Looking for Bugeye Wheels

[Texas_Cicada]

On my list of things to acquire for my 1960 Mk. I "Bugeye" Sprite project are a set of Mini Lite - type wheels and an appropriate set of tires. I am currently using a set of original steel wheels with AH hubcaps. I know there are lots of vendors offering these types of wheels. I will not be racing and I am looking for more of a period look than actual period items. Any insight on who has the best products at a reasonable price? Any places / vendors to stay away from? Anyone out there with a set of wheels they want to unload?

 

[aeronca65t]

The real cool wheels are the knock-off Minilites (or the newer, similar Panasports), but they cost the Earth!

Here's another choice: since I was on a budget with my cars, I've collected a bunch of newer "Rostyle" wheels (for my Spridgets...I don't own a Bugeye). They're a little wider than a Bugeye wheel and will fill out the wheel-well with no clearance problems: I'm running 175/60-13 tires on them. They are cheap and plentiful. Mine are painted with semigloss black centers and silver rims (UPS trucks have a simliar paint scheme). You can sort of see them in this link:

https://img56.photobucket.com/albums/v170/aeronca65t/Cars/sprite_lites.jpg

Note: Rostyle wheels have variable quality....0ne out of five seems to be bent or poorly made.

 

[Bruce Bowker]

Do Mini's have the same bolt pattern and offset?

 

[Matthew E. Herd]

Ditto that, I owned five wheels (the spare I have never checked for straightness), but two of the four on the car were bent! Bought two more, but they were only marginally better, so I never bothered to mount tires on them. Makes for rough riding at 65+ MPH

 

[aeronca65t]

[ QUOTE ]
Do Mini's have the same bolt pattern and offset?

[/ QUOTE ]

Minis (as opposed to "MINIS") have a 4" bolt-circle pattern, same as Spridgets, but they are 10" diameter and would look pretty silly. Not that it matters, but they have fwd offset too....not good for a rwd car.

 

[ThomP]

Minis have 10, 12 and 13" sizes. I'm not sure the offset is the same as a Spridget, but they come in all 3 diameters depending upon the year the Mini was manufactured.

 

[aeronca65t]

[ QUOTE ]
Minis have 10, 12 and 13" sizes. I'm not sure the offset is the same as a Spridget, but they come in all 3 diameters depending upon the year the Mini was manufactured.

[/ QUOTE ]

Oops...you are correct Tom.
Personally, I just can't concieve of a true Mini with anything but 10" wheels...but they did make them.