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TR2/3/3A TR3A - new wheels?

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NutmegCT

NutmegCT

Great Pumpkin
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You may remember that when I got two new Kumho tires (two more are back ordered), I was told my right front wheel is bent. I figured that's what was causing the front end wobble which starts at 45mph.

Today I moved *both* front wheels (with new tires) to the rear, and moved rear wheels (with old tires) to front.

Amazing - the 45mph wobble now doesn't start at all until 55mph, and I feel it much more through the rear body than through the steering wheel.

So I'm now thinking the wobble is due to bad wheels. If I find I've got several bent wheels, where should I look for replacement wheels? I'd like to stay as original, and affordable, as possible.

Attached is one of my present wheels.

Thanks.
Tom
 
Tom,
You will find that there are quite a number of people who have changed from steel wheels to wires or Minilites and will sell the original wheels very cheeply. Try a wanted ad in your Triumph club magazine. I got a set of five a couple of years ago for ÂŁ40. They had been blasted and painted.
On the other hand you could take this opportunity to change to wires or Minilites yourself.
Nick
 
It is difficult to find original wheels that are true. The wheels fatigue and get bent over the years just like yours have.
When really stressed, TR3 wheel centers have been known to break leaving the driver in a terrible predicament.
Start saving your pennies toward good new wheels. Find some cheap replacements in the meantime.
 
Please pardon my naïveté -

Can a bent steel wheel be straightened?

T.
 
Tom,

I wouldn't recommend straightening bent wheels that are that old, for sound reasons given above. I'm not trying to spend your cash freely, but trying to keep you safe.

Also, those wheels have weights that are painted over with red paint. Did you do that after the tires were mounted? If not, your tires that were never balanced properly.

I would look at the inside and out of each wheel to see if the original weights are still on and then go talk to the tire shop about a re-balance job after old weights are removed. AT NO CHARGE.
 
Paul - good advice.

Note that the front wheels (the one in the picture) have the old tires. Front wheels haven't been touched; it's the rear wheels that have the new tires and were balanced. And indeed, the company (Kelly Tire in Putnam CT) did a great job, removing old weights, checking the wheels are balanced and true (they weren't), adding the tires and balancing again.

I've got to be honest with myself and admit I can't afford four new wheels right now, even at $200 each for steel. TeeYah has yielded some surprises.

T.
 
Tom, is there any chance the old tires are flat-spotted? Have you replaced the front shocks? I was <s>shocked</s> very surprised how much better the car drove w/ the new cheap generic Indian shocks....
 
Kevin - The two new tires (Kumho 758) are on the rear wheels now. There's certainly the possibility of flat spots on the two old front tires; not much tread left, and I don't believe the car was a "daily driver" for most of its recent life. It pretty much sat in my garage for three months after arrival here in February, as I was doing engine bay work.

I'm hoping the other two Kumhos arrive and get installed this week.

Also, relatively new shocks are indeed on the front. If anything, the *rear* has a decidedly harsh ride. Not bouncy, but hard.

Thanks.
Tom
 
There are a bunch of wheels out there that will fit the hubs of you car, starting with the Ford Granada and many others.
May be worth your while to Google such.
 
Hi There Tom;

I was passing thru and thought You may have an Interest:

I have 5 Orig. TR4 Rims (I`m sure the TR3`s are the same, Bolt Pattern etc): They are painted (Old English White): All 5 are in Exc. Cond:

Mounted on them; I have "Michelin XZX" - 165R15/86s: Good to Exc Tread: They`re Not New but really good:

I`d let the Whole thing go for $500.00 (5 Rims and Tires):

Pick-Up Only Tom: I live in NE PA (Poconos Mtns by the Raceway); I`d be happy to meet you somewhere, where its convienant for the Both of Us: Where in CT do you live? I`m quite familiar with New England:

If you wish, you can PM me or email to: toysrus@ptd.net:

See Ya Later;

Regards, Russ

PS: I can`t send a pic cause my Digital Died: I may be able to borrow one from a friend but that won`t be till this weekend: /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif

/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif
 
Russ - thanks for the offer. The two backordered Kumhos will be mounted on Thursday, so that's when I'll learn if I've got other bent rims. If it turns out my rims are real problems, I'm going to have to somehow go for replacements. And of course, just after I bought four new tires ....

This will be (another) interesting week.

Tom
 
NutmegCT said:
You may remember that when I got two new Kumho tires (two more are back ordered), I was told my right front wheel is bent.
Click to expand...

Was it the tire place that told you that?

FWIW - when I had a bent rim it was quite obvious as they tried to balance the tire. That machine they use doesn't like bent rims.

I was able to straighten it with a big pry bar and big hammer... slow day at the tire place so they lent me the tools to bang on it - they even helped - and then put it on the machine too see how we were doing. In the end it straight up quite well & balanced with very little weight required. Nevetheless, I only use that rim as a spare.

Do you have a decent rim for the spare? You could put that on the car and use the bent one for yur spare.
 
Yep - Dave's right. The spare wheel rubs against the front disk brake assembly (but causes no problem when on the rear). Several folks here have said it's likely an MGA wheel. All sorts of fun discoveries.

George - yes, the tire shop told me one of the right front wheel is bent. Their balancer doesn't like bent wheels either. The new tires were mounted and balanced on the front wheels; the right front wheel was determined to be bent. There a *large* weight on the bent wheel.

So I moved the front wheels to the back, to see if the 45mph wobble was changed in any way. As I can't get the other two new tires until Thursday, I'm now running with new Kumho 758s on the rear wheels (the bent right rear wheel), and the old Pirelli Cinturato CF67's on the front.

With the new tires and old wheels (the bent wheel) on the rear, the wobble "moved" from front to rear, and from 45mph to 55mph. Very unpleasant to drive.

After swapping front/back, the wobble now isn't felt much through the steering wheel, but from "behind" me, and has changed "initialization" speed from 45mph to 55mph. It worsens as I accelerate beyond 55, so much that I don't feel comfortable trying to see if it lessens at 70, etc.

If I had half an idea of how to do it, I'd try straightening that wheel myself. But putting me in the same room with a wheel, a sledge hammer and a pry bar isn't safe!

Tom
 
And of course, as I'm running what I believe to be the original wheels, and original enameled hubcaps, I'm not eager to buy new wheels which won't accept the hubcaps, or used originals which may be bent.

Decisions ... decisions ...

T.
 
Tom,
If it turns out that you only need one replacement wheel, you should be able to buy a good second hand one from a specialist. Should cost you less than $100 including shipping for a wheel that they will check is true before selling to you.
I agree that the original wheels look good with their hub caps. Your car is looking great by the way.
Nick
 
Nick - thanks for sending the positive vibes.

As I'm new to the TR world ... what/where is a specialist with second hand wheels? Do you just mean an area British car mechanic who might have one sitting around? Or are there "used wheel and part" shops?

If I find tomorrow at the tire shop that the other wheels are straight, and I've only got one bent wheel, maybe I should just post a WTB notice here.

Thanks.
Tom
 
I am afraid that I am not familiar with your suppliers, but in the UK there are several Triumph specialists who sell both new and used parts. Hopefully someone on your side of the pond should be able to advise.
There are also regularly adverts in the TR Register's magazine with people selling their old steel wheels because they have changed to wires or alloy. Can you put a wanted ad in the VTR magazine?
Nick
 
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