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TR2/3/3A Wheels for a TR3

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Earl

Earl

Senior Member
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Folks, I'm going to as a question that will rile up some of you so please just simmer down. I'm in the process of rebuilding (NOT RESTORING) a 61TR3A. I plan on this car being a safe, dependable fun car for me and my sons.
We've got the car ready to paint, it's headed to the painter next week for a Signal Red paint job. The question is wheels. I have a set of disk wheels, the car used to have 48 spoke painted wires. My son wants to get me 60 spoke chrome wires. The 60s look great but at one heck of a cost. I'd like a recommendation on a set of chrome mags that will look good, be safe, and cut some cost. Any pictures of a car with them would be great.

Thanks
Earl
 
I will watch the responses you get, Earl. I have the same thoughts about changing the disk wheels on my 64 SP250 to something nicer but less work/$$ than wires. What size are the wheels on the 3A?
 
Hi, Earl -

I've got Minilite replicas on mine, and really like the aggressive look. If you'll send me your e-mail address, I'll send you a picture (Don't have a way of posting).

Mickey
 
Hi,

Lucky you, to have such a nice son!

If you are pricing wire wheels, don't forget that hub adapters, knockoffs and special wrenches/hammers are needed, too, adding significant cost and weight.

When I bought it, my TR4 came with a set of chrome mag wheels. I never really liked the looks of them on the car. I suspect I'd like them even less on a TR3. With the possible exception of chromed wire wheels, I haven't seen any other chromies I could get excited about, on older Triumphs.

Somehow, to me, painted wheels just always seem "most right" on these cars. Putting chrome mags on seems sort of like putting a metal flake paint job on the old beasts... It usually just doesn't seem right, no matter how beautifully done. But, that's just my opinion.

Panasports, which are Japanese made Minilite copies do look great! Or there are the nearly equivalent KN Minators, made in England which are a bit less expensive. Another option might be Superlite wheels, which I've just recently seen for the first time. These are very hard to distinguish from Panasports, but sell for a little more than half the price.

One concern on a TR3 is wheel and tire width. TR3 haven't quite got the clearance that TR4/4A/5/250 do. TR6 can handle even a little wider wheel &tire. Panasport and Superlight wheels come in 6" widths. These might be a little wide on a TR3, but could work fine because the sidescreen cars were essentially hand built and there tends to be a good bit of variation. If there is any way you could try out your selected wheel and tire set, return if there are clearance problems, that would be great.

KN wheels are slightly narower at 5.5" and will probably work. But, again, it would be best to test fit, if at all possible.

If you have knockoff/wire wheel hub adapters for the car already, KN makes a version of their Minator that will work on that. Looks great, but it adds cost and weight to the wheel. I don't think the other manufacturers make an splined knockoff wheel.

Panasport and Superlite wheels come in Argent (silver), plus gold, dark grey and black finishes. The colors other than Argent are usually special order and seem to take a while to get. I think the KN are only available in Argent finish.

60 spoke wheels would be pretty much a sure bet to fit without any clearance issues. They are 4.5 or 5" width, I believe.

Other options at a lower cost would be *painted* 60 spoke. Painted (or powdercoated) wire wheels look great, too, IMHO, and were more likely what was factory installed. Paint was usually Argent (silver), but there were body color and contrasting painted wheels offered as well, even on TR4.

72 spoke wires are even stronger than 60s, but more expensive and don't seem to come narrower than 5.5" or 6" so might give clearance problems.

One more kind of of wire wheel - called "center laced" - is available and even stronger than 72s. Typically fitted with 70 spokes, these seem to be available only in chrome finish, tend to be the most expensive wires and are 5.5-6" minimum width.

All these wheels would be a safety improvement over original 45 year old disk wheels. Some of them might be lighter and all of them should be truer and more sure footed. You should see quite a difference in handling.

Have fun shopping!

Alan Myers
San Jose, Calif.
'62 TR4 CT17602L
 
Let's see if this attachment will fit:
 

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Hi Earl,
I'm rebuilding a 62 spitfire and also considered wire wheel, but after talking to several other LBC people, I desided to go the route of Mini-lites. You might contact a company in Prescott, AZ which probably has some photo of these wheels on a TR3.
That compays web site is www.packracingproducts.com. These guys were very helpful to me.

Carl
1962 Spitfire4 "HOT SPIT"
 
Cost aside, I like my 60 spoke daytons(chrome/stainless)they have 40 k on them with no trouble(just a few slack spokes form time to time)
MD(mad dog)
 
Thanks for the input about the Mini-lites, I've emailed them with a bunch of questions about their wheels.

Don't get me wrong I love the look of the wires, especially the 60 spoke chromes. But the cost of the wheels, plus new knock offs, and spindels when compared to alternatives seems a little high.
 
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