Wire wheel source?

[Sonus]

I am returning my Vixen to Wire Wheels after using Revolution RFX for two years. My memory wasn't as good as I thought and the old wire wheels are not looking their best. In addition I thought the look of 8" rears and 7.5" fronts was really nice however I am reducing the tire size from 196/65/15 to 185/65/15 at the front and from 205/65/15 to 196/65/15 at the rear.

I have been looking at 6" wide front rims and 7" wide rear rims. My problem is finding a manufacturer that does both sizes with correct backspacing and similar lacing pattern for both front and rear wheels.

I can have these wheels custom made by Turrino, Midland Wheels Supplies and others, but they would then cost approx UK£550-600 pr rim. Okay for classic Ferrari race cars that are maintained without budget, but too much for my limited budget.

So which supplier does both 6" and 7" wide painted knock off wire rims?

Ideal backspacing for the fronts would be 90-100mm and the rears 80-90mm.

Who are reputable suppliers that know their stuff on wire wheels?

[Astacus]

I got mine from MWS

http://www.mwsint.com/

but they are not custom sized, they are standard 5" rims I think. Not sure whether you mean the same company (they are Motor Wheel Services), but they do a huge range of wire wheels as well as restorations

[Sonus]

Astacus said:

I got mine from MWS

http://www.mwsint.com/

but they are not custom sized, they are standard 5" rims I think. Not sure whether you mean the same company (they are Motor Wheel Services), but they do a huge range of wire wheels as well as restorations

I spoke to MWS and they do a 7x15 Aston special however it is laced differently to the 6x15 Aston rims (72 vs 70 spokes etc.). According to MWS it would look completely different front o back. They could do custom laced wheels, but then they would be UK£550 pr. rim.

[Andrew Gray]

Sonus said:

Astacus said:

I got mine from MWS

http://www.mwsint.com/

but they are not custom sized, they are standard 5" rims I think. Not sure whether you mean the same company (they are Motor Wheel Services), but they do a huge range of wire wheels as well as restorations

I spoke to MWS and they do a 7x15 Aston special however it is laced differently to the 6x15 Aston rims (72 vs 70 spokes etc.). According to MWS it would look completely different front o back. They could do custom laced wheels, but then they would be UK£550 pr. rim.

If your looking to go the Griffith/Tuscan spec rather than the 1800s MK1 Vixen which are smaller here is what we fitted on the Tuscan which are the correct offset for your car
I think the Black or silver painted would be a great look for your car we did the Stainless Polished if you go the painted look much cheaper.
However MWS tend to just sell at there list price however if you order them through the TR Centre in Cheswick London then you will save a good bit as they sell so many from MWS they get good deals and pass some of this on to Customers
I would stick to the same size front and back if your going to the expense that you are doing better to do it right once
Andrew
http://www.mwsint.com/custom/FitmentGuide/DisplayE...


Andrew

[Hansoplast]

Just to let you know.

Driving with my Triumph TR friends for a 4 days holiday last month, one of the cars gave a loud "ping".
We stopped but did not find any special problem.

Driving a lille further the driver stopped again because something was wrong with the wheels.

We found all the inner spokes were broken from the rear wheel !!!
Why ?
We have a lot of thresholds/traffic bumps spread all over the country so a hard live for the wheels.
He is always loaded with spares and tools.
He had cleaned the shinny wheels and checked the spokes on base off equal "sound" when tapping on them. Sounded all right.
Chrome spokes should be brittle (I am told)

And spoke wheels are forbidden on some international rallies.

What did I learn from it?
Still love them painted in the colour matching the car.
And I would buy the best and Turrino is in that league.

Have fun finding the right wheels (the looks and the price).

Hans

[Sonus]

Andrew Gray said:

Sonus said:

Astacus said:

I got mine from MWS

http://www.mwsint.com/

but they are not custom sized, they are standard 5" rims I think. Not sure whether you mean the same company (they are Motor Wheel Services), but they do a huge range of wire wheels as well as restorations

I spoke to MWS and they do a 7x15 Aston special however it is laced differently to the 6x15 Aston rims (72 vs 70 spokes etc.). According to MWS it would look completely different front o back. They could do custom laced wheels, but then they would be UK£550 pr. rim.

If your looking to go the Griffith/Tuscan spec rather than the 1800s MK1 Vixen which are smaller here is what we fitted on the Tuscan which are the correct offset for your car
I think the Black or silver painted would be a great look for your car we did the Stainless Polished if you go the painted look much cheaper.
However MWS tend to just sell at there list price however if you order them through the TR Centre in Cheswick London then you will save a good bit as they sell so many from MWS they get good deals and pass some of this on to Customers
I would stick to the same size front and back if your going to the expense that you are doing better to do it right once
Andrew
http://www.mwsint.com/custom/FitmentGuide/DisplayE...


Andrew

Is this the shop you mentioned Andrew - http://www.trshop.co.uk/index.html ?

[Andrew Gray]

Hansoplast said:

Just to let you know.

Driving with my Triumph TR friends for a 4 days holiday last month, one of the cars gave a loud "ping".
We stopped but did not find any special problem.

Driving a lille further the driver stopped again because something was wrong with the wheels.

We found all the inner spokes were broken from the rear wheel !!!
Why ?
We have a lot of thresholds/traffic bumps spread all over the country so a hard live for the wheels.
He is always loaded with spares and tools.
He had cleaned the shinny wheels and checked the spokes on base off equal "sound" when tapping on them. Sounded all right.
Chrome spokes should be brittle (I am told)

And spoke wheels are forbidden on some international rallies.

What did I learn from it?
Still love them painted in the colour matching the car.
And I would buy the best and Turrino is in that league.

Have fun finding the right wheels (the looks and the price).

Hans

Yes sure is if you want exactly the size etc I fitted they will have it on there system under my Name I think I would fit new everything rather than using the old adaptors you took off
Andrew

[Sonus]

Here is the current shopping list



I've not decided if I go black or silver on the wires yet.

[SquashedCat]

If money is no object, by far the best looking wires are the Borrani's. And for wider wheels, aluminum wheel with the chromed wires like the 60's Ferrari and Maserati's. Suppose one could go with stainless wires, but I think they would need to be heavier gauge do to the softness? But, the one's Andrew is sporting his car are not cheap, but the best bang for the money and they are good looking on the TVR's.

[Clive-sz8cz]

Just wondering why you are going back to wires? They are such a hassle especially on a daily, all-weathers driver. I had a GT6 with bolt on wires, a Vixen S1 with wires and a Mk II Jag with wires and I eventually wished they'd all had steel or ali wheels. Broken spokes, difficult to find places to balance them, you really need to carry spare inner tubes in the event of a puncture as not all tyre places have tubes on the shelf, splines wore so you ended up bashing the spinners on really hard to defeat the clonks. And as for cleaning them....... unless they are all stainless there seemed to be nothing you could do to stop rust bleeding out of the nipples and spoke holes. Mind you everyone said they looked nice....... and they did but I don't think they were worth the grief!

[Andrew Gray]

Clive-sz8cz said:

Just wondering why you are going back to wires? They are such a hassle especially on a daily, all-weathers driver. I had a GT6 with bolt on wires, a Vixen S1 with wires and a Mk II Jag with wires and I eventually wished they'd all had steel or ali wheels. Broken spokes, difficult to find places to balance them, you really need to carry spare inner tubes in the event of a puncture as not all tyre places have tubes on the shelf, splines wore so you ended up bashing the spinners on really hard to defeat the clonks. And as for cleaning them....... unless they are all stainless there seemed to be nothing you could do to stop rust bleeding out of the nipples and spoke holes. Mind you everyone said they looked nice....... and they did but I don't think they were worth the grief!

MWS Stainless that i fitted are Tubeless so eliminates two of the issues.
I agree its not easy to find someone local to service them but always a good excouse to have a drive up to Reading to get them to do maintenance should they require it and your right most people comment on them although i think the ultimate would be stainless powder coated for the totally period look
Andrew

[Astacus]

When I ve had cars with wires, Ive got the local Motorcycle mechanic to do them