Alloy wheels for Triumph Spitfire Mk 3

[Eric Setterberg]

Living in Cape Town, South Africa it is very difficult, (impossible?) to
find a set of alloy wheels for this car. The reason is that in South Africa
no one manufactures alloy wheels with the Spitfire wheel stud pattern.

Has anyone ever manufactured an adapter plate, similar to those used to
accommodate wire wheels in order to accommodate modern wheel stud patterns,
and if so, how successful was this? I understand that we will have to be
careful to get the off-set right, but this should be fairy easy if we have a
wide enough range of modern wheels to choose from.

Due to the cost importing UK wheels is not an option.

Thanks for your help

se...@icon.co.za

[Anthony New]

Eric Setterberg wrote:

> Living in Cape Town, South Africa it is very difficult, (impossible?) to
> find a set of alloy wheels for this car. The reason is that in South Africa
> no one manufactures alloy wheels with the Spitfire wheel stud pattern.
>
> Has anyone ever manufactured an adapter plate, similar to those used to
> accommodate wire wheels in order to accommodate modern wheel stud patterns,
> and if so, how successful was this? I understand that we will have to be
> careful to get the off-set right, but this should be fairy easy if we have a
> wide enough range of modern wheels to choose from.

Can't you get a machine shop to bore new holes in the right place?
Or ask the manufacturer to do a special for you?

Some kit-car firms in the UK have used Herald-based front suspension and have
had replacement bits manufactured to take Ford wheels - not adapters, but new
parts for the suspension. You might ask around in kit-car circles.

Anthony.

[les....@cars.u-net.com]

I believe the Montego, Maestro & Rover Metro have the same fitting -
do you have those cars with alloys??
Les

On Sun, 13 Aug 2000 16:56:11 +0200, "Eric Setterberg"
<eric....@icon.co.za> wrote:

>Living in Cape Town, South Africa it is very difficult, (impossible?) to
>find a set of alloy wheels for this car. The reason is that in South Africa
>no one manufactures alloy wheels with the Spitfire wheel stud pattern.
>
>Has anyone ever manufactured an adapter plate, similar to those used to
>accommodate wire wheels in order to accommodate modern wheel stud patterns,
>and if so, how successful was this? I understand that we will have to be
>careful to get the off-set right, but this should be fairy easy if we have a
>wide enough range of modern wheels to choose from.
>

>Due to the cost importing UK wheels is not an option.
>
>Thanks for your help
>
>se...@icon.co.za
>
>

--
Les
sp...@cars-gb.com (replace spam with Les)
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[Ken Forrest]

I recently had the misfortune to buy a set of new Minilite wheels for a
Spitfire MkIII.
Genuine Minilites are made by Tech-Del Ltd of Daventry, who assured me that
their 6in x 13 wheels with 175/70 tyres would fit: they didn't!
The first set they sent had the wrong offset, so the inside rim fouled the
top wishbone. They sent spacers which improved the inner rim but, once on
the car, the outside of the tyre fouled the wheelarch, knackering a brand
new tyre.
The second set they sent had a better offset, didn't need spacers but still
fouled the wheelarch.
They then gave up, but to save face, sent a set of (cheaper) Minators. These
were 5.5 in x 13 and we were advised to use the same tyres ( including
having to buy a new one!). Again, the clearances were not good enough and
there were problems with both the wheelarch AND still fouling the top
wishbone on the inside.
SO we spoke to the Triumph 6 Sports Car Club @ Lutterworth, who assured us
that their AllyKat ( Minilite replica) wheels size 5.5 x 13 would fit.
They are the correct offset AND the inside is well clear of the top
wishbone, BUT, on compression - i.e going over a bump, and turning at the
same time, the outside of the tyre could still foul the wheelarch.
SO we now have 165/60 tyres on the front and the already purchased 175/70
tyres on the back. This works fine and doesn't look completely stupid.
My advice then, is to check very carefully before buying wheels of ANY other
type than the TSSC recommended ones and fitting any kind of adapter to
different rims is fraught with danger.
If you must, try a tyre on one front wheel first, under its own weight and
check both the wishbone on full lock, on the inner rim, then the wheelarch
with the bonnet down full lock on the outer wheelarch.
In spite of the so-called experts assuring us that their wheels fitted all
Spitfires, they didn't, so I imagine your chances in South Africa will be
extremely limited.

ken

[Anthony New]

Ken Forrest wrote:

> I recently had the misfortune to buy a set of new Minilite wheels for a
> Spitfire MkIII.

(snip)
Yes, 6J x 13 are too wide for a herald/Spit unless modified. I too find the
175/70 on 5.5 x 13 rims touch on full lock or simultaneous moderate & bump, but
a big dent in the footwell area reduces it. Of importance is to turn back the
wheel arch lip which can cut into the tyre.
Anthony.