Jaguar E type wheels and tyres

[DBSV8]

Looking at information on replacing 5J standard wire wheels with 6J , I have found these manufacturers that advertise these wheels .

MWS wire wheel
http://www.mwsint.com/shop/Directory.asp?Persist=&... 447

SNG Barrett Dayton wire wheel
http://www.sngbarratt.com/catalogue/accessories/sh... 260

Borrani Wire Wheel
http://www.borrani.co.uk/page/JaguarETypeBorraniWi... 1,100

any reccommendations

and any photos of comparison between standard 5J compared to 6J would be helpfull ,

I take it that the bump stops should be removed ? and any reccommendations on tyres and sizes

thanks

[jellison]

try pinging (PM) fiscracer, he has a LW E.

6 has to better then 5 (can't believe only 5j on an E type!

[vpr]

Think EType UK fit 6's on all their restorations.

Available in many different styles...Center laced, fewer spokes etc.

http://www.etypeuk.com/for_sale_late_s1_roadster_4...

[lowdrag]

Well, firstly I'm going to ask you why you are changing. The roadholding won't be that much different and there are associated problems like the rear bump stops. I've used MWS wheels for nearly 30 years on my E-type and they've been fine, but when I change them - they are rusty now after over 100,000 miles - I'll go painted because they are stronger, less hassle than chromes and to boot a damned site cheaper. The latest MWS have followed the Dayton in using stainless spokes, so there isn't much difference between the makes now. However, have you thought about your spare wheel? It'll have to be a 5J because otherwise it won't fit in the wheel well. That'll create a problem if you have a puncture - where will you put the punctured one?

[DBSV8]

lowdrag said:

Well, firstly I'm going to ask you why you are changing. The roadholding won't be that much different and there are associated problems like the rear bump stops. I've used MWS wheels for nearly 30 years on my E-type and they've been fine, but when I change them - they are rusty now after over 100,000 miles - I'll go painted because they are stronger, less hassle than chromes and to boot a damned site cheaper. The latest MWS have followed the Dayton in using stainless spokes, so there isn't much difference between the makes now. However, have you thought about your spare wheel? It'll have to be a 5J because otherwise it won't fit in the wheel well. That'll create a problem if you have a puncture - where will you put the punctured one?

Its purely from appearance , I prefer the look of the wider 6J wheels on the E type rather than the 5J , I notice from a few Jaguar enthusiast sites that the rear bump stops need to be removed ,
thanks for the info on the spare , I hadn't thought of that

[fareaster]

lowdrag said:

Well, firstly I'm going to ask you why you are changing. The roadholding won't be that much different and there are associated problems like the rear bump stops. I've used MWS wheels for nearly 30 years on my E-type and they've been fine, but when I change them - they are rusty now after over 100,000 miles - I'll go painted because they are stronger, less hassle than chromes and to boot a damned site cheaper. The latest MWS have followed the Dayton in using stainless spokes, so there isn't much difference between the makes now. However, have you thought about your spare wheel? It'll have to be a 5J because otherwise it won't fit in the wheel well. That'll create a problem if you have a puncture - where will you put the punctured one?

Interested to hear that you are going painted next time. If I remember correctly Jaguar used a larger dia. wire for the chrome wheels to counter the hydrogen embrittlement caused by the plating process so they shouldn´t necessarily be weaker, just heavier but not by much.....
I would use Dunlop racing alloys on a series 1/2 because they are less hassle to clean and look lovely but there again I´ve fitted Minilite replicas to my series 3 and think they look good too although everybody else seem to think I´m a heathen !

[lowdrag]

Well, remember that in the day a set of chromes was extra, and in fact - just goes to show how much things have changed - a 5W radio was more expensive than the chrome wheel option! Now compare prices:-

6 x 15 painted are £259, chromed £352

5 x 15 painted are £167, chromed £271

Personally, my opinions have changed over the years and for me painted looks more purposeful, don't know why.

So, for a set of 5, there is £925 difference! That to me says a lot. I agree that Dunlop disc wheels are stronger, but then they were only needed for racing purposes because the spokes broke too easily under the strain - which is why the D-type had them and the C-type wires. That being said, I haven't had a broken spoke on mine and she's done a lot of track days and fast touring. When the stainless spokes came out there were a lot of breakage problems, but that has since been rectified.

[a8hex]

not broken a spoke but I've had a wheel go very badly out of shape.

[Dougal Cawley]

Hi
The Borrani wheels are fantastic but they cost more. Borrani do not use Stainless steel spokes becuase mild steel is a more suitable for use where it will constantly be flexing.
fitting 6" wheels will effect the handling. the car will be less progressive and the steering heavier, but if you like the look of fuller wheel arches then sticking to a period tyre will help. the Michelin XWX 205/70VR15 looks fantastic because it has the rounded side walls that look great and XWX is probably the best tyre for a classic car in that size. which is why the UK Police fitted them on their XJ6 cars. Also the 185VR15 Cinturato is on special offer with Longstone at present. A perfect period tyre for an e-type. you can fit 185VR15 tyres on 6" rims

[mph]

Dougal Cawley said:

Hi
The Borrani wheels are fantastic but they cost more. Borrani do not use Stainless steel spokes becuase mild steel is a more suitable for use where it will constantly be flexing.
fitting 6" wheels will effect the handling. the car will be less progressive and the steering heavier, but if you like the look of fuller wheel arches then sticking to a period tyre will help. the Michelin XWX 205/70VR15 looks fantastic because it has the rounded side walls that look great and XWX is probably the best tyre for a classic car in that size. which is why the UK Police fitted them on their XJ6 cars. Also the 185VR15 Cinturato is on special offer with Longstone at present. A perfect period tyre for an e-type. you can fit 185VR15 tyres on 6" rims

My Borrani wheels have stainless spokes and were rebuilt by the authorised agent.

For the E-type my preference would be for stainless steel competition wheels at 6 inch size or same spec. painted.

Even the newest chrome wire wheels rust if there's a passing cloud.

[The Surveyor]

I was very impressed with the quality of the wheels on the Turrino stand at the NEC. They will do aluminium or steel rimmed wire wheels, made to your own spec. They list 6J rims in 15 inch diameter on their website so it may be worth giving them a call for a comparable quote.

www.turrinowheels.com

Paul

[DBSV8]

i went with the 6j's not sure which make they are were fitted by the vendor prior to purchase possibly MWS ?

they look fantasic , fill out the arches nicely.

[SV8Predator]

lowdrag said:

So, for a set of 5, there is £925 difference!

Excuse me? Can you run the math past me again?

[mph]

The Surveyor said:

I was very impressed with the quality of the wheels on the Turrino stand at the NEC. They will do aluminium or steel rimmed wire wheels, made to your own spec. They list 6J rims in 15 inch diameter on their website so it may be worth giving them a call for a comparable quote.

www.turrinowheels.com

Paul

I've got a set on one of my cars. The main problem is how to keep them looking clean and shiny.

[XJ13]

Dougal Cawley said:

Hi
The Borrani wheels are fantastic but they cost more. Borrani do not use Stainless steel spokes becuase mild steel is a more suitable for use where it will constantly be flexing.
fitting 6" wheels will effect the handling. the car will be less progressive and the steering heavier, but if you like the look of fuller wheel arches then sticking to a period tyre will help. the Michelin XWX 205/70VR15 looks fantastic because it has the rounded side walls that look great and XWX is probably the best tyre for a classic car in that size. which is why the UK Police fitted them on their XJ6 cars. Also the 185VR15 Cinturato is on special offer with Longstone at present. A perfect period tyre for an e-type. you can fit 185VR15 tyres on 6" rims

Thanks for the insight Dougal - despite the Longstone plug I must admit that I have always fitted 6" rims to my S1 E-Types largely because I don't like the "spindly" appearance 5" rims can give. However, these early cars need to have rear bump stops modified and I have never felt comfortable doing so. Your point about more rounded side walls and the XWX could be a good compromise (if there is sufficient clearance by the bumpstops) but are you suggesting 205s will safely fit on a 5" rim?? I have always been told a 205/70 is a little too wide for 5" rims. Although it will fit, doesn't it place extra strain on the sidewall and couldn't the tyre be displaced if you drive a little too "enthusiastically"?

[lowdrag]

SV8Predator said:

lowdrag said:

So, for a set of 5, there is £925 difference!

Excuse me? Can you run the math past me again?

Simple peeps

5 x £167 (5" painted" = £ 835

5 x £352 (6" chrome) = £1,760

So, if my abacus is still working properly, that make a saving of £925.

Oh, and as regards Turrino, they made the wheels for the C-type, and were very helpful - if expensive! But then I needed alloy rims as in the day, and they were much cheaper than Borrani. I think that they were about £700 each if memory serves.

Edited by lowdrag on Thursday 6th December 09:41

[timhum]

I've kept with 5 inch rims shod with 185 Cinturatos on my 1965 S1 fhc and find that, for me, this is perfect combination for the car. I agree that the tyres look a little narrow but don't want to compromise it. I'm told that the 185 section tyre will fit on a 6 inch rim and so avoid clearance problems whilst filling the arch more but without making the steering heavier or compromising the handling.
Tim

[neutral 3]

Throw the wires over the nearest hedge and go for Minilites ! Knock on but preferably bolt on, in a 6 1/2 . Minilites were a period available fitment, they look great , won't rust and are far lighter. An E on skiny 5 inch wires just doesn't look right.

If you must go for wires then Borrani would be my choice.

Why Jaguar persisted with wires for so long when every other car maker had discovered the huge benefit of alloy wheels is beyond me ....

[mph]

neutral 3 said:

Throw the wires over the nearest hedge and go for Minilites ! Knock on but preferably bolt on, in a 6 1/2 . Minilites were a period available fitment, they look great , won't rust and are far lighter. An E on skiny 5 inch wires just doesn't look right.

If you must go for wires then Borrani would be my choice.

Why Jaguar persisted with wires for so long when every other car maker had discovered the huge benefit of alloy wheels is beyond me ....

Don't do it.

Minilites look absolutely wrong on an E-type. In fact they look absolutely wrong on many classic cars IMHO.

Period alloys such as J A Pearce would be more in keeping (but hard to find) or possibly the replica Dunlop alloys as fitted to D-types or whatever.

Yes, alloys may be more efficient but wires are the way to go for the E-type.

[lowdrag]

I forgot to say in my previous post that I did over 100,000 miles on the chrome 5" wires I had before binning them. Like a wheel tapper in the day, in the end a screwdriver gave significantly different sounds as I did went round the wheel, so they were changed. But, they had done countless rallies, track days, serious road mileage and still held up, despite being rather rusty, and since every information that I had ever had indicated that painted are stronger then chromed (and also that painted were original and chromes optional) I went for painted. So now I don't have two hours per wheel cleaning each one - a quick power-wash will do, and I prefer the look as "more purposeful" than the bling chromed.

Just a personal opinion.