Wire wheels again

[petermads]

This is really for Phil (West Midlands). In reply to Leigh Rolls' query on larger diameter wheels you mentioned you had 15" wires. Did you do as that thread suggested and use Spitfire bolt-on hub conversions? Leigh - have you gone any further on the matter?

[philcoyle]

Re: Wire wheels again

Hello Peter,Yes I did use the 3 3/4inch or 95.25mm pcd bolt on hub adaptors, because I run Capri back axle and Marina front,so having wires I only need to carry one spare.The one thing I must point out is the increase in track width up to 4 inches wider, but as the wings are fibreglass it was no real problem, and does it stick to the road!, and you have to cut the wheel studs down and fit half size nuts, anything else just ask.

[petermads]

Re: Wire wheels again

Phil - many thanks. With my advancing years I actually have no problem with the way it sticks to the road on the 13"! As mentioned in the thread, it's really the appearance that I wanted, lusting after the Alfa 6C. I have asked a supplier what wheels can be used on the Marina 3 3/4 pcd adaptors, as I don't know the spline count (or whatever the correct terminology is). What wheels did you use - TR4,5,6 ?

[leigh.roll]

Re: Wire wheels again

Hi Peter (and Phil), no I haven't done anything about fitting wires yet. As Phil says, bolt on hubs are one option. Rimmers supply Spitfire bolt-ons and wheels but they are 4.5" x 13". MWS's bolt-on wires do not however require the bolt-on hubs, the wheels bolt straight on to the existing hub (I think that is right but of course I might have misunderstood), and there are a variety of sizes of wheel. There is a photo of a Berli wearing their wires on their website. I phd MWS and the guy I spoke to suggested I drive over to Langley and have a look at the options when they have a fitter present. I think I will do that after I have fattened up my piggy bank a bit more. So expensive but I do so want wires on Molly.
Cheers

[philcoyle]

Re: Wire wheels again

Peter and Leigh,(pop duo? no couldnt be)I hope we are all singing from the same hymn sheet, the mws I used is www.mwsint.co.uk, once you have your adaptors (42mm splines) the choice of wheel is wide ranging,e-bay etc,chrome stainless or painted,fit to pocket.The ones I have at the moment are ex-Morgan+8's, and I must agree about the look of the car although my choice was because of different axles, the cosmetics were a bonus. Oh, by the way Peter not alone in the advancing years brigade, long live radio 2.

[leigh.roll]

Re: Wire wheels again

Sigh - so I guess I got it wrong about MWS selling bolt on wires that didn't need a hub adapter!!! I didn't realise that one could buy hub adapters and then purchase the wheels from elsewhere - I thought you HAD to buy the MWS wheels. Good news that. No I definately haven't ever been part of a pop duo (are you thinking of Peter and Gordon)? And I do know what you mean by advancing years!

[philcoyle]

Re: Wire wheels again

It's all in the spelling MWS or mwsint.co.uk.a simple case of,well, case.Their technical page is very good, for offets etc., and they do reply if you e-mail them about anything

[b_caswell]

Re: Wire wheels again

There was an after market(Dunlop I think) wire wheel for Spitfires and Heralds that was a bolt on to the original hub.Sorry no other info

[jon_cox]

Re: Wire wheels again

Great opportunity on eBay at the moment.
item number 320147579998.
Check they will fit first!!!!!

[petermads]

Re: Wire wheels again

After some time on the interweb, still can't get a definite answer, from MWS or anyone. If I buy 42mm bolt-on hubs will I be able to fit eg MGC or TR 15" wheels? Are all spline counts the same for a given hub size? Phil, your Morgan wheels (6"?)must be wider than the arches so how does the MoT consider this? Jon, checked those Morgan wheels on eBay, they do look a good buy but again I'm thinking of the width.

[philcoyle]

Re: Wire wheels again

Peter, sorry, but this is my second attempt to reply. There are only two spline sizes 42mm and 52mm, the latter is used mainly on Jaguar etc. If you use the mwsint.co.uk site their tech page will give all you need to know about wheel offsets,widths, etc. Once you fit the hub adaptors OR change the hubs you can fit any 42mm splined wheel you like providing the offset or diameter will fit you car, as for the width I wasn't too bothered on mine because the wings are fibreglass and were easily widened to stay within the M.O.T.regs.(if I tell you the next bit very quietly) There are some wires and adaptors on the Quiller-Triumph website, which is a very good site for straight fit alloys for Marina based Marlins, but I never said that right! And don't forget it's mwsint not MWS.

[jon_cox]

Re: Wire wheels again

Peter,
The bolt on spline adaptors will work with any wheel that has the same spline count. But there are 2 different hub sizes - short and long. The wider the wheel the more likely it is that it will use the long hub and therefore will require the long adaptors. This is due to the extra stresses wire wheels create. There is a recommended bearing size associated with different size wheels. This is the 42mm you refer to. For the Marlin Roadster you can not really go any bigger than a 6"x15". 42mm adaptors are the most common size for wheels upto this size and will use short hubs. The most important measurement for you is the backspace. What you really need to do is fit the adaptor to the wheel and measure the distance from the mounting face of the adaptor to the back edge of the rim. For the wheel to clear the front suspension this distance must be no greater than 100mm. The lower this number the more the wheel will stand out from the arches. According to the MWS website the Morgan +4 1998 (the wheels on eBay) were 6"x15" with a backspace of 79.5mm. So if you then add the extra offset the adaptors will bring (about 25mm according to MWS) you are down to around 54.5mm offset. Bearing in mind the extra width of these wheels (0.5" - if you already have 5.5"x13&quot then the Morgan wires will stick out an extra 70.5mm more than your current set up. You need to be looking for a wheel with about 125mm backspace. Hope this helps.

[petermads]

Re: Wire wheels again

Phil and Jon - many thanks, your answers have confirmed what I think I had worked out. I just needed reassurance in terms I could understand.

[tymill]

Re: Wire wheels again

Hi, if anyone's still interested in bolt-ons, theres a set of 4 on ebay now - 320147579998

I'm looking very closely into getting a set of stock mgb 14" wires or even perhaps 15" wires. I'd need to get one 13" example for the spare though... (it's already a snug fit in the wing pocket for the 175/70r13 tire in there now)

Anyone got a nice set of adaptors for a triumph car on the go?

Cheers,
Ty