Out of Round Wire Wheels

A friend in Albuquerque, New Mexico is having a difficult time. After
switching from bias-ply tires to radials, on a very early disc wheel 120,
the ride quality went from smooth to vibration-filled. The tires have been
accurately balanced using a spin balancer which secures and centers the
wheel using its lug holes vice the hub hole. The problem seems to be that
his original wheels and several replacements he's bought are all slightly
out-of-round, but only on the order of 10 to 30 thousandths. Has anyone
else experienced this? Will radial tires accentuate any out-of-round
problems, even small ones? Is there any solution other than searching out
perfectly round/true wheels? Did Jaguar/Dunlop make any truly round disc
wheels? Does anyone have what they believe to be good/true disc wheels
available? - Thanks for your input.     Dick Cavicke

Very difficult if not downright impossible to balance wire wheels on
today's spin balancers. Must have an adapter specifically made for the wire
wheel hubs. Not just the cones which fit inside the hub. Check with British
Wire Wheel in Santa Cruz, CA. 408-479-4495 - George Badger

Oops, please disregard prior message unless you are having wire wheel
balancing problems. I was blinded by the bright flash of the chrome trim on
the disk wheels. - George Badger

Dick, I did have a problem with an out of round 120 disc wheel years ago. I
had it fixed at Motor Wheel in London and no problems since. Can he not get
the wheels trued? Also, I have had problems with the tyres themselves, and
I understand it is not uncommon for tyres to be out of round. Did you say
that the problem arose only after he changed tyres? - Regards, John Elmgreen

If you have any questions or comments send e-mail to: ted@jag-lovers.org
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