wire wheels for a spitfire / herald / GT6

Car photographer · #1 26th July 2015, 17:08

Hi everyone,

does anyone know if you can put wire wheels onto a spitfire that are bigger than the regular 13 inch ones? (assuming you don't have to take the wheel arches or speedo readings into account)

Like maybe 15 or 16 inch ones

cheers
Paul

redratbike · #2 26th July 2015, 18:09

Start reading the sammio build threads but yes you can ,I don't know the details sorry

swifty · #3 26th July 2015, 19:55

There's a number of people on this forum that have used wire wheels, i've used MGB wires with hub adapters from chic doig based in scotland, think he sells them on ebay, the quality is good.

Check out Mr T's thread and mine.

Car photographer · #4 26th July 2015, 23:48

Ahh ok, were the hub adapters just mg ones or did you get spitfire adapters and then just put the mg wheels on?

redratbike · #5 27th July 2015, 11:05

Spitfire hub adaptors too narrow for the mg wheels

Buy these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kitcar-Sam...item2c8974d018

Or

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SAMMIO-SPY...item56719ba188

micky1mo · #6 27th July 2015, 13:21

Although this is my A1 Alpha the inner wheel arches are the original Spitfire arches.
Fitted are MG wheels on correct adaptors and 175R x 14 tyres

swifty · #7 27th July 2015, 17:20

I used these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SAMMIO-SPY...item56719ba188 he also sells new wheel nuts either mild steel or stainless, they forgot to send the wheel nuts with the hubs so for the inconvenience a free upgrade to stainless was given.

Car photographer · #8 27th July 2015, 17:44

cool, thanks for the links

Car photographer · #9 28th July 2015, 10:27

Ok I've ordered those longer adapters - I'm hoping that 15 inch MG TF wheels should still fit them - what do you think?

redratbike · #10 28th July 2015, 13:14

Maybe a check first as those mg wheels are older and may have a narrower hub?

Car photographer · #11 28th July 2015, 16:09

redratbike · #12 28th July 2015, 22:28

Think you will be ok

Taken from an mg forum

"If her car has wire wheels now, yes, MGB wire wheels will fit on her car. I have a TF with MGB Wire Wheels."

So if mgb wheels fit a tf ...tf wheels must fit mgb hubs....

Car photographer · #13 29th July 2015, 00:06

Great thanks

Mister Towed · #14 30th July 2015, 18:27

Just bear in mind that the TF wheels will be 48 spoke so not as strong as MGB 60 spoke or the wider 72 spoke wheels. If you have a lightweight power plant you'll be ok, but a straight six will buckle the front wheels at the first bend.

Car photographer · #15 30th July 2015, 22:33

ahh ok, never thought of that - it's either a 1.3 or a 1.5 (not sure at the moment)

Mister Towed · #16 31st July 2015, 07:42

Third paragraph down might shed some light -

http://www.team.net/html/spridgets/2.../msg00406.html

That page also threw up an interesting link to a long-dead motoring programme I'd never heard of, which might also be of interest to Sammio (et al) builders. You'll notice that Triumph didn't use wires on the Le Mans Spits (also check out the paint finish on the Ferrari wing badge at about 4m15s in, especially if you think you've got to pay a pro a fortune for a 'quality' spray job to get a convincing period look on your 50's racer instead of doing it yourself on the cheap) -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mo4_yar0joQ

Enjoy...

Car photographer · #17 31st July 2015, 11:51

cool video - some great cars in there - wish they had high def cameras in those days though