Real vs Fake: How to Legit Check the Air Jordan 4 Retro “Red Thunder” (CT8527-016) | LegitApp | Your Trusted Partner in Luxury Authentication

The Air Jordan 4 Retro “Red Thunder” is known for its bold color blocking and strong visual contrast, making it one of the most popular Jordan 4 releases in recent years. Because of its demand in the resale market, counterfeit versions are common. Here’s a simple and clear guide to help you tell whether a pair is authentic before you buy.

How to Spot a Fake Air Jordan 4 “Red Thunder”

1. Exterior Details

Authentic: The sole area does not show obvious glue marks. The finish looks natural.

Replica: The glue line around the sole is very noticeable and appears raised due to incorrect workmanship.

2. Heel

Authentic: The Jumpman sits lower on the heel, and the feet are close to the stitching line.

Replica: The Jumpman is placed too high, and the feet sit far from the stitching.

3. Outsole

Authentic: The Jumpman logo on the sole looks slim with smooth lines.

Authentic: The Jumpman logo on the sole looks slim with smooth lines.

4. Tongue Back

Authentic: On the back of the tongue, the “Air Jordan” embroidery has wider spacing—especially the gap between the letters I and R.

Replica: The spacing is incorrect, and the I and R sit noticeably too close.

5. Tongue Front

Authentic: The Jumpman embroidery on the front shows clean details on the head, hands, and feet with no extra loose threads.

Replica: Extra threads are visible around the hands and waist due to poor stitching.

6. Insole Back

Authentic: The back of the insole has a yellow square tape piece and visible glue marks.

Replica: The insole material is incorrect, looks very smooth, and has no yellow tape.

7. Midsole Stitching

Authentic: You can clearly see red cross-shaped lines and a U-shaped dashed line on the midsole.

Authentic: You can clearly see red cross-shaped lines and a U-shaped dashed line on the midsole.

Quick AJ4 Red Thunder Authentication Checklist

1. Many replica pairs show rough exterior workmanship—glue lines are an easy early sign.

2. Check the Jumpman’s placement and shape on both the heel and outsole.

3. Look at the tongue embroidery—spacing and stitching mistakes are common on fakes.

4. Authentic insoles always show glue marks; a completely clean insole is suspicious.

5. The midsole of real pairs includes both clear cross lines and a U-shaped dashed guide line.

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