10" Wheels in Anthracite - Query
Discussion
Hi All,
I need some advice for purchasing more wheels for my BLACK 1380 Classic Mini, which I built from a shell in 1982 & starting to rebuild AGAIN. It currently runs on 5Jx10s with standard silver 8 spoke Minilite (look alikes), they looked pretty good when new (a bit past there best now) but want something a bit different - without the 'bling'.
I was thinking of Anthracite Minilites (I'm not sure about the Revoite/Revolution style):
1. As I have not seen any Minis with Anthracite wheels I do not know if they look the biz, or a bit naff, any pictures out there??
2. I have heard the shiny 'diamond cut' edges on alloys are a pain for cleaning/refurbishment, anyone with knowledge/problems.
3. An alloy smooth shiny edge is also an option, are these good or bad.
4. Ideally I would like Anthracite round the whole wheel but this does not appear to be a 'standard' option & again the looks may be too dark with the black bodyshell.
I was looking at buying 4off 5Jx10 alloys again + a new tyre combination, probably with A008 Yokos 165/70x10's can anyone recommend a supplier with good reputation/prices bearing in mind I live near Nottingham, I'm thinking of Midland Wheels nr Leamington Spa.
Please forward comments/ideas/info for ANY of my queries. If you could forward pictures of wheels on a Mini, whether anthracite or any other combimation that you think look stylish/different - that would be most excellent. I'm looking to spend around £400.
Can't wait for some info.
Thanks
Paul
I need some advice for purchasing more wheels for my BLACK 1380 Classic Mini, which I built from a shell in 1982 & starting to rebuild AGAIN. It currently runs on 5Jx10s with standard silver 8 spoke Minilite (look alikes), they looked pretty good when new (a bit past there best now) but want something a bit different - without the 'bling'.
I was thinking of Anthracite Minilites (I'm not sure about the Revoite/Revolution style):
1. As I have not seen any Minis with Anthracite wheels I do not know if they look the biz, or a bit naff, any pictures out there??
2. I have heard the shiny 'diamond cut' edges on alloys are a pain for cleaning/refurbishment, anyone with knowledge/problems.
3. An alloy smooth shiny edge is also an option, are these good or bad.
4. Ideally I would like Anthracite round the whole wheel but this does not appear to be a 'standard' option & again the looks may be too dark with the black bodyshell.
I was looking at buying 4off 5Jx10 alloys again + a new tyre combination, probably with A008 Yokos 165/70x10's can anyone recommend a supplier with good reputation/prices bearing in mind I live near Nottingham, I'm thinking of Midland Wheels nr Leamington Spa.
Please forward comments/ideas/info for ANY of my queries. If you could forward pictures of wheels on a Mini, whether anthracite or any other combimation that you think look stylish/different - that would be most excellent. I'm looking to spend around £400.
Can't wait for some info.
Thanks
Paul
I had anthracite 5x10 100+ minilights on my first mini back in '91.
Mini Spares do their 4.5x10 Minilife wheels in anthracite, good choice if you don't want to run arches.
http://minispares.com/Product.aspx?ty=pb&pid=3...
I've had quite a few sets of wheels with lacquered diamond cut rims, and all have gone to some extent, a set of revolutions being about the best. A friend has Rosepetals on his car, and he was advised to clean the rims with WD40, although I've not tried it myself though, as I've now got Minilites and reverse rims on my cars, so no polished rim.
Mini Spares do their 4.5x10 Minilife wheels in anthracite, good choice if you don't want to run arches.
http://minispares.com/Product.aspx?ty=pb&pid=3...
I've had quite a few sets of wheels with lacquered diamond cut rims, and all have gone to some extent, a set of revolutions being about the best. A friend has Rosepetals on his car, and he was advised to clean the rims with WD40, although I've not tried it myself though, as I've now got Minilites and reverse rims on my cars, so no polished rim.
Thanks Cooperman, I see your well thought of here & have some great advice, so thanks for the comment.
On this rebuild it was noticed that one of my four wheels has a crack in it. With it being THAT noticable I'm glad it was not being driven. But hence, there's three wheels on my wagon (and I'm not rollin' a long - sorry, only an ole' git like me probably remembers that old song). So as I need another wheel and I would have to go to the expense of X-raying the others to check they were OK (+ I do not think that type of wheel is still available as they were bought 27 years ago), I think it far quicker/cheaper/safer to replace the lot (my tyres are approx 20 Yrs old also).
But being an old fart I think that with S/Steel bumpers/headlight trims, chrome grill/door handles/window trim etc. I think gold would look a little out of place. As I have mentioned I am open to all/any ideas so if you have a piccie of your Mini with the gold wheels please forward, I may change my mind. Oh, but still have to get permission from 'er-in-doors' !!
Cheers
Paul
On this rebuild it was noticed that one of my four wheels has a crack in it. With it being THAT noticable I'm glad it was not being driven. But hence, there's three wheels on my wagon (and I'm not rollin' a long - sorry, only an ole' git like me probably remembers that old song). So as I need another wheel and I would have to go to the expense of X-raying the others to check they were OK (+ I do not think that type of wheel is still available as they were bought 27 years ago), I think it far quicker/cheaper/safer to replace the lot (my tyres are approx 20 Yrs old also).
But being an old fart I think that with S/Steel bumpers/headlight trims, chrome grill/door handles/window trim etc. I think gold would look a little out of place. As I have mentioned I am open to all/any ideas so if you have a piccie of your Mini with the gold wheels please forward, I may change my mind. Oh, but still have to get permission from 'er-in-doors' !!
Cheers
Paul
I understand that the old Dunlop D1 10" wheels are available again. Quite a few people rallied on those wheels in the late 60's and early 70's, so they are a good and strong wheel. They are 5" wide, but the offset means they need Group 2 wheel arches, or equivalent, that's about 1.75" wide ones.
You might need to search for them, but try Midland Wheels as a start point.
You might need to search for them, but try Midland Wheels as a start point.
the d1's avalible now are deadly.
they havent been machined correctly, so they wont fit over cooper s discs unless you either use 3/8 spacers or get the centre of the wheel machined out to clear the drive flange - a failry expensive operation unless you know someone with a large lathe.
they havent been machined correctly, so they wont fit over cooper s discs unless you either use 3/8 spacers or get the centre of the wheel machined out to clear the drive flange - a failry expensive operation unless you know someone with a large lathe.
My 2p worth :
I don't think it matters much where you get your wheels from the quality of the finish will only last with care and attention, but I will say that you get what you pay for !! I've seen wheels less than a year old where water has got under the powder coat or lacquer and turned the silver "milky". I think Performance (Superlites) will paint their wheels any colour you like if you order them direct so that may be an option.
I have 100+ minilite replicas on my car at the mo, but I have a set of geniune Del-tec Minilites being painted (soon hopefully !!) as well. I have painted the insert black not grey but kept a silver painted rim rather than polished :
The wheel nuts are horrific I know !!
Previously they were gold centers with silver rims which is a bit different to the "all gold" look !!
Phil.
I don't think it matters much where you get your wheels from the quality of the finish will only last with care and attention, but I will say that you get what you pay for !! I've seen wheels less than a year old where water has got under the powder coat or lacquer and turned the silver "milky". I think Performance (Superlites) will paint their wheels any colour you like if you order them direct so that may be an option.
I have 100+ minilite replicas on my car at the mo, but I have a set of geniune Del-tec Minilites being painted (soon hopefully !!) as well. I have painted the insert black not grey but kept a silver painted rim rather than polished :
The wheel nuts are horrific I know !!
Previously they were gold centers with silver rims which is a bit different to the "all gold" look !!
Phil.
For christsake, be careful with old magnesium wheels.
They can go bang.... I know someone who had a JA Pearce wheel burst and they are made out of a better alloy than the tech-dels.
Having been an ex-old mag wheel fan, if I were the law, I'd make the bloody things banned unless you have a safety certificate for them. Use them for show, but for god's sake don't take them on the road.
They can go bang.... I know someone who had a JA Pearce wheel burst and they are made out of a better alloy than the tech-dels.
Having been an ex-old mag wheel fan, if I were the law, I'd make the bloody things banned unless you have a safety certificate for them. Use them for show, but for god's sake don't take them on the road.
Mr Wiggly said:
For christsake, be careful with old magnesium wheels.
They can go bang.... I know someone who had a JA Pearce wheel burst and they are made out of a better alloy than the tech-dels.
Having been an ex-old mag wheel fan, if I were the law, I'd make the bloody things banned unless you have a safety certificate for them. Use them for show, but for god's sake don't take them on the road.
i agree, it always makes me laugh when you see the prices people pay for old mag wheels in the belief that they are actually buying something worth boasting about!They can go bang.... I know someone who had a JA Pearce wheel burst and they are made out of a better alloy than the tech-dels.
Having been an ex-old mag wheel fan, if I were the law, I'd make the bloody things banned unless you have a safety certificate for them. Use them for show, but for god's sake don't take them on the road.
consider this....
the old cooper car co rose petals where made from melted down magnesium vw gearbox cases (in part), from new and in period, they had a 'life' of between 12 - 24 months before they (on the race cars) where thrown back in to the furnace and melted back down!
yet 40 years later a certain sort of enthusiast will happily powder coat and use these (and other sorts) of wheel on their cars......
....madness!
Crystallinity is a problem and then the interfaces of the crytals get moisture in them....The oxide wedges them open and they develop pretty organised flaws which a knock will cause the wheel to shatter.
I've seen minilites at Beaulieu for silly prices which have the apperance of pumice. Some are advertised as requiring tubes.
I have a Mk1 cooper with a silly engine and I drive it like I stole it. The thought of a wheel going made me change my wheels, not my driving style.
I had several sets of JAP's, but it is possible to rip the middles out of them. Bearing in mind they were ultra thin racing wheels.
I've seen minilites at Beaulieu for silly prices which have the apperance of pumice. Some are advertised as requiring tubes.
I have a Mk1 cooper with a silly engine and I drive it like I stole it. The thought of a wheel going made me change my wheels, not my driving style.
I had several sets of JAP's, but it is possible to rip the middles out of them. Bearing in mind they were ultra thin racing wheels.
Phil Hill said:
<snip>I have 100+ minilite replicas on my car at the mo, but I have a set of geniune Del-tec Minilites being painted (soon hopefully !!) as well.</snip>
Mr Wiggly said:
For christsake, be careful with old magnesium wheels.
They can go bang.... I know someone who had a JA Pearce wheel burst and they are made out of a better alloy than the tech-dels.
Having been an ex-old mag wheel fan, if I were the law, I'd make the bloody things banned unless you have a safety certificate for them. Use them for show, but for god's sake don't take them on the road.
Assuming this was intended for me don't worry guys, the Del-Tech Minilites I have are known to me, are less than 5 years old, and are therefore modern alloy not mag.They can go bang.... I know someone who had a JA Pearce wheel burst and they are made out of a better alloy than the tech-dels.
Having been an ex-old mag wheel fan, if I were the law, I'd make the bloody things banned unless you have a safety certificate for them. Use them for show, but for god's sake don't take them on the road.
I agree with you though old wheels in general should be crack-detected at the very least, and old mag wheels should be virtually worthless considering the risks.
Phil.
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