In a message dated 10/07/2004 10:17:20 AM Pacific Standard Time,
owner-mgs-digest@autox.team.net writes:
They were lighter, yes, but the
other big big point was their stiffness. With wire
wheels, the spokes would be loose after a race. We
increased the number, and that helped, but even then
the odd one or two would come loose. That's all it
would take for the rim to deflect and start steering
the car. Switching to the disc wheel was a
breakthrough, but we had to be careful with brake
cooling, one of the main reasons we had always used
wires."
I thought some of us who were involved in that
original discussion some months ago might find the
quote germane and interesting...
The same coniderations apply to alloy vs. steel.
I used to race my Twincam with American Racing magnesium wheels (with
suitably modified hubs) and I could go into the braking markers at over 100 mph
with my hands off (but not far off!) the wheel without any pull or dancing
about.
When I retired from regular racing and went into vintage, I figured the
steel Dunlop knock-offs looked more in keeping, and they are much stronger than
the regular bolt on MG steel wheels, so I switched back. The difference is
remarkable - even the Twincam wheels flex and give the car a much less solid
feel under really hard braking (the regular steel and even TR-6 steels are
trash
- I broke several of them in use).
Bill
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