Wider steel rims?

[1987cp]

The wire wheel covers have a locking systems. It's hard to explain (I'll get a pic sometime) but it's effectively bolted to the wheel by way of a bracket on the lug nuts. It might slightly loosen, but coming off or even flopping around is pretty much impossible with these.

Gotcha. Obviously, I've never used those, just the lousy kind that clip to the inside of the rim. I wonder how much trouble you'll have to go through to ensure that you have the correct distance between the outside of the rim and the little retainer caps thingys? Or does the bolt-type system allow sufficient wiggle room that a deeper-dished wheel won't be a problem?

[marquisman]

not all wire hub caps have the lock system, i have 6 lincoln ones that donot have removable centers. i had a set on the 0ld 81 merc for a couple year and never fell off....this gives me an idea

[sly]

I have a full set of the bolted on 82 Lincoln wire wheels. 2 are barrel bent but should be repairable. If someone wants them... shipping would be a bugger... but I'm planning on being at SF11... so I might be able to bring them along if so desired. $50 gets the set at SF11 ($25 for two good wheels and the other 2 for free).

These are 15x6.5 or 7 though so it wouldn't be wide enough, but it would give you the center section needed for the never falling off hubs.

[johnunit]

Gotcha. Obviously, I've never used those, just the lousy kind that clip to the inside of the rim. I wonder how much trouble you'll have to go through to ensure that you have the correct distance between the outside of the rim and the little retainer caps thingys? Or does the bolt-type system allow sufficient wiggle room that a deeper-dished wheel won't be a problem?

there's at least an inch of slack, IIRC, before you tighten stuff down. you'd have to be ballpark but not exact.

[1987cp]

I've seen one of the retainer-cappy things, and IIRC it's just an ugly hubcaplike thing with a nut in the middle. Is it easy to use a regular bolt to retain the wheel cover? If so, that should allow you to use that system with nearly any steel wheel.

[sly]

yes, it is possible to use a regular bolt on the security lock hub caps. You just have to make sure the bolt head is not any larger than the security bolt or have a large washer to cover the sunk in part of the cap. Don't forget the bracket that attaches to the wheel via 3 shoulder lugs. The only thing is that you'll have to match up the thread of the bolt. And if you get a larger head type bolt, the center cap may not fit.

[P72Ford]

I've considered wheels for the track only, but I'd like to have as much grip as possible on the street, and don't see myself hitting the track (20+ bucks of gas away) often enough in the near future to justify buying slicks.

If you're just planning on street radials, but in a wider width, you aren't gaining much. It'll hook a little better, but a good set of drag radials will go alot further than just a set of 275 or 295 street tires.

Plus, some drag radials can be had rather affordably ($150 or so, as opposed the the $200+ M/T).

I'm just saying. A car with good power won't hook on 225 street tires. But it won't hook much better on 275 street tires, either. For the extra $50-$75 a tire, the drag radials seem like a no brainer, to me.

[DuceAnAHalf]

the aero hubcaps wont fall off. they have several steel teeth that dig into the wheel. the destroy the finish, but you will not loose one

[1987cp]

They're more gooder than the clip-on Colony Park hubcaps that I was constantly chasing? If it's just clips around the rim, what's special about them?

[marquisman]

there are 2 styles of hub cap mounting. ussally the flat saucer style caps had many thin fingers. the heavier caps(like pictured above and the older wire caps) have little metal spring loaded spikes that will dig and lock onto the rim. i have never had one of these fall off.