Converting to wire wheels

[Toad]

Hi All,

It is time for tires and I am contemplating changing from the current rims to wires. It has vintage American Racing wheels but I just can't help but want the wires. I'm thinking I will have to cut the lug studs off with a die grinder to make them shorter for the splined adapter. Is there anything else I may not be thinking about? Also, does anyone know what I should ask for the set of American Racing rims? I'm thinking a local Datsun club would be all over them. Thanks.

Toad

[phil73]

A good number of years ago I went the other way and converted from wires. Back then you could purchase the correct studs based on whether you had wire or steel wheels. In my case I bought a new set of studs and replaced them on all 4 corners of the car.

If I recall replacing the studs on the rear drums was easy...knock them out, insert new. The fronts were more challenging in the you had to pull the disc/hub and then separate the disc from the hub in order to get to the studs. Still not that hard though.

Question is whether you can still get the shorter studs.

Edit:
http://trf.zeni.net/TR6-TR250GB/226.php

[Toad]

Yeah, I'm seeing the studs as available from Moss. Perhaps that is the way to go. Remove the hubs and press new studs in. Your link that was put in as an edit didn't work. Was that link to The Roadster Factory? I thought they disappeared. Always wondered what happened to them.

Thanks for the reply.

Toad

[oppositelocksmith]

Roadster Factory is fine. Victoria British is the one that disappeared. They got bought by Moss Motors.

[phil73]

Odd...the link works fine for me and yes it was a link to a page in the TRF Glovebox Companion catalog

[tr250]

Hi All,

It is time for tires and I am contemplating changing from the current rims to wires. It has vintage American Racing wheels but I just can't help but want the wires. I'm thinking I will have to cut the lug studs off with a die grinder to make them shorter for the splined adapter. Is there anything else I may not be thinking about? Also, does anyone know what I should ask for the set of American Racing rims? I'm thinking a local Datsun club would be all over them. Thanks.

Toad

What makes you think I wouldn’t be all over em 😜

Nah you’re not missing anything. I have a couple sets of wires I’d be glad to do some trading. Oh and you “could” simply add spacers rather than cutting off the studs. This would give you the flexibility of going back & forth or use a disc wheel in a pinch

[Toad]

Hi tr250, I thought about the spacers. I'm just worried about the wheels sticking too far out with 205/70 tires. Hey, new survey idea...spacers or no spacers?

I'll PM you about the idea of trading.

Toad

[phil73]

I always thought spacers increased the chances of wheel vibration. Am I wrong there?

[Toad]

Funny, I always get a "this site can't be reached" message whenever I try to find anything TRF related. Catalogs, classifieds, anything...it can't be reached. Even using links from evil Google searches won't bring up TRF links that work. This has been going on for at least a year. I figured they pulled the plug. Maybe I have been blacklisted by TRF???

Back on topic: I don't mind the idea of spacers, just don't want the wheels to stick out too far.

[oppositelocksmith]

Site is https://the-roadster-factory.com/indexmain.php

[UberXY]

Are you going to sell the ARWs?

[Toad]

Yes, I will be selling or trading the ARW's. I am already in discussions with tr250 about a trade but if that doesn't work out, I'll let you know.

[ibjean325]

You asked about spacers or no spacers. I'd vote no spacers.
I think you'll be happy with the wires. Install the proper studs and mount your wires. What reason would you need to keep your car set up for both? NFI but Hendrix Wire Wheels has a good reputation and reconditioned my wire wheels and provided me with the proper size tires that fit perfectly with the car.

[Toad]

Thanks. I agree, no spacers seems to be the way to go. Thanks for the info re. Hendrix too.

Toad

[baws]

Wire wheels look great but are high maintenance if you plan to do a fair amount of driving in any and all conditions. Hard to keep clean, prone to leaks and require a specialist tire shop for mounting etc.
But nothing says classic sports car better that true spoked wire wheels.
Always fancied a set of gloss black painted wires with chrome, eared knock offs for my 6.

[ibjean325]

Yes good point about proper mounting and balancing. Find a shop that has the proper equipment-adapters to balance them. My local tire shop has a splined adapter to mount them to for properly balancing.

[SapphireBlue72]

I was driving West across this country in my TR4 with wire wheels, and a wheel weight must have fallen off in New Mexico or Arizona.

The tire started bouncing and the steering wheel shaking. No spare.

It was destroying the tire tread- an almost new Michelin. I had to slow to 45 mph to control the car. On Interstates. It was pure misery for hours.

Finally, in Bakersfield, CA, I found a shop that had a balance machine that spun the wire wheel and tire as they were mounted on the hub.

I look at beautiful cars with wire wheels and am reminded of my wire wheel hell. Never again.

[lfmTR4]

My TR6 has KN Minitars, my 4A has wires. So I ask, why would a wire wheel losing a weight and going out of balance act different than a steel wheel under the same circumstance?

On the other hand, wires have come a long way since OEM. Just look at the 64 spoke Dunlop or Daytons that don’t require a tube.

[SapphireBlue72]

Lou, I don't know why the imbalance was so bad. I don't make this stuff up.
After the guy balanced it with his spin machine it was no problem for years afterwards.
The Michelin survived and wore well. It was a 60 spoke factory wire wheel.

[ibjean325]

RE Balancing the wire wheels. Proper equipment.