Steel Wheels
Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2018 4:59 pmIts taken a few years to get a good set of steel wheels worth refurbing, but the day has come to fit them. After much agonising I went for 185/70/13 Uniroyals, as I have used them before & they seem to fit the wheel arches. Tubes fitted of course. The tyres on the Minilites where 175/70/14, again Uniroyals. A test of the rolling diameter showed that he old & new wheels were the same, give or take the odd half inch.
The wheels were all tested for true-ness & adjusted if needed, then sent to a local wheel refinisher for stripping & powder coating. The colour may not be to everyone's taste, but hey, its my car!
The first problem was that the holes for the pegs had filled with the powder coating and my lovely wheels had the finish pushed out of the holes
. Time will tell what effect that has.. At least it shows the holes were not elongated.
Anyway, all were fitted and the car taken for a test run. First impressions? Softer, more compliant ride - so far so good. Grip is exceptional - slightly wider tyres, but maybe that's the feel of new tyres versus the old ones which had done around 15k miles. No issues with rubbing, even on full suspension travel (I was testing it) & full lock.
My intention is to get the minilights refurbed as they have not stood the test of time and their finish is shot - I am disappointed in that as they have only lasted 30k miles before they look poor and leak. When they are done, they can take on winter duties, to save the steelies from salt etc.
Have to say, I think they look better than the minilites, but it has take 8 years to get a decent set of wheels...
Jeremy
The wheels were all tested for true-ness & adjusted if needed, then sent to a local wheel refinisher for stripping & powder coating. The colour may not be to everyone's taste, but hey, its my car!
The first problem was that the holes for the pegs had filled with the powder coating and my lovely wheels had the finish pushed out of the holes
. Time will tell what effect that has.. At least it shows the holes were not elongated.Anyway, all were fitted and the car taken for a test run. First impressions? Softer, more compliant ride - so far so good. Grip is exceptional - slightly wider tyres, but maybe that's the feel of new tyres versus the old ones which had done around 15k miles. No issues with rubbing, even on full suspension travel (I was testing it) & full lock.
My intention is to get the minilights refurbed as they have not stood the test of time and their finish is shot - I am disappointed in that as they have only lasted 30k miles before they look poor and leak. When they are done, they can take on winter duties, to save the steelies from salt etc.
Have to say, I think they look better than the minilites, but it has take 8 years to get a decent set of wheels...
Jeremy