The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk wire wheels

How are those wire spoked wheels of the mid thirties? Are they pretty durable and reasonably good for blasting and using for cruising nowadays?

No.

Maybe I'm a little rash, because I don't have any experience with wire wheels from the 30's. However, wire wheels are not known for their stiffness and old ones are not going to be better than the more recent ones.

The one's I've actually played with were from the 50's. The Cadillac wires I've seen have huge spokes and are probably better than the earlier ones. Still they are designed for looks, not stiffness.

There is an AD truck I've seen at a few local shows that has wire wheels on it. They look great but the owner was not willing to recommend them.

Sorry to but in with another question,but I need some info on this subject.Maybe you guys can help. Does anyone know the dimensions of the hubcap for the wire wheels? I am looking for a smaller size cap with a gmc logo to use on a smoothie wheel.I know they will have to be modified to fit.I am wanting the early style gmc logo.I have done a forum search with no luck.Any ideas?

i will look at mine tomarrow--I have some smaller caps that don't fit my wheels

I have some wires on my '36 at the moment.

Are they going to stay ?

NO WAY !

These are a modern set and still have broken and loose spokes.
I believe that wooden wheels were more durable than these things.

This is why wire wheels had a very short life span in the history of automobiles.

Leave them for prams, motor and push bikes.

Get a good set of classic steelies/artillery rims for a resto, or alloy mag rims for a street rod.

I've got wires on my truck - Tru-Spoke wires. No problems. Been on the truck since 1983. I'm also runing Chevrolet small hub caps on the wheels. They look good.
Joe

joe could you get me some dimensions from those caps?I need the outside diameter of the front and back side of the caps.Anyone selling these aftermarket?I am looking for the early style gmc logo where the M has long tails that go under the g and c .thanks for any help you can give me.

Joe, nice wires!
Different breed to the ones I have seen.
These others have the spokes running out at a 45 degree radial angle from the centres which makes the spoke alot longer in length........probably why they flex and break!

All of the hub caps that were the standard hub caps in the late 20's and early 30's for Chevys will fit the wheel I have with use of a Tru-Spoke adapter ring. That adapter ring is, or was, available through the makers of Tru-Spoke wheels at that time. In fact, I bought the adapter rings that are on my truck through the Tru-Spoke rep that was at the NSRA Street Rod Nationals in 1984 in Oklahoma City. The hub caps on my truck are 1932 Chevrolet car, actually 1930-32 I believe, hubcaps and will mount on the Tru-Spoke with the use of the adapter ring that Tru-Spoke made at the time. The hub caps were reproductions made at the time. With all of this being 25 years ago, I have no idea if any of this stuff is available today.
I'm familiar with the GMC hub cap you are looking for, or at least, I have seen it. I'm not sure, but I'd bet that the hub cap you are looking for would fit on my wheel.
From the little bit I know, however, about wire wheels of this type, they haven't been made for awhile. In fact I haven't seen a set on a car for quite along time. I'm not sure there are any wire wheels in the market place right now. I seems they have all been pushed out by the billet types of the wheels.
I had a short conversation with a fellow at a cruise night about three weeks ago regarding wire wheels and he was ready to buy mine if I would have sold them to him. Well, that's what he said. He told me that they are nearly impossible to find. I had no idea and was surprised to hear that. Now I see this thread on the wire wheels and all of sudden it seems they are in demand, but not available. It's really a surprise to me!
I hope I have given you some information. Don't know if I have helped or not!
Joe

Your truck looks excellent , Joe. I am still up in the air on the wires --I saw some words in a rod magazine to the effect that the guy had to have anything but wires--so I was wondering. Maybe that is for high speed operation? --dave

Thanks, Davy! Do a web search and check McLean Wire Wheels www.mcleanwheels.com/
Joe

Thanks for the info Joe.Your wheels look great on a nicely done truck.What I was wanting to do was use the small gmc cap on a steelie wheel for a different look.My truck is more of a ratrod style and going to be a driver.I want something with the old school look but it has to be low maintenance.I talked to the guys at wheel smith at the NSRA show and they have the wheels I want,but cant help me with the gmc caps.I am trying to get a look nobody has but there may be a reason noybody has it.Anyone have any experience with Wheel Smith wheels?They seem to be of better quality than the wheel vintiques but they are a little more expensive.That 100.00 shipping on a set of wheels is also akiller .