-
Hi Guest!
If you appreciate British Car Forum and our 25 years of supporting British car enthusiasts with technical and anicdotal information, collected from our thousands of great members, please support us with a low-cost subscription. You can become a supporting member for less than the dues of most car clubs.
There are some perks with a member upgrade!**Upgrade Now**
(PS: Subscribers don't see this gawd-aweful banner
Hey - did you know if you click on the title of a thread it will take you to the first unread post since you last visited that thread?
but were afraid to ask: 
STOP!! Never post your email address in open forums. Bots can "harvest" your email! If you must share your email use a Private Message or use the 
smilie in place of the real @
Pretty Please - add it to our Events forum(s) and add to the calendar! >> 
Wire Wheel Tuning
- Thread starter rustynuts
- Start date
Share this page
Gray_Cat
Jedi Warrior
Offline
Just tagging onto this post with a question re wire wheels: I'm thinking of ordering a set of chrome wire wheels from AH Spares for my 55 100. I notice under their listing for 48 spokes the tag, "for show". I'm taking this to mean they believe the 48's aren't recommended for much driving so is better to go with the 60's or 72's? Any insight is much appreciated!
Roy /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
Roy /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
Offline
[ QUOTE ]
Just tagging onto this post with a question re wire wheels: I'm thinking of ordering a set of chrome wire wheels from AH Spares for my 55 100. I notice under their listing for 48 spokes the tag, "for show". I'm taking this to mean they believe the 48's aren't recommended for much driving so is better to go with the 60's or 72's? Any insight is much appreciated!
Roy /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
[/ QUOTE ]
Hey, here's an idea: email AH Spares and ask them what they mean... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazyeyes.gif
Just tagging onto this post with a question re wire wheels: I'm thinking of ordering a set of chrome wire wheels from AH Spares for my 55 100. I notice under their listing for 48 spokes the tag, "for show". I'm taking this to mean they believe the 48's aren't recommended for much driving so is better to go with the 60's or 72's? Any insight is much appreciated!
Roy /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
[/ QUOTE ]
Hey, here's an idea: email AH Spares and ask them what they mean... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazyeyes.gif
Keoke
Great Pumpkin
Offline
[ QUOTE ]
Just tagging onto this post with a question re wire wheels: I'm thinking of ordering a set of chrome wire wheels from AH Spares for my 55 100. I notice under their listing for 48 spokes the tag, "for show". I'm taking this to mean they believe the 48's aren't recommended for much
driving so is better to go with the 60's or 72's? Any insight is much appreciated!
Roy /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
[/ QUOTE ] Hi Roy, I think your interpretation of AH Spares note is correct.The 48 spoke wheels are somewhat weaker than the 60/72 spoke rims and adding chrome to the spokes may just make the spokes more prone to breakage. So choose one of the other two rims.---Fwiw---Keoke /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/savewave.gif Roy there is a set on ebay now "NEW" for $1100.00 or you might get them for less if you bid there is no reserve.---Keoke /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif---PS They are from one of our top wire wheel producers. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Just tagging onto this post with a question re wire wheels: I'm thinking of ordering a set of chrome wire wheels from AH Spares for my 55 100. I notice under their listing for 48 spokes the tag, "for show". I'm taking this to mean they believe the 48's aren't recommended for much
driving so is better to go with the 60's or 72's? Any insight is much appreciated!
Roy /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
[/ QUOTE ] Hi Roy, I think your interpretation of AH Spares note is correct.The 48 spoke wheels are somewhat weaker than the 60/72 spoke rims and adding chrome to the spokes may just make the spokes more prone to breakage. So choose one of the other two rims.---Fwiw---Keoke /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/savewave.gif Roy there is a set on ebay now "NEW" for $1100.00 or you might get them for less if you bid there is no reserve.---Keoke /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif---PS They are from one of our top wire wheel producers. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Gray_Cat
Jedi Warrior
Offline
Thank you Keoke. I have much more credence in my fellow enthusiasts experience and comments than a vendor no matter how good my dealings with them have been.
Reid - I guess you were trying to be funny but when I see or hear the phrase "here's an idea (concept)" or any permutation of that, it generally carries a negative conotation. Maybe that is your humor, I just don't know you well enough to know but I'm not going to worry about it.
Reid - I guess you were trying to be funny but when I see or hear the phrase "here's an idea (concept)" or any permutation of that, it generally carries a negative conotation. Maybe that is your humor, I just don't know you well enough to know but I'm not going to worry about it.
Offline
[ QUOTE ]
Thank you Keoke. I have much more credence in my fellow enthusiasts experience and comments than a vendor no matter how good my dealings with them have been.
Reid - I guess you were trying to be funny but when I see or hear the phrase "here's an idea (concept)" or any permutation of that, it generally carries a negative conotation. Maybe that is your humor, I just don't know you well enough to know but I'm not going to worry about it.
[/ QUOTE ]
If you think they would somehow mislead you in answering a direct question about their notation "for show," you should not deal with them at all, on anything.
There is nothing wrong with 48-spoke wire wheels. They raced, hard on them for a long time. For the gentle use that our cars get these days, they are far more than adequate.
Where you buy your parts is your business, but adding the shipping costs (and potential import duty) to wheels bought in the UK, I think it must be questionable to get them from so far afield. Plus, you are likely to end up with wheels made in India. There are excellent suppliers right here in the USofA who will supply a good product, stand behind it, have far less shiping cost, and are much closer if you should decide you want to return them. Send me a private message if you want a recomended source. Your call.
Thank you Keoke. I have much more credence in my fellow enthusiasts experience and comments than a vendor no matter how good my dealings with them have been.
Reid - I guess you were trying to be funny but when I see or hear the phrase "here's an idea (concept)" or any permutation of that, it generally carries a negative conotation. Maybe that is your humor, I just don't know you well enough to know but I'm not going to worry about it.
[/ QUOTE ]
If you think they would somehow mislead you in answering a direct question about their notation "for show," you should not deal with them at all, on anything.
There is nothing wrong with 48-spoke wire wheels. They raced, hard on them for a long time. For the gentle use that our cars get these days, they are far more than adequate.
Where you buy your parts is your business, but adding the shipping costs (and potential import duty) to wheels bought in the UK, I think it must be questionable to get them from so far afield. Plus, you are likely to end up with wheels made in India. There are excellent suppliers right here in the USofA who will supply a good product, stand behind it, have far less shiping cost, and are much closer if you should decide you want to return them. Send me a private message if you want a recomended source. Your call.
anthony7777
Yoda
Offline
keoke,your right,since america received some 90% of the total healey production it stands to reason we more then any other country have more cars and along with that more spares,in fact john at sports and classics is constantly shipping nos inventory back to the country of origin,chrome wheels?i just baught a set frome afore mentioned dealer he showed me the differance btwn good dayton wheels [available her at home]and the indian stuff,my advice-buy your wheels here from a reputable supplier,no question.
tahoe healey
Yoda
Offline
Hey guys, I think you are reading something into these post that I didn't. I read no animosity here. Where did it come from?
By the way, I bought from Moss and the wheels are Dunlap that I understand came form India. After truing and balancing they are fine. The guy who trues them is in Santa Cruz,CA. Well worth the trip. He mounts the tires and trues them again while you wait and watch. Do have them trued regardless of who makes them and sells them unless are trued by the distributer. I understand Hendrix and British Wire Wheel both true before shipping.
By the way, I bought from Moss and the wheels are Dunlap that I understand came form India. After truing and balancing they are fine. The guy who trues them is in Santa Cruz,CA. Well worth the trip. He mounts the tires and trues them again while you wait and watch. Do have them trued regardless of who makes them and sells them unless are trued by the distributer. I understand Hendrix and British Wire Wheel both true before shipping.
Keoke
Great Pumpkin
Offline
Well Sarge, I think you kinda answered your own question. But both Painted and Chrome wheels have their down side. You either have to repaint periodically or clean the chrome wires. My preference is to clean the Chrome ones and I think they enhance the looks of the car.---Fwiw---Keoke
tahoe healey
Yoda
Offline
SargeVT, you can have the wheels repaired much cheaper until you decide on chrome.
I found a site. www.MGAguru.com that explains many wire wheel associated problems and how to fix them.
Offline
To go back to the original question, just go to MGAguru.com There is a tech article that will cover it all. I did my 48 spoke painted wheels as follows: Removed bad spokes (do not try and save marginal spokes). They are cheap and easy to replace if you are willing to cut them out. Soak the nipples with a good penetrating oil. Get a spoke wrench. I sand blasted them (except for the spline area) and then glass bead blasted them. Often there is accumulated grease that seems impossible to remove. Get them clean( don't forget the penetrating oil you may have used on the nipples), put in new spokes. I tightened by the sound they made after listening to professionally done wheels and reading the existing literature. I trued by installing the wheels on a hub (on the car), jacking, and used a dial indicator to check run-out as outlined in the above mentioned tech article. It is time consumng but pretty easy to do. No magic, just common sense. I then installed new spoke protection (do not use duct tape, as I found when I took them apart), new tubes and tires (tyres ?). I'm kind of wierd about some stuff, in that I used only the 3 tire irons that came in the AH tool kit to install all the tires. I wanted to be able to do it on the road if needed. The only other tool I needed was a large pair of "welders clamp" type vise grips. They are the ones that look like a long "C" clamp with pads on the tongs. I won't say how I used them so as to leave some of the "fun" of discovery for anyone else who is sick enough to "enjoy" this procedure. I'll only say that they made the job go from almost impossible to not so bad. I'll have them balanced when the car is ready for the trip to DMV. My only regret is that my rebuild has taken so long and this was one of the first things I did so I could roll it around, that I'm seeing some tiny rust spots in a couple of places. Make sure you use a good epoxy primer and get good coverage. It is a little tricky painting spoked wheels in that there are areas that are hard to get to without putting too much paint on other areas. Hope this helps.
Jon Robbins
Jon Robbins
Hey Jon,
You sound exactly like myself. Why pay others for something you can do yourself. ( if you are capable of course). I'm a hotrodder at heart and working on a Healey is a treat since it gives me the opportunity to work on a car that is as basic as they come. And this site has members with a wealth of knowledge and willing to share it!!!!!
I plan on redoing my wheels along with the Healey this winter when its -40C outside and toasty warm in the garage.
Dennis
You sound exactly like myself. Why pay others for something you can do yourself. ( if you are capable of course). I'm a hotrodder at heart and working on a Healey is a treat since it gives me the opportunity to work on a car that is as basic as they come. And this site has members with a wealth of knowledge and willing to share it!!!!!
I plan on redoing my wheels along with the Healey this winter when its -40C outside and toasty warm in the garage.
Dennis
Offline
OK, if anyone really wants to try rebuilding wire wheels, there was a comprehensive article on the subject, written by Roger Moment, published in Austin-Healey Magazine in 1987. I don't remember which specific issue it was in, but you could contact Scott Helms at britcarweek@arczip.com and he can sell you a photocopy of the article.
My personal observation on the subject is that it is far more trouble than it is worth to rebuild your own, and the purhcase of new wire wheels is a far better solution, or letting a pro rebuild old ones is a good second choice, but to each his own. Good luck!
My personal observation on the subject is that it is far more trouble than it is worth to rebuild your own, and the purhcase of new wire wheels is a far better solution, or letting a pro rebuild old ones is a good second choice, but to each his own. Good luck!