Very much interested in traditional looking wire wheels for my 97 XK8, spinners (knockoffs?), if anyone has please post pictures and sources/prices. My chromed revolver wheels are bubbling and peeling, so new wheels are on the horizon, and I am really wanting wires.
Many Thanks

PS Sidepipes? Thoughts on sidepipes?

Weeb,

Dayton Wire Wheels can probably fix you up. Great wire wheels look fantastic....

Sports Cars

That said.... My first car was a 1962 Jaguar 3.8 liter MKII. The wire wheels looked amazing. But... you could not get them balance perfectly to save your life. They must have gotten better in the last fifty years. I hope so. Also, you had to put an inner tube in the tire. They would not hold air without it.

If you do it, please post a picture.

Jack

Here is an example of Dayton wire wheels on an XK. I have to say, I don't like the look. Modern cars just look odd to me with wire wheels.



Here's a video as well:

Agreed. The message the owner is sending out is "I really wanted an E-Type, but couldn't afford one".

It's old skool vs new school wood dash vs grahfite dash, to each his own. My Daytons balanced perfect up to 120 mph and have stayed balanced so far, I love them but I'm 64 so just put it in the perspective of each person.

As for the side pipes, if your gonna paint a # on the doors and go racing then go for it, otherwise I would not go there, but to each his own.

Life is short

charlie Pace

You have me tempted....I had always thought wires were very problematic (based on my Dad's stories of old MGs...). Now you have me tempted, but keeping them clean & corrosion free seems a problem. I already find myself cleaning the dust of my standard wheels every weekend.

-Steve

Wires, dont do it!!!!!

Cleaning is a real pain, wires belong on old stuff, like Morgans. Not on XK's.

Sorry Charlie!

Thanks goodness for the 4th of July

charlie pace

Glad to hear they have gotten better since 1962.

I think they look great. Probably a generational thing.

Jack

I think it's more of a car generation thing.

I am considering buying an MGA or MGB from the 1960s/70s and would definitely go for wire wheels on either, but not on an XKR.

Going the other way, I like the elm dash on my XKR and wouldn't want carbon fibre.

These are the "factory" 15 inch Daytons on my 1993 XJ6 VDP.



Loved the look, but they are a pain to keep clean. Mine didn't have any trouble holding air until I screwed up and used a can of FlatFix in one. Destroyed the sealant at the spoke ends. I'm not so sure I like them on XKs though. There are too many other sharp-looking options. And am I the only one that thinks they look funny in the larger sizes? To me, there's just something odd about the wheel vs tire proportions on 18" and larger wires.

But if you like what you have, drive it with a smile!

Cheers,

Look good on a Dodge Viper or an AC Cobra, ridiculous on just about anything else. IMHO

Interestingly, my Superformance Cobra is one of the few without sidepipes. I think they look better this way. Fewer burns on legs also.

Almost all of the originals were sold this way. Very few (the SC) were sold with pipes.



Jack

I think I agree with the consenus here. Wire wheels don't belong on more contemporary cars. They belong on more stylish cars from the golden age of the automobile... you know when MG, Jaguar, Land Rover, Triumph etc were all English cars...

As for the side pipes... might be able to look decent if they're real tight to the body. Thinking rectangular shaped ends to keep them a little more flush. But either way, these things aren't race cars and are meant for comfort. Side pipes are louder, produce a lot of heat where your (And your passengers') legs will be and don't forget you may end up sucking a bunch of that exhaust in through your door/open window. Definitely comfortable or classy. Think of them as a tuxedo t-shirt. It's not classy and it's too silly to be casual.

But now I want a tuxedo t-shirt.

So following that logic, is an XK owner sending out the message: "I really wanted an Aston but couldn't afford one."

When putting down a certain accessory or look, some may be forgetting that this is what the whole aftermarket industry is about. Individual tastes to achieve certain looks that mimic what the owner likes in this or other cars. Yes, maybe that E type look or AM look for that matter. Example is the numerous posts concerning the shapes of various exhaust tips. What are the owners trying to achieve? I don't know but it makes them happier with their car and good for them.

We are very fortunate when these are the types of things we can focus on.

Very well said.

Only if he/she sticks Aston Martin wheels on it.