qim Posted October 20, 2017 Report Share Posted October 20, 2017 (edited) I'm playing with the idea of getting a set of original steel wheels to give the car an alternative look. What is the size and does anyone know where I can get them? Thanks Edited October 20, 2017 by qim Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fireman049 Posted October 20, 2017 Report Share Posted October 20, 2017 Hi Camilo ~ You need to get 4.5" x 15" wheels. But I believe that you'll have to change your wheel studs to fit them. The wheel studs for your wire wheels are a different length. You can't change from wire wheels to steel wheels to give that 'alternative' look. It's either one or the other. Most TR spare part dealers should be able to sell you good second-hand steel wheels. Here's my solution to the 'alternative' look. These Dunlop alloy wheels fit directly to the wire wheel hubs. Tom. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted October 20, 2017 Report Share Posted October 20, 2017 Hi Camilo, your PM post box is full. Can you make space there I have a PM for you Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hamish Posted October 20, 2017 Report Share Posted October 20, 2017 Tom those ally wheels look good esp with the knock on style. H Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fireman049 Posted October 20, 2017 Report Share Posted October 20, 2017 Thank you Hamish. I've never been a fan of cleaning wire wheels! Although it's debatable if my TR will ever hit the road again! Regards ~ Tom. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hamish Posted October 20, 2017 Report Share Posted October 20, 2017 I have TR6 steels on my 3a. The pics Ive seen of yours look great. A really top notch job. You cant be that far away from getting it on the road. Even if not finished to your high standards. H Quote Link to post Share on other sites
qim Posted October 20, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2017 Hi Hamish It has been on the road since I bought it in 1977... Although I did not use it for a good 20 years til last year. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
qim Posted October 20, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2017 Hi Camilo ~ You need to get 4.5" x 15" wheels. But I believe that you'll have to change your wheel studs to fit them. The wheel studs for your wire wheels are a different length. You can't change from wire wheels to steel wheels to give that 'alternative' look. It's either one or the other. Most TR spare part dealers should be able to sell you good second-hand steel wheels. Here's my solution to the 'alternative' look. These Dunlop alloy wheels fit directly to the wire wheel hubs. Tom. Hi Tom I want to use the original hub caps/emblems, so, from an earlier thread, I would need the real McCoy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fireman049 Posted October 20, 2017 Report Share Posted October 20, 2017 Hi Camilo ~ That's the way to go! Cheers ~ Tom. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
OldBob Posted October 20, 2017 Report Share Posted October 20, 2017 (edited) 4J is the size for earlier sidescreen cars I believe, my 2 has those. Be careful you don't mix them with the 4.5J for the 3A. Regards Bob Edited October 20, 2017 by OldBob Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted October 20, 2017 Report Share Posted October 20, 2017 As far as I am aware 4" wheels were standard up the TR4A, going up to 4½" for the TR5. Bob. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Alec Pringle Posted October 20, 2017 Report Share Posted October 20, 2017 Correct Bob, steel disc wheels were 4" as standard on the wet liner engine cars . . . . . . part number 302262 I think. The 4.5" TR250 / TR5 wheel is 308288 if I remember aright. Cheers, Alec Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TomMull Posted October 21, 2017 Report Share Posted October 21, 2017 I must be missing something as I thought the sidescreen wheels were changed from 4 to 4.5 in the early TR3 production at TS 13046. The 308288, although different centers, were 4.5 also. Tom Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted October 21, 2017 Report Share Posted October 21, 2017 According to Mr Piggot the early TR2 wheels were found to be too weak, & the design was changed, but the 4" (internal) width remained. Bob. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
qim Posted October 21, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2017 Let me see if I can understand this thread: TR3As had 4" (internal) wheels but 4.5" were introduced later, and most important (to me) it is quite adequate and safe to use 4.5" wheels nstead of my current wire wheels (which I am afraid at this moment I do not know their size) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Alec Pringle Posted October 21, 2017 Report Share Posted October 21, 2017 Your wires are either 48 spoke / 4", or 60 spoke / 4.5", or 72 spoke / 5.5", or 70 spoke (centre laced) / 5.5". Cheers Alec Quote Link to post Share on other sites
timhum Posted October 21, 2017 Report Share Posted October 21, 2017 My understanding is that the steel wheels on a TR3A are 4" although different from the TR2 wheels by vitue of being strengthened. If you want to put hub caps on them you will need the 4" wheels with the spigots to hold the cap in place. Check that before you commit to a set of wheels. regards Tim Quote Link to post Share on other sites
qim Posted October 21, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2017 (edited) Hi Alec Just been down to the car. I am not sure if I have 60 spoke or 70/72 spoke (not 48, for sure). I have 165HR15 tyres and would use them on steel wheels. From the previous post, and assuming 60 spoke (I will go back and count them...) I would need 4.5" for a TR3A pre-60000, right? Jsut read Tim's post and I am back where I started... as I want to put hub caps on them. Are there 4.5" that take the hub caps? Edited October 21, 2017 by qim Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobH Posted October 21, 2017 Report Share Posted October 21, 2017 Yes Camilo, there are 4.5s with the hubcap spigots. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
qim Posted October 21, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2017 (edited) Thank you Rob meanwhile I've been reading to find out what this 4.5" or 4.5J means in relation to my tyres that are 165x15". How does 15" turn into 4.5J? I found this, and wish I had not as I am now totally confused (insets, offsets, etc): http://www.carbibles.com/tyre_bible_pg4.html Happy reading! Edited October 21, 2017 by qim Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobH Posted October 21, 2017 Report Share Posted October 21, 2017 15 inch is the wheel diameter while 4.5 is the width of the rim. A 165/80 x 15 tyre is fine on the 4.5 inch rim. (80 is the profile of the tyre cross-section i.e. its height is 80% of its width). No need to worry about the inset/offset - you have no choice on that if you are buying standard TR wheels. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TomMull Posted October 21, 2017 Report Share Posted October 21, 2017 Hi Alec Just been down to the car. I am not sure if I have 60 spoke or 70/72 spoke (not 48, for sure). I have 165HR15 tyres and would use them on steel wheels. From the previous post, and assuming 60 spoke (I will go back and count them...) I would need 4.5" for a TR3A pre-60000, right? Jsut read Tim's post and I am back where I started... as I want to put hub caps on them. Are there 4.5" that take the hub caps? I just checked what I could and find that what I can see would support Mr. Pringle's contention that the sidescreens used 4' wheels even though some of the literature contends otherwise. All of my 48 spoke wires are 4 inch. The one disc that I can find without a tyre is 4 inch. I have no idea where these wheels originated except that they were Triumph. What I can say that might be helpful is that my car, TS58023, has 165HR15 Michelin radials on it's original disc wheels with hubcaps and the fit is fine. Tom Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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