"Jeffrey H. Boatright" wrote:
>
> Chuck,
>
> As I wrote, YMMV. I assume you started with new wire wheels and then
> properly maintained them, checking for equal spoke tension, etc. From
> what I've read, if wire wheels are always kept up, they can last for
> decades of even daily use. I also assume that you hit few potholes on
> the track. However, I think that for someone who has acquired a used
> set for free, and may plans to use them on less-than-track-condition
> streets, the experience may be different.
>
> As for why they were used so long, I think that there are many
> reasons. From what I've read, wire wheels for a long time were much
> lighter than steel wheels. They also had a reputation for allowing
> better brake cooling. I think it was Phil Hill (could be wrong here)
> who chastised Enzo Ferrari for staying with wire wheels much longer
> than others had. His chief complaint was that they flexed more than
> steel or alloy wheels. Of course, Enzo's response was basically "What
> are you complaining about? You won a lot of races with them, didn't
> you?
>
My understanding is that wire wheels were stronger than that period
steel
wheels until Chapman decided to put contour to the wheels to give them some
definition. Circa Lotus 23, I think, and it took time for others to adopt it.
> --
>
> __________________________________________________
> Jeffrey H. Boatright, PhD
> Assistant Professor, Emory Eye Center, Atlanta, GA
> Senior Editor, Molecular Vision
> <http://www.molvis.org/molvis>
> <mailto: jboatri@emory.edu>
--
~
'87 RX-7 TII: 1308 cc, ~230 bhp, 176 bhp/l.
'90 GS-500E: 487 cc, ~40 bhp, 82 bhp/l.
MCMLXIX Sprite: 1275 cc, ~54 bhp, 42 bhp/l.
3070 cc, 324 bhp, still over 100 bhp/l average.
~
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