DerekS Posted April 17, 2016 Report Share Posted April 17, 2016 On page 34 of the new "Practical Classics" is a letter that pretty well sums up my own thoughts regarding alloy wheels on a classic car as opposed to the manufacturer's originals. I have replaced my shiny alloys with the original steel wheels, basically, I got bored with the alloys. Yes, you can feel a difference, the alloys were superior in a lot of respects but I really prefer the original look. How do YOU feel about this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted April 17, 2016 Report Share Posted April 17, 2016 Hello Totally agree I have a herald that I have returned to steel wheels and hub caps now looks as it left the factory Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted April 18, 2016 Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 I also recently replaced the 'Minilite' type wheels fitted when I bought my Herald convertible with steel ones and hub caps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave C Posted April 18, 2016 Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 Well, its 'each to his own' I guess. When I first got my GT6 I had seen a few beautifully restored examples which had minilite type wheels and they looked very good. I thought that when I could afford it I might buy a set for my car, but I had lots of other priorities in the meantime. However, over a period of time I saw more and more cars on the minilites and to be honest I got a bit bored with them. I decided that I prefered to stay with the original five and a half inch wheels the car was already on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomL Posted April 18, 2016 Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 I have retained the original wheels and hubcaps on my otherwise much-modified Vitesse. For me, the fake Ro-Syles typify a particular range of Triumphs in the late sixties/early seventies. I realise that there are benefits of alloys but I am sticking to the original hubcaps. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted April 18, 2016 Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 As already mentioned it's personal taste. In the same vein I like mimosa, I don't like magenta. I far prefer the original steel wheels however, the Minilites on John Bonett's GT4 look stunning! Go and have a look! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted April 18, 2016 Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 I really like the wide 5 1/2j wheels with hubcaps on the early cars. Sadly they are thin steel and often a bit bent (in case anybody finds a set, do check very carefully) on my Spitfire I have original steel wheels at teh moment, but also a set of 15" alloys (to change the gearing for touring) which give the car a very different look. It is all very personal, I like the slightly "twee" look of early heralds with skinny steels and tyres, but I also like the modded look on cars especially when lowered etc. What I don't like are fat wheel on otherwise std cars, it needs to be part of a "package" for me. Must agree, the minilites on the GT4L are tasty! not often I am a great fan of minilites, but they really suit that 60's style I will don my tin hat. I am no fan of wires except on prewar cars. Wobbly, difficult to maintain and positively lethal if teh hubs/splines get at all worn. Yes, a mate did find out the hard way, his rear ns wheel came off, luckily at low (30ish) speed. Narrowly missed a bloke on a pavement and demolished a garden wall. Could have been MUCH worse. and he did say it took hours to clean a set of wires properly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Flinn Posted April 18, 2016 Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 I have retained the original wheels and hubcaps on my otherwise much-modified Vitesse. For me, the fake Ro-Syles typify a particular range of Triumphs in the late sixties/early seventies. I realise that there are benefits of alloys but I am sticking to the original hubcaps. Tom I couldn't agree more Tom, just converted my TR5 back to Rostyles, love the look of em, just need to make sure they don't go flying off into the distance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterH Posted April 18, 2016 Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 I changed from standard steel wheels with hub-caps to wires on my mk3 Spit. Much against advice - everyone said I should go for alloys. But they totally 'made' the car visually. Yes they creak and are a devil to clean, and I guess if I were to push the car I'd notice their lack of rigidity, but boy doesn't it look good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gully Posted April 18, 2016 Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 My car runs Minilites - as fitted by the PO. However, when I bought it I also took ownership of the original steel wheels. My plan is to refit these following their refurbishment as I prefer the original look, but I suspect the extensive corrosion may have rendered them irretrievable... Gully Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekS Posted April 18, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 Thankyou all for your comments on this and please keep them coming. It was Minilite type wheels I was running, they are a lovely wheel but I am happy with the originals back in place. I'm interested in all opinions,for or against! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted April 18, 2016 Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 Each to his own as so many posters have said, but I got fed up with so many Club cars sporting the same Minilite replicas that it almost seemed like a requirement when buying a Triumph. I love the bling of chrome hubcaps and have them on all my cars now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted April 19, 2016 Report Share Posted April 19, 2016 My car runs Minilites - as fitted by the PO. However, when I bought it I also took ownership of the original steel wheels. My plan is to refit these following their refurbishment as I prefer the original look, but I suspect the extensive corrosion may have rendered them irretrievable... Gully Seek out some good ones, the 4 1/2j originals are very common and should be cheap. If you want the 5 1/2j variety (still unsure, there are so many around they must have been fitted by the factory or as a dealer-fit wheel? anybody actually know for certain?) they are getting tricky to find ad sensible price. But they look great on the cars. Or a compromise solution of teh late spitfire 1500 5J wheel. And all look perfectly original. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mjit Posted April 19, 2016 Report Share Posted April 19, 2016 Just a matter of fashion really. Steels used to be the cheap option, with alloys an optional extra. These days 90% of cars come with alloys so steels have become 'cool'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ludwig113 Posted May 8, 2016 Report Share Posted May 8, 2016 i have a full set of 5.5 steels to go on eventually but if i did alloys i would go with revolutions as you don't see them that often. i like minilites but there everywhere now. at the end of the day its personal taste. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted May 9, 2016 Report Share Posted May 9, 2016 What ever you go for steel or alloy please consider replacing the weeny 3/8" lets strip it or it shears off std Triumph stud with an upgrade to bullet proof 7/16"or 12mm studs and nuts been posted many times but a really worthwhile and relatively cheap safety and reliability improvement pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bonnett Posted May 9, 2016 Report Share Posted May 9, 2016 I totally agree Pete. The 12mm studs certainly are a cheap mod and instil a lot of peace of mind. I have to say that I am in the original steel wheels camp. It is absolutely a matter of personal taste but in my opinion a set of pristine original steel wheels with a nice set of centres cannot be beaten. You may well say then why did you fit Minilites? I pondered long and hard before making the decision and in the end it was the cost of refurbishing a set of steels and the slight weight saving offered by the alloys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve P Posted May 9, 2016 Report Share Posted May 9, 2016 I have Revolutions on my Vitesse(80`s not modern ones) and the Dunlop LP923`s on my Herald,don`t know which i prefer though the steelies do look great. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Devil Posted May 29, 2016 Report Share Posted May 29, 2016 Can I ask a quick related question? My recent mk2 gt6 purchase came with minator wheels but I also had the original wheels and centre caps included in the sale (although these may be off a mk3, how do I tell?). At some point I'd like to get these refurbished to get that full stock look so what is the usual method/requirement for getting them refurbed as in what type of finish etc? Cheers Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mishmosh Posted May 29, 2016 Report Share Posted May 29, 2016 if you mean the originals,bead blast and powder coating is best in my opinion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Devil Posted May 29, 2016 Report Share Posted May 29, 2016 I do. And is there then a particular colour that would mean the look original if powder coated or would it have varied? Thanks Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mishmosh Posted May 29, 2016 Report Share Posted May 29, 2016 IIRC later cars were Silver. However most early were white. Someone will advise an exact shade I am sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren Groves Posted May 29, 2016 Report Share Posted May 29, 2016 The white wheels were Spa white, unsure of the silver. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mishmosh Posted May 29, 2016 Report Share Posted May 29, 2016 I must admit, New Holland Tractor wheel white seems a fair match ( although as we liveon a farm theres some in the shed. Massey red is also close to Signal red...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted May 30, 2016 Report Share Posted May 30, 2016 Time to get a Furgy then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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