The 'E' Type Forum

My series 2 currently has chrome wires but the chrome is beginning to rust and the chrome pitting. Rather than rechrome them I was thinking of having them sandblasted and then painted. Is this possible or is it better to buy new wheels? By choice I would prefer painted wires to chrome, because once they start to rust there is not much you can do and they will only get progressively worse.

Wheels dont last forever. However, my SWS painted wheels are still like new, after 3,500 miles.

They were the cheapest too!

They are great.

Chromes are sooooo last year. Painted is where it's at:

This may be an option?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jaguar-E-Typ ... Sw-0xYc89P

John

Hi All.....has anyone had it done themself.....how was it....who did you use...thanks.... Steve

I guess it depends on how far the rust has taken hold. I studied my original rusty wire wheels and consigned them to the skip along with the dodgy engine frames, for the same reason...

They can be pretty far gone. I'll see if I can dig out a photo later, but I don't think I've ever seen wheels worse than mine, and certainly I thought they were gonners, but they were professionally restored and here's a close-up of how they ended up:





And four years on they've yet to explode or fall apart on me

They look great Simon. People forget that chrome wire wheels were a special order cost option in the UK at an extra £51/7/1 (in 1963) and £57/8/11 (in 1969) - only standard fitment in the USA. Mind you there was good profit in it for Jaguar who paid £14/9/7 for a set of 5.

Funnily enough, it turns out I wasn't in any great hurry to photograph my wheels in their original state, but I have managed to make this crop of one of the wheels as the car was rolled out into daylight for the first time in just over 20 years to serve as the 'before' shot:





Pretty ropey! In fact come to think of it the rest of the car wasn't looking too hot either...

I think the the chrome has to be chemically stripped and not just sandblasted before painting. Also the problem with used wire wheels is they are often buckled or at least out of true, often needing truing up and some new spokes fitted, more expense. Best chrome wires out there are the american Daytons. I think fixed head cars look better with painted wheels and roadsters look best with chrome.

Hi
Any body had any colour coded wheels .?
My car is BRG and I seem to remeber some pics of cars with same colour Wheels.

Regards
Clive

Jaguar were happy to do anything the customer requested (at a cost) so if you wanted colour coded wheels you could have them. I think it was rare though. Once the car was yours you could of course do what you liked with it. The optional Racing Rear Road Wheels were painted in a darker silver so they could be easily identified.

I have bought some additional wire wheels because the first set got sandblasted and powder coated (see for sale section ) in what was called "chrome effect" paint.
Unfortunately, when I brought them an additional wheel to serve as a spare, I got a different "chrome effect" color back because they changed paint supplier....
Before





After









I paid 45£ per wheel, seems like a fair price to get a wheel back with the added advantage that it is a bit easier to keep clean compared to a chrome one.

Have a nice day
Jan

Sorry, still prefer my chromes. Got them off the car at the moment for the annual big clean - and it only takes me 2 to 3 hours per wheel to get them how i like...

The easiest way that I've found to keep chrome wires "show ready" is to spray them with Meguiar's Hot Rims, give them a quick scrub with a nylon wheel brush if they're really funky, rinse with a power washer (or just the water hose) and then dry with a leaf blower. Total time is maybe 10 minutes.

Hi Malcolm,
Wow......!!!! Nothing more to say, really.......Can I fly you down here to Oz to do mine....Any charge would not be unreasonable. Like you, I am a chromes only man, except mine have the chrome rims and hubs, with stainless spokes, made in the U S of A.........only 3 hours per wheel.....Mmmmm.......just name a rate......Unlimited best West Australian cold beer or fine white Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc blend supplied FOC
over and above..................
Best regards,
Norman

The beer sounds like the best bribe to me Norman! Plus the sunshine of course.

Mark, I use a similar thing during the year, with MWS stuff. Same ddabb on, rinse off, but you then dab on a lacquer type of stuff after, which you allow to dry on. Again, about 10 mins per wheel. But once a year, I like to get really down to it and still find the best results with Autosol, various improvised tools, bent and sore fingers, and lots of hard work. I finish with a carnauba wax to protect the polish and help the rain run off.

There is much written on the subject of wire wheels and our forum moderator has had issues with a supplier. One of the big issues is correct assembly which includes ‘truing and balancing etc etc. AFter much research and debate i took the decision to get a set of polished Ali rims/wheels from Turrino. They supplied the wheels with tyres. The transformation in handling from the original wheels was staggering.
I wouldn’t be happy simply having a set of old wheels blasted and painted. At the very least they need careful inspection for broken and cracked spokes before any remedial work.
I guess it always comes down to cash but time and time again i have to remind myself that you ......get what you pay for’ or ...... by cheap buy twice
Best regards
Phil D

I used Turrino to repair the wires on my Healey 3000 as they are close to where I work. Good bunch of guys and there are some other interesting classic car services in the same industrial park. I have been considering their polished alloy rims - they look superb on the MK2 saloon in the website gallery. I’m assuming they are way more expensive than chrome wires though?