Wheel size

Technical advice Q&A
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peters3103
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Joined: Sun Aug 05, 2012 7:25 am
Location: Canberra Australia
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#1 Wheel size

Post by peters3103 » Sun Sep 05, 2021 8:23 am

Hi gents,
Just spent a rainy afternoon watching the 2016 Kinrara Trophy. Fantastic! I was fortunate to have been there for it. I note most of the E-Types racing appear to be running competition wires both up front and on the rear. Would these most likely be 6” all round? They look very “fat” but this may be just the big racing tyres. I’m seriously thinking of downgrading from chrome to painted wires on my car but as yet undecided whether to go with stock 5” all round or perhaps fit comps to the rear in either factory, race spec, 5 1/2” or maybe 6” although this may be a stretch for my XVS 185’s. It seems I can only buy 6” painted in competitions.

Cheers,
Pete
Pete
61 E-Type FHC Opalescent Golden Sand
69 XJ6 4.2 MOD Old English White - one previous owner
16 XE R Sport 25t Polaris White - shopping trolley
63 MGB Roadster Aintree Green - my dads from new

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abowie
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#2 Re: Wheel size

Post by abowie » Sun Sep 05, 2021 9:41 am

I've gone the full circle from 6" triple laced, to 6.5" MWS with 205 60's.

Currently I've come to the thinking that 5 1/2" With 15" 185 tyres look, and handle, the best.
Andrew.
881824, 1E21538. 889457. 1961 4.3l Mk2. 1975 XJS. 1962 MGB
http://www.projectetype.com/index.php/the-blog.html
Adelaide, Australia

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peters3103
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#3 Re: Wheel size

Post by peters3103 » Sun Sep 05, 2021 10:32 am

Hey Andrew,
Nice to hear from you mate.
Yes same. I had 6” CWW with 205’s on my red S1 2+2 (too much bling) and on my current 3.8 FHC when I bought both of them. On my 3.8, I swapped them for 6 1/2” curly hub, centre laced with the 205’s (which really filled the arches) as the 6” wheels the 3.8 came with had incorrect easy clean hubs. I then decided in a quest for a more original appearance and also steering weight, I’d go back to 5” Dunlop chromes with Michelin XVS 185’s which I’m running now and they perform great. However, when I see (very rarely here) a S1 with painted wires and period looking 185 tyres I really like the look.
I saw this OTS at Goodwood a couple of years ago in the same golden sand as mine, fitted with Avon 185’s looking very much like crossplys. This is the look I’m going for:

Image[/url
[url=https://postimg.cc/fSCfk7qn]Image
Pete
61 E-Type FHC Opalescent Golden Sand
69 XJ6 4.2 MOD Old English White - one previous owner
16 XE R Sport 25t Polaris White - shopping trolley
63 MGB Roadster Aintree Green - my dads from new

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david muir
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#4 Re: Wheel size

Post by david muir » Sun Sep 05, 2021 7:19 pm

Currently running 5.5 " competition ,silver painted wires on rear and 5" standard wires on front. Tyres are 6.00 x 15 Dunlop Racing R5s. Give a very 'full arch ' look as per 4 WPD and Graham Hill (he probably had 6.50" on rear). Not strictly road legal and tramline quite a lot but lovely turn in and grip!
1964 3.8 FHC

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peters3103
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#5 Re: Wheel size

Post by peters3103 » Sun Sep 05, 2021 9:06 pm

Thanks David. Photos?
Pete
61 E-Type FHC Opalescent Golden Sand
69 XJ6 4.2 MOD Old English White - one previous owner
16 XE R Sport 25t Polaris White - shopping trolley
63 MGB Roadster Aintree Green - my dads from new

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abowie
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#6 Re: Wheel size

Post by abowie » Sun Sep 05, 2021 10:13 pm

Here's a bad photo of my 3.8s. Roadster has 205 65 15 on MWS 6.6s and coupe has standard rims with 185 R tyres.


Image
Andrew.
881824, 1E21538. 889457. 1961 4.3l Mk2. 1975 XJS. 1962 MGB
http://www.projectetype.com/index.php/the-blog.html
Adelaide, Australia

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