TR2/3/3A TR-3 Wheels

[Vaark01]

Hi,

I'm thinking of buying a new set of steel wheels for my TR-3B.

I've bought several wheels in the past only to find they are not true and wobble.

There is a set for sale on E-Bay and I asked the seller if they are true and wobble free. His answer follows:
"We measure run-out just under the mounting bead in older wheels and consider anything under 0.100 as acceptable."

I would appreciate knowing if you think the above would guarantee me having a set of wobble free wheels.

Thanks.

Paul

 

[TR3driver]

Well, that would be visible if you look closely enough, but it is essentially the same as the factory tolerance of 3/32" (.09375").

Of course, you also need to check that your hubs are actually true.
https://s258.photobucket.com/albums/hh260/TR3driver/Front%20hub%20runout/

 

[NutmegCT]

Paul - Over several months, I tried buying replacement wheels for my TR3, each one described by the seller as "straight and true". They weren't. Neither were the sellers. At speeds over 45mph the whole car would shake. Then I learned how to test my wheels for "out of true". (see below)

If you're talking "brand new never out of the box and on the car" wheels, that's a different story. You might have good luck. But at least my luck was never successful in finding used wheels to be true.

Put the wheel on the car, rotate the wheel and hold a pencil tip sideways, pointing directly at the rim. See if the wheel moves "in and out" as it turns, away and back toward the pencil tip.

My original steels were wobbly after 50+ years of pot holes, curbs, etc. The couple hundred dollars I spent on "replacements" and shipping, only to find the replacements weren't any better, was frustrating to say the least.

So I bit the bullet and got new wheels from Moss. Wobble and shake all gone; car looks great. And now I have eight old steel wheels sitting in the garage. By the way, you might want to keep your originals for show, if you're into the "originality" thing.

 

[Vaark01]

Thank you both for the great advice. I'm going to weigh the oprions over the next week and take it from there. I do like the looks of my stock wheels--but not the wobble around 60mph.

Thanks again.

Paul

 

[Brooklands]

I know that if if your wheels are balanced and nearly true, you can get a smoother ride by finding a technician who can properly shave your tires true.