster, camber and toe.

Wheel Balance - equal distribution of the weight of a tire and wheel. If a tire & wheel is not balanced it can lead to vibrations or uneven wear. For balancing, weights are attached to the wheel to compensate for uneven weight distribution.

Wheel Backspacing - also called rearspacing, it is the distance from the mounting pad to the back edge of the rim. This is different than wheel offset.

Wheel Bolt pattern - the arrangement of the bolt holes on a wheel. A 5 bolt wheel with 120.7mm between opposite bolt holes would be written as 5x120.7. Some wheels have more than one bolt pattern on the same wheel to accommodate multiple fitments.

Wheel Centerbore - the center hole in the wheel that centers the wheel on the hub of the car. Since most wheels are mass produced, they have a large center bore to accommodate several different vehicles. If this is the case, it is recommended that you use a hub ring. Hub rings are hard plastic or metal ring that fits between the wheel and the vehicle. This centers the wheel perfectly on the hub ensuring that there is no run out when the wheel is installed on to the vehicle.

Wheel offset - The offset of a wheel is the distance from the mounting surface of the wheel to the true centerline of the rim. A positive offset means the mounting surface of the wheel is positioned in front of the true centerline of the wheel / tire assembly. This in effect brings the tire in to the fender well more. Conversely, a negative offset means the mounting surface of the wheel is behind the true centerline of the wheel / tire assembly. This will cause the tire
to stick out away from the vehicle.

Wheel fitment tool - a website designed to calculate which wheels will fit best on a vehicle

Plus sizing wheel guide - A guide to educate people on how large or small you can fit tires given certain oe information

Aftermarket wheel application guide - A guide to educate people on how large or small you can fit tires given certain oe information

Wheel guide - an arrangement of wheels on a site specifying wheel diameter, wheel center bore, wheel bolt pattern, wheel lug nuts, and wheel finish.

Bought wheels from us? Feature your car on our site!

2009-08-20T10:35:00.000-07:00

* Send us photos of your vehicle with custom wheels & tires you purchased from Unique Wheels Direct and we will add them to our gallery.

Send all photo's to customerservice@uniquewheelsdirect.com

Search by Vehicle Guide

2009-08-19T16:23:00.000-07:00

CHECK OUT OUR NEW SEARCH BY VEHICLE GUIDE.

Our new search by vehicle guide has made shopping with Unique Wheels Direct easier than ever. Simply click on the "search by vehicle" link above, click on your vehicle make, and then you can choose your vehicle year and model. All wheels that will fit your application will then appear. For more details, contact us at 407-437-8359.

BLINX available at Unique Wheels Direct

2009-08-14T22:56:00.000-07:00

BlinX is the new hottest wheel accessory available. With multiple colors and easy installation BlinX is a sure way to get noticed. Add BlinX to your wheels today! We recommend using a minimum of 2 (or more) packages of BlinX

BLINX are available in the following colors: Blue, Green, Purple, White, Pink, Orange, Red and Yellow. They are also available in Tri-Color.

Type in the code FREE for free shipping on this item.

Check out www.uniquewheelsdirect.com for more info.

Need CenterCaps?

2009-08-09T19:51:00.001-07:00

Unique Wheels Direct now sells replacement centercaps for your aftermarket wheels. Just simply search for the cap number, verify the wheel, and purchase! It's as easy as that!! All centercaps have FREE SHIPPING! So take advantage and buy your replacements today! For more information please call us at 407-437-8359 or send us a message at www.uniquewheelsdirect.com.

Why Buy from Unique Wheels Direct?

2009-08-08T18:20:00.001-07:00

We are committed to giving our customers a unique shopping experience. We want our customers to be able to find everything they are looking for with the click of a button. We strive in customer satisfaction and will not settle for anything less. Unique Wheels Direct offers several wheel and tires brands and much more. When shopping for wheels and tires, it is important to find a company who is willing to help you not only get what you want, but make sure that it is going to be safe as well as economical. We at Unique Wheels Direct will do just that. So when shopping for wheels and tires, make sure to check us out.
We enjoy helping our customers!!!!!

Unique Wheels Direct, Your #1 source for Wheels & Tires

2009-08-06T21:05:00.000-07:00

Unique Wheels Direct carries the top brand names of Custom wheels and tires in the industry. We are #1 in customer satisfaction, and strive to give the best shopping experience possible. At Unique Wheels Direct, we want our customers to be able to find everything they are looking for at the click of a button. With over 150 wheel brands and 30 tire brands, we guarantee we will have something for everyone. So check out Unique Wheels Direct today and get some new wheels for your ride!!

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