The issue is not (usually) getting the tires on the rims -- it is in getting
the wire wheels correctly balanced. Your corner service station in all
likelihood is NOT going to be able to do this. If they still have a "bubble"
(static) balancer (generally considered obsolete and superceded by dynamic
balancing), they may be able to do it.
Somewhere buried under the papers on my desk at this minute is a flyer from
British Wire Wheel explaining the technical issues. But in brief, the
problem is that the dynamic balancer chuck is designed on the assumption
that the inner surface of the wheel hub is the true, tapered machined
surface for aligning the wheel in the machine. On the outer hub of your wire
wheels, this is not true -- the outer surface is the tapered, machined,
concentric surface.
Typically, the chuck uses tapered cones that face each other, like this:
>:<
What the wire wheel requires is something like this (outer hub to the
right):
>:>
The only places you are likely to find the correct equipment are either a
long-time British car or vintage car specialist shop, or a racing or custom
alignment shop. Or, a place that sells and services knock-off wire wheels.
No, the wheels will not be pre-balanced -- the tires need to be mounted for
that. I have also heard that the wheels are unlikely to be perfectly true,
after storage and shipping. Which makes one think one would have to ship the
wheels AND tires to a specialist, to be checked for run-out, trued if
necessary, mounted and correctly balanced. At which point one wonders why
one didn't buy the whole setup from that same specialist to begin with.
Having thought through this situation, that would be my approach, if indeed
I decided to invest in wire wheels again. As much as I enjoy the
authenticity and admire the appearance, I must admit the drawbacks are
almost overwhelming in the context of a daily driver. I just had the shop
tell me two of my wheels had excessive runout, after mounting new tires.
Spending $400-500 on truing and balancing every few years is getting old.
on 6/20/02 8:35 AM, MonteMorris at mmorris@nemr.net wrote:
> I've just blown my wad and ordered a new set of wires for the 67B to hopefully
> correct the shimmy I've been having (at least this is the excuse I've given my
> wife). Moss has a sale on I couldn't pass up.
>
> I've read somewhere that it takes special equipment, or care, to put the tires
> on the rims. Should I take them somewhere besides my local service station?
> I'm three hours away from a major city that would probably specialize in
> this.
> Am I correct in assuming that the wheels should arrive pre-balanced?
> Any other things I should do prior to, or during, installation?
>
> Monte 79B, 67B, and 74 1/2 parts car
> Kahoka, MO USA
>
--
Max Heim
'66 MGB GHN3L76149
If you're near Mountain View, CA,
it's the primer red one with chrome wires
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