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The history of the spoked wheel

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Created on November 1, 1983

Text:

Rainer Simons

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

13

Bruno von Rotz

5

Bonhams

3

Balz Schreier

1

Daimler-Benz (Werk)

1

Jurrie Vanhalle (vjimages.be)

1

Daimler AG

1

Archiv

3

Daniel Reinhard

13

Bruno von Rotz

5

Bonhams

3

Balz Schreier

1

Daimler-Benz (Werk)

1

Jurrie Vanhalle (vjimages.be)

1

Daimler AG

1

Archiv

3

Alfa Romeo 1900C Super Sprint Coupé Ghia-Aigle (1959) - wire wheels and large drum brakes

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Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport Zagato (1930) - filigree wire wheels

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Benz Patent-Motorwagen (1886) - On January 29, 1886, Carl Benz applied for a patent for his "vehicle for gas engine operation".

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Benz Patent Motor Car

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Clément AC 2L (1902)

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The beautiful wooden spoke wheels are reflected in the floor of the Mercedes Museum in Stuttgart

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Wooden spoke wheel of the Belsize 14/30 HP (1925)

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Benz Blitzen-Benz (1909) - the 200 hp reached the axle via two chains - the spokes are hidden under a cover (Rétromobile 2013)

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Bugatti 35B Grand Prix (1928) - at the Interclasssics Brussels 2015

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BMW 328 (1939) - Spare wheel on the rear

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BMW 328 (1939) - chrome-plated wing nut

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MG TC (1948) - Spoked wheels were standard equipment

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Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR (1955) - these spoked wheels had to withstand a lot

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Bugatti 101 (1952) - spoked wheels and whitewall tires

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Chrysler K-310 (1951) - Spoked wheels and central locking on the concept car

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Jensen 541 (1956) - Spoked wheels were available as an alternative to the steel rims with hubcaps

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Triumph Italia 2000 GT (1960) - Spoked wheels look good on it

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Aston Martin Atom (1939) - spoked wheels and drum brakes were standard at the time

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Austin-Healey 100 S (1955) - Dunlop spoke wheels and disc brakes

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Ford GT 40 Mk III (1967) - the spoked wheels of the road version

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Atalanta Sport Tourer (1938) - Spoked wheels on central hubs

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Facel-Vega FV 3 (1957) - Wheels by Borrani - Nut with Facel lettering

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Bugatti Type 101C Antem Coupé (1954) - wire wheels and Bugatti badge

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Jaguar E-Type (1962) - Spoked wheel on the sports car

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Ferrari 330 GT (1967) - the spoked wheels look good on the car

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Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 (1965) - Spoked wheel on the thoroughbred

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Morgan Plus 8 (1973) - the Plus 8 models were equipped with specially manufactured aluminum rims, here spoked wheels were retrofitted

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Mercedes-Benz 280 SL (1969) - retrofitted wire wheels

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Summary

Wire wheels are part of automotive nostalgia, especially on sports cars. Originally simply the best solution, they became fashionable accessories at a time when better rims were already available. The history of wire wheels is a piece of automotive history, which this article aims to summarize in detail and with a wealth of anecdotes.

This article contains the following chapters

Wire versus wooden spoke wheels
The wooden spoke wheel was too heavy
New rims for old cars too
Rudge, Riley and Dunlop in patent dispute
Left-hand thread on the right, right-hand thread on the left
Only advantages - except for cleaning
Spoked wheels in the first Grand Prix
Wheels as an integral part of the car
The French declared war on wheels
Disc wheels replace wire wheels

Estimated reading time: 19min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Wire wheels are part of automotive nostalgia, especially on sports cars. Originally simply the best solution, they became nostalgic accessories at a time when better solutions were already available. The history of wire wheels is a piece of automotive history. Spoked wheels, which have always been associated with the flair of sportiness and elegance in automobiles, have become a rare sight today, or so it seems. Until a few years ago, thoroughbred sports cars such as Ferrari or classics such as an MG or Morgan were unthinkable without wire wheels, but today the products from Modena and Malvern Link roll along on light alloy wheels. One would almost be inclined to believe that spoked wheels are dying out if it were not for the fact that there are still enthusiasts in Italy, England and even America who have dedicated themselves to the production of spoked wheels, who, despite official regulations and cost considerations, pursue "l'art pour l'art" and must by no means seek their followers only among classic car enthusiasts.

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