MGB-GT Fighting wire wheels

[drooartz]

So Millie the GT has wire wheels -- while I do like the look I've never really been that much of a wire wheel fan, but you get what you get with an old car sometimes.

She needed new tires all around and my local tire place was comfortable doing the install, even had tubes in stock and the correct adapters to balance the wheels. Got them done last Friday so I could hit our big local British car show on Saturday. All went well, though as I left the show I noticed I had a flat (pinch flat likely). Swapped on the spare and made it home.

Shop redid that wheel 2 days ago -- and it promptly went flat again that night, as did another wheel.

As one possible solution I just ordered a new set of rim bands from Moss, and I'll bring all 5 wheels back to the shop to have them installed and redone. Hopefully that will sort everything out as I'd really rather be driving right now!

 

[59diamond]

I had an MGB back in the late sixties I went to this used car lot and there were two MBG"s on the lot. One had wire wheels and one did not. I said I would buy the one without wire wheels if they would switch the wheels so I could have the wire wheels. They did the switch and I bought the car. What I didn't know was the wheel wells on the one with the wire wheels had been cut out to make room for the wire wheels. Over time I had several blowouts of the back tires because when I hit a bump in the road the tires would rub on the wheel wells and eventually I would have a blowout. In addition the car constantly overheated so I finally got rid of it.

 

[PAUL161]

This might sound a little crazy, but I know of a wheel shop that uses about three wraps of a quality duct tape of the appropriate width instead of rubber bands to cover the spoke nipples on wire wheels. Our 72 MGB was done that way in a professional shop in 2005 and since then we've never had an issue. The TF is going the same route! PJ

 

[drooartz]

On an MGB the rear axle assembly is narrower on the wire wheel cars, so to do the swap correctly you have to swap over the complete axle. Not the most brilliant engineering/design decision. I'm guessing the car lot folks just swapped the hubs, hence the rubbing.

My Moss parts should be here on Friday, hopefully I'll be driving on Saturday.

 

[HealeyRick]

Couple of things to check on a tube tire installation. Make sure any stickers on the inside of the tires are removed before installation, They can rub through the tube causing a flat. Also, the tubes should be dusted with talc, to help prevent them snagging during installation.

 

[59diamond]

That is exactly what they did. I was pretty ignorant about such things back then and guess that I am still ignorant about a lot of mechanical things on my Bugeye, but I do keep it clean and shinny. Back in my old days there was a saying "IF IT DON'T GO CHROME IT". I have been pretty much in that category all my life. I do appreciate people who know what they are doing mechanically and depend on them for the mechanical stuff, while I enjoy driving and showing. At 72 yrs it is too late to teach an old dog new tricks.

 

[drooartz]

Rick, I'll make sure the shop removes all the labels if they're still on there.

and 59diamond, you can always learn new tricks if you want -- I'm only (?) 41 but I'm pretty new to these cars (9 years since I bought my first one). On the other hand, there's nothing wrong with just enjoying the driving. It's my favorite part of the experience.

 

[drooartz]

Well, fingers are crossed. Remounted the tires with new rim bands from Moss. Hopefully this will do the trick.

I really don't like wire wheels. They look nice, but this is a real PITA.

So the next question is convert to disc wheel bits (I have a line on a disc wheel rear axle) or use knock-off alloys? I can't really afford either path right now, but if I can't suss out this tire issue I'm going to have to do something so I can be driving.

 

[WillR]

At some point id like to go the path of non wire knock off for winter tires. Its just a lower priority right now.

 

[drooartz]

At some point id like to go the path of non wire knock off for winter tires. Its just a lower priority right now.

You can get non-wire knock off alloy wheels, but they are about twice the price of the standard 4-lug wheels. I'm still considering it for a some-day project.

Unfortunately it's a reasonably involved process with a MGB to switch to regular 4-stud wheels. The rear axle is different from a wire wheel to a disc wheel car (disc wheel is wider) -- so to do the swap properly you need to swap the entire rear axle (and the handbrake cable, which is a different length as well). In the front you just need to swap the outer hubs for the disc wheel ones, pretty simple.

I have a line on a local disc-wheel rear axle that I'm considering picking up just in case.

 

[DrEntropy]

Get it now, Drew. Go thru it and make sure it's good to go.

 

[drooartz]

Contact's been made, Doc.

I really dislike the fussiness of the wire wheels and the stupid tubes. If I can score this axle I can rebuild it and the swap shouldn't take too long. Front steel wheel hubs seem to be pretty easy to come by on eBay.

 

[DrEntropy]

Wire wheels can be made to be reliable, but you're right about the fuss to get 'em to that point. Another down-side is the weight. Going with steel or alloy will substantially reduce unsprung weight out there at the ends of the suspension.

After the swap, you should be able to sell the wires and diffy to someone wanting the "classic" setup and offset the cost of your conversion, too.

 

[drooartz]

I haven't given up fighting with the wires, but I need this car to be reliable so I can drive it places and not worry about coming out to flat tires.

Longer term I will either do the disc wheel conversion or switch to alloy knock-offs. I'd love a set of the Dunlop-style wheels from Realm Engineering like Stewart is using on his GT, but I don't have the budget for that right now -- even though I think the cost is worth it. Millie the GT is not my only car to care for, so I've got to prioritize a bit.

I am pursuing the disc wheel rear axle, as I have a friend local to me with a spare (he converted his MGB to a GM V6 and different rear axle). If I can get it cheap enough I'll grab it anyways.

 

[WillR]

I like wires. Just winter beats on them. Even with expensive wheels It would be cheaper and easier then swaping. I thought about it early on with my car. With knock off disk I can always put on my wires for some "classy" driving

 

[drooartz]

I like the look of the wires as well, but I had 2 more flats yesterday on the way to a show down in Salt Lake City. AAA ride home for me.

Today I'm deciding on spline drive alloys vs doing the bolt-on wheel conversion. My friend who has the disc wheel rear axle available was at the show last night, and it should be in good shape to use. I don't mind the spline drive, though -- it's the tubes and wires that I've taken a serious hate to.

 

[Silverghost]

Drew, when you have the tires fixed, have the shop fixing them apply baby powder to the inside of the tire and the tube. I had a tire go flat and when I had it fixed at a shop that is experienced in wire wheels, the owner told me this tip. He said it allows the tube to slide on the inside of the tire and helps prevent pinching, wrinkles, etc. I have wires on my MGB and have had relatively trouble free (knock wood) time with them.

 

[fixitright]

The reason you are having trouble with pinched tubes is, most tubless type tires have a gummy layer along the inside of the tread to help seal punchers. the tube gets stuck in this layer and cannot straighten out when inflated.

In the Old days we used to sprinkle tire talc into the tire before we installed the tube so it could slide on the inside of the tire and flatten out. These guys that repair tires these days do not have any experience with tube type tires and do not understand this principal .
Since "tire talc" is a thing from the past and is not available these days I use regular talcum powder (Gold Bond} will work, and I shake a large amount in the tire before installing the tube then I air the tire up Then let the air out bounce the tire around and then air it up and install it on the car.

 

[Brinkerhoff]

fixitright, good advice about the talc. I've not had the problems with flat tires like Drew has and I run two cars with wires, but of course the tubes need extra care when installing them as not to pinch.

 

[drooartz]

Good thoughts, fixitright. Ultimately decided to switch to bolt-on alloy wheels to avoid the tube issue altogether. Was able to get the correct rear axle locally so that swayed the decision.

I like the look of wire wheels well enough, but they're not really my favorite. Contemplated doing new splined hubs and spline-drive alloys, but right now that's cost prohibitive.