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wire wheels for a spitfire / herald / GT6

26 Jul 2015, 5:08pm
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
26 Jul 2015, 6:09pm
Start reading the sammio build threads but yes you can ,I don't know the details sorry
26 Jul 2015, 7:55pm
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.
26 Jul 2015, 11:48pm
Ahh ok, were the hub adapters just mg ones or did you get spitfire adapters and then just put the mg wheels on?
27 Jul 2015, 1:21pm
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



28 Jul 2015, 10:27am
Ok I've ordered those longer adapters - I'm hoping that 15 inch MG TF wheels should still fit them - what do you think?
28 Jul 2015, 1:14pm
Maybe a check first as those mg wheels are older and may have a narrower hub?
28 Jul 2015, 10:28pm
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....
30 Jul 2015, 6:27pm
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.
30 Jul 2015, 10:33pm
ahh ok, never thought of that - it's either a 1.3 or a 1.5 (not sure at the moment)
31 Jul 2015, 7:42am
Third paragraph down might shed some light -

http://www.team.net/html/spridgets/2000-12/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...
31 Jul 2015, 11:51am
cool video - some great cars in there - wish they had high def cameras in those days though ;)