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To Wire Wheel or not to Wire Wheel

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Alan,
I'm not a fan of the two tone TR3 but the factory did paint them that way. One of the California expose cars on the factory distro (58-59 I think) stand was a two tone with w/w tires and every option you could think of. Some Tr3 cars were also provided to dealers in primer and who knows how they ended up.
 
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Very pretty. Me likee.
Got to drive one a few weeks ago. A lot different from the TR6 thats for sure.

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Oh Lord, Alan has been bitten. I think his 6 will soon go on the block and he will be out sourcing a TR3.

I do well remember when I had my TR2 and TR3 (30+ years ago) the fun I had throwing those little charmers around curves with abandon, dragging my knuckles on the asphalt and gritting my teeth at every braking. My fondest memory of my TR3 was when I ETSed from the Army, throwing my uniform piece-by-piece out the top when I last exited the base at Ft. Polk. I gleefully flipped my favorite MP the bird as I passed him, when my wire wheel fell off. The MP approached with his hand firmly on his Colt .45 ACP and "politely" suggested that I retrieve the pieces of my uniform. He watched with glee as I retraced my steps to find the spinner to reattach my wheel. Some comedian had loosened it to the point of falling off. (I thought those things were supposed to self tighten)
 
No way - a little too primitive for me.
Fun for maybe 10 miles at a time.
Still *fun* though...
 
Love the steel wheels. To me chrome wires are overrated. People want them because they think chrome Daytons (or whatever) are the 'best' and that may be true as far as wires go, but there are certain alloys look far better.

You think your car will be noticed at shows with chrome wires? It won't- at this stage in the game every other car has them as well. Nothing says 'I'm a middle age man desperatey looking for attention' like a set of garish chrome wires. Even the original steel wheels will get you noticed faster, (if that is important to you), since they are actually much more rare. Check out these wheels on our '60 3A. Think outside the box!

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y212/MMugherini/1960%20TR-3A%20Restoration/85df6976.jpg
 
I belive the chrome wire wheels or any type of wheels for astetic value are a matter of preference.

to say that one is better than the other is kind of a bold misconseption, I do belive that certain types of wheels perform better than others!

CARTR64.jpg
but ya gotta LOVE THE BLING OF CHROME!
 
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I belive the chrome wire wheels or any type of wheels for astetic value are a matter of preference.

to say that one is better than the other is kind of a bold misconseption, I do belive that certain types of wheels perform better than others!

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For regular street driven cars I would agree with you. Wheels are primarily an aesthetic choice.

For racing or fast road cars driven in anger, wire wheels do flex more than steel wheels. Alloys are better because they are light AND strong. But for regular street driven cars and probably 90% of fast road cars, there would be practically no discernable difference between wires, steels or alloys. Some wheels absolutely perform better than others. First you have to decide what type of performance you want. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
I drive happy all the time! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif


/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/england.gif(((Till I get road rage!))) /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/england.gif
 
Here's a pic of my Steel wheels, w/ trimrings. I like the look, it came w/ the car, and it's cheap.... I'd kill for Panasports, though!
 

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But people liked them shiny, so the wheel manufacturers chromed the wires. The chrome fuses into the steel with time and causes chrome embrittlement of the steel wires. This weakens the steel wires and they break. Don't buy chromed wires. If you like shiny, make sure they are stainless steel which have been buffed to a nice shine.
Don Elliott, Original Owner, 1958 TR3A

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Hi Don,
You must be refering to Hydrogen embrittlement.
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"During chrome plating of steel, hydrogen gas bubbles form in the granular structure of the metal and causes embrittleness and premature failure of the part.

Thermal stress relief or baking for Hydrogen embrittlement is done after plating to remove the hydrogen infused during the cleaning and plating process.

Baking for Hydrogen embrittle relief is done at a controlled temperature of 375 D.F plus or minus 25 D.F. for a minimum of three hours. Most Hydrogen is removed within the first three hours, however, some harder materials require a baking time of up to 23 hours. This process must be done within 1 hour of the plating process."
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Chroming steel spokes doesn't automatically mean that they will be brittle. However many manufacturers chose to skip this obviously costly "extra" process & some spokes were very subject to brittle failure. They have now gone to polished stainless spokes to avoid the problems & extra cost altogether.
D
 
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Love the steel wheels. To me chrome wires are overrated. People want them because they think chrome Daytons (or whatever) are the 'best' and that may be true as far as wires go, but there are certain alloys look far better.

You think your car will be noticed at shows with chrome wires? It won't- at this stage in the game every other car has them as well. Nothing says 'I'm a middle age man desperatey looking for attention' like a set of garish chrome wires. Even the original steel wheels will get you noticed faster, (if that is important to you), since they are actually much more rare. Check out these wheels on our '60 3A. Think outside the box!

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y212/MMugherini/1960%20TR-3A%20Restoration/85df6976.jpg

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We all have different ideas on what looks best. Chrome wires were pretty rare when these cars were new (I was there!)...but then so were over-restored TR's like those at that Cape Cod show. These are certainly beautiful cars but hardly represent what these cars looked like when the Brits originally built them.

Panasports and any other aftermarket alloy wheel weren't even invented when most TR2's and 3's were in new car showrooms.

Standard steel wheels and wires are the only choice if you want an original look to your sidescreen car. I'm sure some TR guys would never think of putting on faux knock-offs on their car, either.

Chrome wires on a shiny TR really make the car "pop"...but that's not everyones "cup of tea"....
 
Buy the 60 spoke Chrome Daytons. This was the best money I've spent on my TR3A. I had 48 spoke painted wire wheels previously and in a hard corner the wheels would move off centerline. It was enough that it was scary. These were wheels that I had blasted, replaced bad spokes, trued and powder coated. They looked great but I did not feel safe with them. The new wires need very litle maintenance and sets the paint off. Thanks.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
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Nothing says 'I'm a middle age man desperately looking for attention' like a set of garish chrome wires.

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How about this? Add a 22 year old blonde in the passenger seat. Of course, you might want to be sure that your wife or significant other isn't watching.
 
Nothing says 'I'm a middle age man desperately looking for attention' like a set of garish chrome wires.

Or chrome beauty rings on a bright red sports car. Sorry, couldn't help it.
 
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Nothing says 'I'm a middle age man desperately looking for attention' like a set of garish chrome wires.

Or chrome beauty rings on a bright red sports car. Sorry, couldn't help it.

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Amazingly, we middle-aged men looking for attention are indeed doing so, but from whom? Unfortunately, it seems the only women we ever see at our shows are also...middle-aged.

Too, if 50 is considered middle-aged, how many 100-year-olds do you know?

I consider myself old-aged, but still garnering attention...maybe from middle-aged babes!


Sorry, I still think wires are sexy, my '52 had them OE, albeit painted.
 
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Nothing says 'I'm a middle age man desperately looking for attention' like a set of garish chrome wires.

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Matt Mugherini ,

Sorry I have a big issue with your post. There are many ways to say this same statement without being insulting. I'm 38, got all my hair, a beautiful wife, two great boys...and chrome wire wheels. I'm not looking to score some 20 year old conquest. I simply think that the wires look great on my particular car. However I'm also open-minded enough to think that cars with other styles of wheels can also look just as good, and sometimes better, than my car.

If you can't keep your impertinent comments to yourself please go somewhere else.
 
I'm seriously thinking of getting a set for my car this summer. I want to get the bumpers and some other work done first.

It's a very expensive decision to make. To do it correctly, the wheel studs must be cut off or replaced (at least on the TR6), the adapters aren't cheap and the wheels themselves are expensive. Every little detail adds more cost, like spinner knockoffs versus the conventional style, but again, it's a matter of personal preference more than anything.

I think that Matt's comment wasn't meant to be a flame or mean spirited, but being new here and possibly having been accustomed to commenting on some of the other forums, he may have pushed a few buttons unintentionally.

Remember that XKE's came with wire wheels and no one would ever suggest anything but classy looks on that car. I've been watching the club events and shows over the past year and it does seem that the highest vote getters and the cars that attract the most viewers have wire wheels, either chrome or silver. I think that it just adds to the "sports car" mystique.
 
You could also do a slight twist on the steel wheel theme and use TR250 wheels...
IMAG0227.jpg


And I don't think Matt meant any harm in his "middle-aged man" comments...heck, one of these reasons we have these cars is to stand out in a crowd...the same way some of us have big, fancy houses...or shops...or wives (ok, not BIG fancy wives!)....

This whole classic car hobby is pretty much a love affair...and an ego trip...all in one.

When I drive one of my POS old cars/trucks I get plenty of smiles and waves from pretty girls of all ages....makes me THINK I'm still in the game...hahaha
 
As a bit of comic relief to this thread:

I was out once in my recently completed TR3, and stopped at a gas station to fill up. An attractive woman of unknown age complimented the car and said, "I bet you can get all the women you want with that!"

There were all sorts of responses I could have shot back at her, especially those dealing with my calling (Episcopal priest), but I just thanked her and said one is often more than I can handle!

Mickey
 
There are a couple reasons why we don't see many steel wheels on TR3s. They had weak centers and could break when run hard. This is why you seldom see racers running them, unless the wheels have been modified. It is also getting difficult to find steel wheels that are true.
Another reason is the popularity of the wire wheel. Many people have converted to wires or aluminum wheels. Personally, the traditional British sportscar has always had wire wheels. Do I prefer wires on all British cars? No.
I bought the wheels I run because I believe they look great on the car. I drive my cars because I like them, not to draw attention to myself. When I see an interesting car pass by, I am looking at the car and not the person behind the wheel.
I follow the forum because I enjoy reading the threads and adding any insight that might assist a fellow hobbyist. I too don't like being classified as something I am not.
 
OK If you decide to stick with steel rims, Black like mine, Chrome or siver painted like some shown above or colour matched to the body colour. I am torn with repainting my rims back to black or red to match the body. Maybe a beauty ring as well?
I'd love to see some more steel rim examples to assist in making up my mind
 
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