So, I have looked at vintiques and wheelsmith websites, but of course every size just shows the same picture. my cars are 5 on 4-1/2" lug bolt pattern, what choices do I have for a 16" diameter wire wheel, in probably a 4.5" and 6" width, and does anyone have actual experience with them or could post some pictures. I'm wanting a wheel that will take a Ford 1932-35 cap, and be able to run a tubeless tire. Are there any that look at least sort of like a 1935 Ford Wire, or Kelsey Hayes ?
I've used Wheel Smith with good success. I'm a little gun shy since Coker bought Wheel Vintique. Another company to check is Rally America, talk to Wheel Kid. They been making wire wheels since the 70's.
Wheelsmith if you are buying new. I've got one 16 inch wire that looks like a 35 Ford wire but has a 5 on 4-1/2 bolt pattern. I got it in an alleged pair of 35 wires for 20.00 each at the Tri Cities swap meet a few years ago. I've got no use for it and it is 77 miles or so up 97 from you if you have anyone who comes up to The valley on a regular basis I could send it back with them if you want to try it. . It should be off some mid 30's Mopar but ? I never checked into what it might have come on. I went out and fumbled around in the dark and it wasn't where I thought it was so I have some hunting to do in the daylight.
There are many 35 Ford wheels out there the quality is way better than what you can buy new I’m running two sets with tubeless tires it’s amazing how well a rusty old wheel will clean up mine are powder coated
Another option for you might be a mid-thirties Plymouth wheel, for some reason I think it's 1934 1935 and 1936, if I remember correctly they are 4" wide and they are actually made by Kelsey Hayes and they have a 5 on 4.5 bolt pattern but don't quote me on this it's been probably 5 or 10 years since I've had one in my possession and when I had the wheel in my position I had a hundred other different ones also so I could be getting my wheels mixed up... Here is a picture I just screenshot off of eBay unfortunately they only had one wheel and it is sold but they are pretty easy to find still and I would imagine with a few minutes of digging around you could find a set, I only found this one because I wanted to show you a picture.
I don't think the wheel I have is a Kelsey but will have to put it on my to do list to dig out all of my 16 inch wires and look tomorrow. This has got my curiosity up now.
Thanks for all the replies ! Mr48chev, I just might take you up on that offer, I do actually make it up to the Yakima area on a somewhat frequent basis. I love the look of 35 wires, or Kelsey Hayes and have owned them both in the past with other cars, but both my 32's are now 5 on 4.5" pattern. and have disk brakes, so the stock Ford wires won't work very well Has anyone had skinny 16" wires from wheelsmith or vintiques? I would love to see a picture. I have seen some aftermarket 16" on a car that looked like they just used spokes the same length as a 15" rim, and just used a thicker rim, I don't know what brand they were but I didn't care for the look.
You could have Wheelsmith fit 5 on 4 1/2 centers in a set of 35 wires. I had a wheel shop do it to the Kelseys on the rear of my coupe which is running 8" axles and brakes. I supplied a couple of Falcon wheels which they cut up to get the centers. Shop that did it has been modifying wires for years - cutting 16's down to 15's to suit the trends. Only problem, it reduces your backspace which is now 2" on mine.
I go back to Rally America. The founder Gary McLean made his bones using original wire wheel centers and new rims His stuff was excellent. He used to come back to Nebraska hunting wheels and the look on a farmer or collectors face when he would buy some wheels and proceed to take his torch and cut the spokes and leave the rims and just take the centers, they couldn't believe it.
I'm with Gary on this one. Rally America makes a beautiful wheel. Great company to deal with too. I put a set on my truck.
@wildwest Austen, I HAD 2 full sets of 16" Dodge & Plymouth wheels but sold them all. I still have a set of 1933 17" Mopar wires which I'm pretty sure take the same size cap. I'll try a '32-'35 Ford cap on one and see if they fit. Dave
https://www.daytonwirewheels.com/ I'll be going with Dayton on my champ replica. The gold standard of wires
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