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wire wheels

To: Richard Riddick <sonex188@epictn.com>
Subject: wire wheels
From: Dave Massey <105671.471@compuserve.com>
Date: Mon, 3 Jun 2002 18:47:45 -0400
Cc: "[unknown]" <triumphs@autox.team.net>
Message text written by Richard Riddick
>       Have found a very nice 59 3a locally. Nonstandard carpets and 4a
seats but
everything else looks great. Looked at the car yesterday and will test
drive
next Thursday.
        Question; I thought all wire wheels had spinners but was obviously
wrong as
usual because this car has large cap nut retainers(Terminology??). The
wheels are painted instead of chromed. How common is this? Also, the owner
said that the spare is a conventionl wheel because a wire wheel would not
fit in the spare wheel well.
        What to do when you have a flat????  Tips and tricks would be
appreciated.
<

Richard,

Good luck on the search.

The Hex Nut is from a later car.  The ear'd spinners were outlawed in the
70's and all cars with wire wheels after that date had this type of
knock-off.  It's obvious that someone retrofitted your car with later style
wheels and knockoffs. How many spokes are the wheels?

Painted wheels were more common in the early days so painted wheels are
perfectly acceptible.  But as with any wire wheels, are they true
(straight)?  How are the splines?  The Splines tend to wear down and become
quite dangerous if they are allowed to get too worn.  The difference is
subtle and an experienced eye might be in order.

As far as wire wheels not fitting in the spare tire compartment: I have a
wire wheel in my spare compartment and it fits fine.  Many others on this
list will report the same thing.

I suspect that a previous owner found some wire wheels on a late model TR6
and swapped them over to this TR3.  This means he only has four and that
they are 5 1/2 inch wide rimes (as opposed to the 4 1/2 inch rims that are
original to this car) and these will not fit into the slare wheel well. 
That's not a real problem since putting on a steel wheel as a spare means
merely unbolting the spline hub and bolting on the steel wheel.  A bit more
work but it will still get you home.

Flat tire?  Does it have a tube?  If so, then you will have to have the
tire dismounted and the tube either patched or replaced (preferred).  If
these wheels have been modified for tubeless (this means sealing the spoke
attachment points on the rim) then it depends on where the leak is.  It the
tire is punctured then repair is just like a conventional tire. If the leak
is at the spokes the seal has been compromised and perhaps a tube isn't a
bad idea at this point.

Cheers

Dave
57 TR3
71 TR6
80 TR8

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