Are OEM wire wheels for the series III tubeless?

 

No, they require tubes.

 

Many thanks,
I am in the process of converting my 74 series III to wire wheels as I was able to find a set of NOS wheels.
Will now have to rethink tires as I understand tubes don't work with lower profile tires.

Cheers, Hale

 

I believe Dayton makes a lookalike wire wheel that will work with tubeless tires, the OEM wheels definitely will not. If you're planning on using OEM sized wire wheels then I'd be careful lowering the tire profile much or the tires may look too small in the wheel wells. In addition with the stock setup it already will scrape the exhaust on occasion so going lower will obviously only make that worse. If you stick with a close to original profile size tire you should be fine with using tubes and will still preserve the appropriate ride height and look. Perhaps a call to TireRack or similar seller will help you decide what's best. FWIW I recently went with a new set of repro OEM type Dunlop SPs. They're not cheap and are by no means state of the art but they have the 100% OEM look and the rubber technology today is miles ahead of what it was when they were originally made, so they ride and handle better than the originals - albeit still not as well as a more modern low profile setup.

 

But nowadays you can buy wire wheels that take tubeless tyres
https://www.sngbarratt.com/English/#...e%20S3%202%202

 

I put tubeless Dayton 16” x 6” on my 74 Series 3 OTS. The 16” is very subtle but allows more tire choices and the 65 profile is the exact same size as the 15” with a 70 profile as original.

 

I live in a large city & found only ONE tire installer who would do tubes for my Series 2 with Dayton wires. His recommendation: carry a spare tube for any long trip.
BTW: I am Very satisfied with my choice of tires: Michelin Defenders 205 70 R15. So smooth & quiet for highway driving. Excellent wet traction. I do not intend to race. If I do a Jag Club slalom, I will just keep the Defenders on the car. I see no need for sticky compounds for my GT use.

 

I used tubes and Dunlop Vintage race tires in my Black Jack spl. With series 3 wire wheels.
Over many decades of racing I never had a problem. (1976-2001) 155+ mph into corners.
Inner tubes don’t care What profile you use, they just hold air to whatever shape the tire is. Use a little talcum powder to allow it to conform to the shape of the tire and so you don’t pinch it when the bead pops into place.