Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Ellis]

[badhuis]

[ukdave2002]

[Mikey77]

I think chrome wire wheels are an abomination. Painted ones, however, can enhance some motors.
My gunmetal Mk2 was on steels and looked right, I reckon.
In 1965 my friend took delivery of a new red and white Cortina GT with a Willment Sprint conversion and silver painted wire wheels. It was the only one I ever saw with wires and it looked fantastic. Many years later I spotted it derelict in a back garden in Wellington, Somerset. The wires had vanished.

[Ashley]

Stainless Steel is a description applied to a variety of metal alloys with varying degrees of corrosion resistance, so some grades make good spokes.

[Ellis]

[ukdave2002]

[Ellis]

Point noted ukdave2002.

I'm still going to see him and seek his advice. I was aware that chromed spokes are the weakest of all due to the plating process.

My wire wheels aren't chromed but powder coated, however 20 years storage have naturally caused some deterioration in the appearance and lustre/gloss.

If it means having steel respoking and re powder coating then so be it.
_________________
Starting Handle Expert

1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet

[roverdriver]

I do like the look of wire-spoke wheels on certain cars, however I am puzzled by the fact that wheel construction seems to follow pedal cycle technology. The wire wheels introduced on the last of the Ford Model T's, then all of the A' and continuing for early V8's were a brilliantly designed pice of equipment that rarely gave any bother at all. The spokes were weled each end. I believe that the process was that the spokes were all heated at once, then welded to the rim and hub all at the same time. As the spokes cooled they contracted so putting the wheel under tension.

There is a story that when the wheel was in development, and being tested, on cars, Henry asked for alternate spokes to be cut on a test, to see what would happen. The wheel behaved perfectly. Next half of the remaining spokes (alternatively) were cut, and again the wheels behaved so production got under way

I have had a Model A wheel that was slightly buckled, but that had been subject to major abuse. Many many thousands of miles in many different A's and wheels were never any problem.
_________________
Dane- roverdriver but not a Viking.

[lowdrag]

I have wire wheels of course on the E-type, but when the old chrome wires got very doggy I replaced them with new MWS painted wires which to me look better (and more original) than chromed ones. Another point is that they do not reequire inner tubes, so I fitted Blockley tubeless radials and have had no further problems at all. I am not sure, but I believe that even though the spokes are painted they are stainless underneath.

IMG_0282 by Tony Brown, on Flickr

[7gzr]

The wife owned a Morgan with Steel wires - We both hated 'em, cleaning was a sad chore eventually we bought a set of regular steels with chrome hubcaps, IMO suited the car much better.

[Ellis]

[badhuis]

[MikeEdwards]

[Ashley]

It’s not difficult to see broken spokes, with 48 if one goes others follow, sixties are better so you can drive around with a couple broken until you spot them. Seventy-twos are better and last quite well.