I know I'll catch flack for this one but I gotta' ask:

Want to get rid of my 'revolver rims' and found some S-type 17 inch wire wheels. No, not a 'wanta be XKE idea' but wonder how do you mount the 4.25 bolt pattern on the 4.75 bolt pattern XK8? Spacers? Complications? Problems created?

I suspect this question has been asked before but I just had to do it again.

 

I can understand your wanting to lose the Revolvers, as I have never been a fan, but IMHO wire wheels look wrong on cars designed after about 1970...

 

I've seen a photo somewhere on this forum with a red XK8 with wires. Gotta say, the lines of the old XKE played through better with the wires and we all have to admit, the XK8 may have been one of the first 'retro' cars made. Now, back to my original question, how do I shoe these S-type wires on to the XK8?

 

The right set of wire wheels may indeed look good on these cars. But if you've never had wire wheels before, you don't realize how insanely difficult they are to clean. Think it completely through before you decide to do it....

 

+1

Here's a comparison of the XK generations with wire wheels..................










Graham

 

I have had multiple cars with wire wheels where the car was manufactured before 1970. I absolutely agree wires don't look as good on modern cars. On the XK8 they look too aftermarket for my tastes.

They are some XK wheel styles (see Graham's sig pic) that will get you close to the look of wires without all the hassle. Wires are a b**ch to clean and even more trouble to maintain. Try finding someone today who can still true up real wires on a wheel stand...good luck. Instead the local tire rack guy will just put on a half-dozen weights per wheel to stop the wobbling. Real wires also need inner tubes and all that entails. I think some of the modern "wires" avoid that as they are not really spokes anymore.

Having said all that, it's your car to do with as you please and +1 on replacing the revolvers.

 

I caved! Just bought a set of XK8 18" rims off a wrecked 2000. Yes to all the arguments. Have had my share of british cars with wires through my life. They have been a bit of a PIA. Thanks for the input but no one ever answered my original question, how do you put S-type rims on an XK8 if you wanted to?

 

Adapter spacers