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Steering wheel diameters

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drooartz

drooartz

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My stock Bugeye wheel is a bit sad, really, and I'm not all that excited about the stock one anyways. So I'm looking to get a wood rimmed replacement. One I like is one Jack found:

https://www.pbase.com/mdlempert/image/41745892
(replica of the LeMans Sprite wheel)

This uses the original horn push and has a nice, small hub unlike the Moto-Lita style large ring wheels that Moss sells. I really like this wheel, but am wondering a bit about the sizing. The maker says it will be in a 15.5" diameter. My remembrance is that the stock wheel is 16".

I was originally thinking of going with a 14" wheel for maximum clearance with my legs, but now I'm wondering if that will have an effect on the steering quickness? I'm really taken with the small hub on this wheel, it just looks like it belongs. Any thoughts on steering wheel size?
 
14". More legroom, still PLENTY of leverage to whip a Bugeye around without excessive upper body effort. Friends have put 13" wheels on 'em and been happy, but you'll be driving on the streets; may want to be able to maneuver at low speeds /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Or is the stock wheel 17"?
 
Naahhh. WAY too big. 15" IIRC... Jeff?!?!
 
16 1/2" It is big.
 
Hmmm... Bigger'n I would have thought. Still, a 14" will be a good practical substitute, methinks.
 
Anyone know if there are Nardi hubs for a Bugeye? That center is only a 6-bolt pattern, and much smaller than the Moto-Lita style one.
 
I've got a Nardi on my '63 Midget - it was installed by the PO.
 
Hmmm... wonder if that adaptor is still available. Is that a 6-bolt wheel pattern? Like this:

https://www.pbase.com/mdlempert/image/36668228

This is all still just speculation for me, but I figure this is one of those things worth doing once, and doing right.
 
Well, I'll tell you one thing ... if you're looking for Grant hubs for '71? through '77, you're out of luck. They've been out of production for a long time, and they're 'hoping' to make more soon. I know this is an aside, but they're a 5 bolt pattern used by Grant and APC, and not terribly expensive either. However, difficult to find. I've been checking Ebay periodically, as ChrisS suggested, with no luck.
 
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