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MG MGA - Wheel Rim Options

My car is a 1958 MGA with wire wheel rims.

I'm looking for other rim options. I like the look of the Twin Cam rims but haven't been able to come up with any. I'm not a slave to originality, so I'd consider anything that fits w/o being way out of character.

I'd appreciate any recommendations and sourcing leads.

Thanks.
Brian Denis

Brian, if you want to switch to "disc wheels" from wire wheels, then this will involve switching hubs as well, and also I believe you will need to change the axle case and half shafts as these items are different for WW and disc. WW casing and shafts are shorter.
As it happens I have a disc wheel axle case that you can have for the shipping if you want to go that way.
Art

Your only real options are new wires in a different finish, spoke number, and/or width or you could go with the alloy minilite-style knock-offs.

If you are prepared to change the rear end and front hubs, you could have any number of bolt-on wheels.

If you like the TC type of steel knock-off, they aren't exactly like the standard splines/hubs found on regular wires. The TC wheels have pins that locate and engage? the wheel to the hub. You'd still need to change the drivetrain/suspension as well as the brakes.
Kemper

Art & Kemper, thanks for the input.

I'm not prepared to change axles & hubs to get bolt-on's. And while the minilite's are an option, I'd have to take out a 2nd mortgage to pay for them.

Thanks again for sharing your experience.
Brian Denis

You'd need a 3rd mortgage to fund a set of Twincam wheels with appropriate suspension bits!

People with wires often just switch to 72 spoke wider wheels as used on TR-6, for example.
Bill Spohn

I have had 72 spoke TR6 wheels on my MGA since 1969, no problems! They are 5 1/2j x15 painted wheels, the wider wheels improve stability, stance and look, lots more grip, more tire combinations available. Be conservative on sticky tires, it is possible to get too much grip; If you have too much grip and not enough power to ease the rear tires loose in a corner, you can roll it instead of slide it!
Keep one of the 48 spoke wheels for a spare, TR6 wheel & tire is too wide to fit through the rear bulkhead, or carry a can of Fix o Flat in the boot.
Make sure that your hub splines are in good shape, more stress on the hub due to more grip can put lots of stress on the knockoff. (Be careful of new knockoffs, make certain that the chamfer inside the new knockoff matches the angle of the outside of the wheel center that holds the wheel on. My new nice looking Moss knockoffs didn't fit and I had to go back to my dinged up originals for now.)
Using an anti-sieze compound instead of grease makes removing and installing the wheels much easier and the wheels stay cleaner.
See other threads regarding where wheels are made, some have more brittle spokes than others.
Safety Faster!
R.A. Carnes

This thread was discussed between 31/12/2005 and 02/01/2006

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