Section : Wheels and Tyres

Wire Wheels 

Posted By : Brian Raymond Frank, 13-Mar-2004, 04:18pm

After 20 years of having a company car all paid for no more dirty nails etc. I decided to buy myself a real car and go back to driving and having a hobby of a sports car.I chose a 1500 spit as I believe the shape is better than MG.However I purchased a set of wire wheels 5.5Js made byDunlop to go on the car. They arrived and I quickly had 175/70/134 Tyres fitted as recommended by seller. This had problems the Tyres wedged themselves againstthe bulkhead at the front of the car and caught against the wheel arch.I spoke with the seller of wheels, he said change tyre to 165/70/13 as recommended by Dunlop. I still have the tyres banging against the centre of the wheel arch and n/s bulk head two up can anyone help

• Wire Wheels 

  Posted By : Nigel Gibbins, 13-Mar-2004, 05:03pm

  Hmm, I have 155s on my GT6 and don't really suffer from tyre rubbing.
  
  Don't know what rim width I have though.

  • Wire Wheels 

    Posted By : Brian Raymond Frank, 14-Mar-2004, 12:39pm

    Nigel, Thanks for that National tyres could not get the 155s to stay on the rim without an inner tube as the wheels were bought specifically for tubeless tyres it seemed pointless putting a tube in. Also NTS Said they were not certain the tyre would stay put.
    
    Regards
    
    Brian

    • Wire Wheels 

      Posted By : Nigel Gibbins, 14-Mar-2004, 01:25pm

      Oops! I should have said I use inner tubes on mine. When replacing one recently due to a puncture it was 'funny' watching the guy try to inflate a tyre without a tube.....

      • Wire Wheels 

        Posted By : Andrew Lewis, 15-Mar-2004, 11:47am

        I never had any problems with wires on my GT6, that was with 155/80/13 which is actually a slightly larger diameter than 175/70/13
        http://www.tyresave.co.uk/tyresize.html
        
        However, the rims were the standard 4.5J. I wonder if there is something odd about the splined adaptor needed for a 5.5J that makes them prone to rubbing?

        • Wire Wheels 

          Posted By : Michael Charlton, 15-Mar-2004, 12:36pm

          I was always lead to believe;
          
          1 ) 4.5j's were the correct whl with 155 x 70 x13
          2 ) Mk 4 and 1500 had a 1 " longer rear half shaft than MK1 to 3 (hence pushing a 5.5j into arch )
          3 ) Always use tubes
          
          Had no trouble with mine (even though I did get them from a MG stockist)I think he felt sorry for me having a Spitfire !
          I have painted for winter and chrome for summer and neither rub any where
          Mike

    • Wire Wheels 

      Posted By : Chris Wilson, 14-Mar-2004, 01:27pm

      Brian,
      
      >>"Thanks for that National tyres could not get the 155s to stay on the rim without an inner tube as the wheels were bought specifically for tubeless tyres it seemed pointless putting a tube in."<<
      
      I have heard about wire wheels that are available for using without an inner tube but have never contemplated using them! I haven't seen any details or specs about these "tubeless" wire wheels but I can't for the life of me understand how an airtight seal can be maintained on such a wheel with a tubeless tyre??
      
      I know, even with such wheels "on my wagon" I would still have inner tubes fitted, just for piece of mind!!
      
      Anyone else got any thoughts??
      
      Regards
      

• Wire Wheels 

  Posted By : Chris Wilson, 13-Mar-2004, 05:06pm

  Brian,
  
  I assume that the wire wheels that you have are the ones that come with the spline adapters etc to enable them to be fitted to the 1500? If so - welcome to the wonderful world of Spitfire 1500 versus wire wheel matching!!
  
  I too have the wire wheels on my 1500 and initially had the same problems as you are experiencing and that was with 155/70/13 tyres!! After a lot of head scratching, advice seeking and trial and error, I ended up with fitting the thickest spacers that Moss sell to the bottom end of the front spring coils and pulling the front end setup forward a little!! A few well placed "taps" with a copper hammer on the inner wheel arches also proved beneficial as well!! I very rarely get any problems now (wheels have been on for the last 4 years) (ish) unless I hit one of those "invisible" hollows in the road suddenly at speed and then the car will bang on the front tyres!!
  
  Of course, all of the above fettlin and tweekin is pointless if you are looking to have a concours condition type car etc!!
  
  Regards
  

  • Wire Wheels 

    Posted By : Tim Willis, 13-Mar-2004, 07:03pm

    This all seems a bit strange, just because the wheels are wire shouldn't mean you have to put up with problems like this.
    What you are saying is that the hub adaptors are pushing the wheel and tyre further out and causing problems on the wheelarch lip and, due to the increased arc when turning the wheel, rubbing on the bulkhead.
    The wires should surely be designed to compensate for this as the geometry is getting altered quite a bit from what you say.
    My Spit has 5.5Js with 185/70s on and I only get the slightest rub on the passenger side with this much taller tyre.
    I have never fitted wires to a Spit, (not much of a fan of wires anyway) but I have fitted hundreds to MGs. Motor Wheel Services have always supplied them, maybe a chat with them would cast some light?
    I wouldn't be happy with the set up on the front as you describe, surely you get bump steer and heavier steering also?
    
    Tim
    
    Willow Triumph

    • Wire Wheels 

      Posted By : Chris Wilson, 14-Mar-2004, 10:22am

      Hi Tim,
      
      The rubbing/grounding problems only started to occur when I purchased a set of those shiny chrome springs from the club . I think I must have dismantled/re-assembled those darn front suspension units at least 3 or 4 times before resorting to spacers!!
      
      As far as bump steer and heavier steering goes - nope don't think I suffer from either of those and I did read up on bump steering last year when it was mentioned elsewhere (hadn't even heard of it until then!).
      
      Regards
      
      

      • Wire Wheels 

        Posted By : Brian Raymond Frank, 14-Mar-2004, 12:34pm

        Thanks for that Tim, my gut feel was that I would have to do something like that to compensate for it.
        
        Regards
        
        Brian

  • Wire Wheels 

    Posted By : Brian Raymond Frank, 14-Mar-2004, 12:48pm

    Chris
    Thanks for that yes hub conversion kit with wheels,
    no I will not want the car like a concours condition, I just want to enjoy driving my spit, all else fails I might have to go back to steel wheels and 155 tyres
    
    Thanks for the help
    
    Regards
    Brian