Wire wheel choice

[PaulAnderson]

Hi,

As per the article http://www.tr-register.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=24064 I really need to restore or buy new wheels for my 4A. I was previously running on original painted wires (supposedly restored some time in the past) but recently had fitted new Continental CT 22 165 80 R 15 tyres to them. Repairing them seems to take considerable time by the few specialists I've contacted during which time the car would be off the road and they're not that much cheaper than new wheels.

 

So, I'm wondering whether to buy chrome wires or painted wires. Chrome looks fabulous but costs much more, needs a lot of work to keep clean, and my bumpers would be shown up as they really need rechroming (another £600 or so into the money pit). Painted generally look fine though my heart hints at chrome.

 

But, what size and how many spokes do I go for? After looking at a few suppliers options I'm slightly confused by the 60 or 72 spokes and the size. If I understand the meaning of centre laced correctly then I don't like the look of them. One essential criterion is that I must be able to fit my newly purchased tyres to them.

 

So, are wire wheels available in both 60 and 72 spoke in standard (non centre) laced style and which would be better, 4.5 or 5.5" ?

 

Thanks

Paul

[TR 2100]

Hi Paul,

 

Chrome wires may look fabulous but only on the right car, which to me

means a car that's close to concours. Otherwise they look out of place.

New painted wheels also look gorgeous - why not go with painted, save a bit

of time polishing and put the money you saved into some stainless bumpers?

 

Centre laced have a 'different' look. Again, fine on the right car, like a

Cobra but to me, they look a bit out of place on a TR.

Only available as 70-spoke, I think.

 

4½" Wide wheels look a bit more period, perhaps, but I think 72-spoke would

be a better bet for the money. Just make sure they will go inside your

wheel arches without fouling. Clearance is critical but should be OK.

 

All IMO.

 

AlanR

[stuart]

Stick with the standard 60 spoke 4 1/2" painted as they are far more in keeping with the car and match perfectly with your current tyre size. If you want to be different have them painted body colour or if you really cant be bothered cleaning them then have them done black (Look great with chrome spinners )

Stuart.

[lynchpin]

Hi

Depends on how original you want the car to look and of course your pesonal choice, as i understand chrome wires were never an option on the tr"s even the 6 and therefore don"t look right, my 4 has painted spokes which i think suit the year of make and look correct...

cheers Phil..

[Menno van Rij]

... or have them painted titanium brownish-bronze colour, with the chrome spinners! Looks very impressive I tell you! Saw this last weekend on a XK140. Stunning! I don't know if you can have this powder coated as well. For now, I don't think so: when the spokes have to be adjusted, the coating will be compromised I think.

 

Apart from the looks of the painted 60 spokes on my car, I noticed that the rear wheels need rebalancing after about 4K kms. I think that speed bumps etc caused the rear wheels to 'set' properly and that the initial balancing has to be corrected.

 

Menno

[Alec Pringle]

For the 4A Triumph offered only 60 spoke wires, in a choice of either lacquer, bright chrome or aluminium finish, as an alternative to steel wheels, 3 options in all, a choice that continued for the TR5.

 

In contrast the 4 had previously been available with the option of 48 or 60 spoke wires, either evailable in bright chrome, dull chrome, aluminium or lacquered finish . . . 8 options in all.

 

Cheers,

 

Alec

[TR 2100]

For the 4A Triumph offered only 60 spoke wires, in a choice of either lacquer,

bright chrome or aluminium finish, as an alternative to steel wheels, 3 options

in all, a choice that continued for the TR5.

 

In contrast the 4 had previously been available with the option of 48 or 60 spoke wires, either

evailable in bright chrome, dull chrome, aluminium or lacquered finish . . . 8 options in all.

 

Cheers,

 

Alec

 

As a point of interest, chrome wheels were included in the TR4 Parts Book -

I'm not sure if that really means they were available as an option from new

or only supplied later as a spare part.

My 4A Parts Book is not to hand so I don't know what is included in it.

 

I don't recall seeing chrome wheels listed in the TR4 Brochures I have,

though that doesn't mean they couldn't be ordered.

 

AlanR

Edited June 29, 2010 by TR 2100

[ianc]

TR4A Parts Book (Second Edition) lists:

- 506172 Bright chrome 60 spoke

- 506170 Alum. finish 60 spoke.

Ian Cornish

[Alec Pringle]

Hi Ian,

 

oddly enough the lacquered option (506169) was in the 4 but not the 4A Parts Book, but listed in the mid-60s accessories catalogues, and at least up to 1971 in subsequent editions.

 

Cheers,

 

Alec

Edited June 29, 2010 by Alec Pringle

[Badfrog]

My experience on the topic is that you may spend a lot of money on fancy wheels and tyres to finally revert to the original size. Oddly enough, that's how the car works best, unless it was extensively modified.

For a 104 to 130 BHP TR4, the word is 165.80.15 and I have witnessed that a good driver may work wonders with the very same setting on a 225 BHP Austin-Healey 3000 Mk2.

I suspect our cars were originally designed by competent engineers......

 

Badfrog,

[dykins]

Now then, (as I climb onto my soap box ) I have quite a bit of recent experience in the purchasing of wire wheels.

 

Should they be centre laced or not, chrome or painted, 72 spoke or 60 spoke......

 

My recommendations would be:

 

1. DON'T UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES GET CENTRE LACED - because they have too wide an offset.

 

2. Chrome (over stainless steel spokes) look fantastic, but you must be prepared to keep them well polished to maintain the finish. It is a chore, but I'm sad enough to enjoy it

 

3. As a general rule, the more spokes the better, so go for 72 rather than 60.

 

4. Get them fitted and balanced by someone who knows what they are doing (and not some greasy oink from Kwik Fit)

 

Some modern wire wheels are designed for tubeless tyres, so I was able to have my nearly new Michelins fitted to my new wires.

 

I've had mine for about a month and I love them. A nice bit of restrained blingage which really sets off the car.

 

Oh, and my final (and probably the most useful) bit of advice - never, ever disclose to your other half how much they cost!

 

Regards

 

Peter

[Alec Pringle]

All sound advice Peter,

 

and in addition it's worth remembering that expensive grippy rubber is contra-effective . . . . you buy wire wheels for show, not go, they won't appreciate being pushed beyond their design parameters by modern low profiles. Stick with a good old-fashioned 165/80, or if you want maximum roadholding then forget wires !

 

Cheers,

 

Alec

[PaulAnderson]

I just love the look of wires on these cars so have eventually gone for the original 4.5J X 15" 60 spoke wire wheels in a painted finish.

General recommendations were not to use the 5.5J, as although the tyre would fit it would look to thin for the wheel.

I was also offered a 5J X 15" 72 spoke but it was not something I'm familiar with so bought original to get the car back rolling safe(ish as they can be) as soon as possible.

 

Thanks for all the advice. Hopefully see you all at Malvern.

 

Paul

[stuart]

I just love the look of wires on these cars so have eventually gone for the original 4.5J X 15" 60 spoke wire wheels in a painted finish.

General recommendations were not to use the 5.5J, as although the tyre would fit it would look to thin for the wheel.

I was also offered a 5J X 15" 72 spoke but it was not something I'm familiar with so bought original to get the car back rolling safe(ish as they can be) as soon as possible.

 

Thanks for all the advice. Hopefully see you all at Malvern.

 

Paul

 

Good choice

Stuart.

[Stone]

Think chrome wire wheels look great on TR4A's, have 60 spoke with Michelin XAS 165 HR 15's, re cleaning some great cleaning products available that make cleaning easy, had them for 8 years and done a few thousand miles with no problem (probably now give up the ghost on the way to Le Mans next week!)

 

Best Wishes

 

Robert

[ChrisR-4A]

Hi, my 4.5 chrome wires with s/s spokes (MWS) are 8 years old now and have done nearly 40,000 miles. I have found the best tyre size is the original spec 165/80/15, mine are firestone F560's. Last year I did find a couple of broken spokes, probably due to Essex Potholes but these I replaced myself as the wheels are not tubeless.

I have recently done a Tour of Brittany 1550 miles and all spokes are ok. Maybe someone can advise what happens when you break a spoke in a tubeless wheel, how do you remove a spoke and nipple without breaking the airseal?

 

For cleaning I use AutoGlym wheel cleaner, the bottle with the blue label which says "suitable for chrome wheels".

Chris

[PaulAnderson]

Out of interest has anyone had any problems with brand new wires. I bought some 4.5J X 15'' 60 spoke wire wheels from Motor Wheel Service International Limited but the first and third of four wheels fitted with tyres yesterday were twisted, visible as a wobble when the wheel is rotated on the (correctly adapted) balancing machine (and car no doubt - not had time to check).

 

Apparently the wheels are built with a maximum run out tolerance of 1-1.5mm but the person who balanced mine yesterday suggested today (without the benefit of actually measuring them) that the two poor ones were probably more than this. I don't really know if the amount is a bad issue yet but have fitted them on the back of the car at least for the short term. It seems to drive okay, certainly better than vefore with two perfect wheels on the front.

 

They're stamped on the metal as made in India and have a detachable label on them claiming genuine wire wheels. I think that from an advert on e-bay TR Shop seems to sell the same brand.

 

Paul

[RogerH]

Hi Paul,

most of the wires for our cars are made in India under license from Dunlop.

They are all a bit wobbly but who knows what is good bad or indifferent.

 

Roger

[stuart]

The last set I had a few weeks ago from Moss (but ultimately also from MWS) were similar although not as bad as that, my tyre fitter spent some time carefully balancing and also rotated the tyres around the rim to even the imbalance out and in the end we graded them into front and rear fitment only. It did seem to me that it was where the rim was joined was the problem area.

Stuart.

[Vila]

The Dayton wire wheels made in the US seem to be of higher quality then the Dunlop wheels made in India.

 

I have not only looked at both wheel on TRs at shows in the USA, but wheels venders have displayed without the tires mounted. Not only is the quality of the Dayton wheels better, but Dayton's chrome wheels to not have chrome spokes. The Dayton wheels have what they call "Micro polished" stainless spokes, which look like chrome.

 

I am currently restoring a 1962 TR4 and will be using the Dayton chrome wire wheels.

 

Vila

 

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