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  #1  
Old 02-17-2010, 07:26 PM
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period wire spoke wheels for 107

Trying to decide if I think these would look good on my 107 chassis SL.I kind of like the "old school" look of them?.I almost bought a set shortly after buying my car.My chrome plated bundts are in pretty sad shape.Thinking of either spoke wheels or hubcaps for a period look.

http://modesto.craigslist.org/pts/1569274408.html

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  #2  
Old 02-17-2010, 09:39 PM
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I think those are Zeniths, which IMO aren't as good as the Daytons, which I have. I will say that unless that is dirt covering perfect chrome, I'd worry about the chrome even though they may be from CA. Although my wire wheels are in pretty good shape, the PO didn't maintain them well (actually used them in at least one Northern winter). I called up Dayton and rechroming them is about the same price as new ones (~2000!!!!), which they don't make in exactly the same style as they were done in the 80's. Basically, they have to be cut apart, stripped, rechromed, and then re-wired, which they usually don't do unless the wheel is irreplaceable.

I also like the way they look, but:

14" tires look pretty dinky these days (these are very likely to be 14"), and it's actually difficult to find good, inexpensive 14" tires in this size.

They are also really, really heavy to the point where I can actually feel the difference driving pretty clearly between them and Bundts (real MB Bundts are very light, even in 14 x 6.5").

Cleaning them "sort of well" is a 1-2 hour job (which I did weekly in the summer). Thoroughly cleaning them is a wheels-off, 4-hour job (which I did at the end of the summer).
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Last edited by Strife; 02-18-2010 at 09:28 PM.
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  #3  
Old 02-17-2010, 10:42 PM
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I'd really like to dump my bundt wheels and go with steel wheels w/hubcaps. Much nicer look IMO, and alot easier to keep clean.
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Old 02-17-2010, 11:05 PM
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I like the steel wheels/hubcaps on a show car, but they look very dated on the street. Clean, painted bundts look good; I have polished (not chromed) bundts, which took about 40 hours to do (the forgings are not perfect, the original paint is deliberately very thick, and it takes a LOT of work to get them to 98%). They get dirty, they get tarnished - but some polishing and they can always look like new.
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  #5  
Old 02-18-2010, 09:53 AM
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I had not given a lot of thought to the weight issue.Less unsprung weight is always a good thing.I'm somewhat surprised you could actually feel the difference!
I was sort of hoping they were 15" but alas you were correct that they are 14's.There really aren't any good tire choices other than the raised white letter type commonly used on vintage American cars (Radial T/A,Dunlop GT,etc..)
I may keep the bundts and try a 225/60/14 tire.The 205/70's available these days do not have the relatively stiff sidewalls like were available when these cars were new.
I have seen a number of cars around my area with newer wheels in 17 to 20 inch sizes.I'm just not a fan of the "clown car" look at all!
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  #6  
Old 02-18-2010, 03:32 PM
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Sumitomo HTR 200

Quote:
Originally Posted by Strife View Post
I also like the way they look, but . . . it's actually difficult to find good, inexpensive 14" tires in this size.
Agreed, but now that the Michelin MXV4 is no longer made in a 205/70R14 (not that it was ever inexpensive), my tire of choice -- hands down -- is the Sumitomo HTR 200, available at the Rack for $58 per -- and for not-that-much-more as a special order at your local Sears Automotive. They have even performed decently during the recent East Coast snows -- not bad at all for a high performance summer tire.
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  #7  
Old 02-18-2010, 03:55 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by winecountryone View Post
Thinking of either spoke wheels or hubcaps for a period look.
Actually, either one is a good look on this car to me.

If you have the original build sheet on the car, then you can know how to equip it. --That is if you want the restore it to as was new.

Last edited by Skid Row Joe; 02-18-2010 at 07:25 PM.
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  #8  
Old 02-18-2010, 04:34 PM
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If you like the spokes, check these out:

http://cnj.craigslist.org/pts/1595534612.html

Includes the Michelin tires too, looks like a good deal.
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  #9  
Old 02-18-2010, 07:20 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Strife View Post
I like the steel wheels/hubcaps on a show car, but they look very dated on the street. Clean, painted bundts look good; I have polished (not chromed) bundts, which took about 40 hours to do (the forgings are not perfect, the original paint is deliberately very thick, and it takes a LOT of work to get them to 98%). They get dirty, they get tarnished - but some polishing and they can always look like new.
I will testify , cause I saw them , strifes wheels ( bundts) are a work of art.

Now then - were wire wheels ( spokes) actually a MB item or aftermarket or special order or what , I have never seen them in any of the original brochures as options?
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72 450SL, Pearl-SOLD
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  #10  
Old 02-18-2010, 08:58 PM
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They have even performed decently during the recent East Coast snows -- not bad at all for a high performance summer tire.
The above statement is quite amazing, because my summer-only Kumho's turn my 560SL into a death trap at under 50 degrees, snow or no snow, unless I warm them up before disaster strikes. This is why I leave them on in the winter - so that I am not even slightly tempted to drive the car!
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  #11  
Old 02-18-2010, 09:23 PM
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Originally Posted by meltedpanda View Post
I will testify , cause I saw them , strifes wheels ( bundts) are a work of art.

Now then - were wire wheels ( spokes) actually a MB item or aftermarket or special order or what , I have never seen them in any of the original brochures as options?
Thanks for the compliment! I put a lot of work into them that I'll never get back...the good news is that the chrome will never peel, because there isn't any

I'm pretty sure that the wheels were never actually offered by MBUSA, but were possibly dealer-installed options. Zeniths seem to be more prevalent on the west coast, Daytons on the east coast. Most were bolt-on (and done without ugly lug inserts, etc, they were actually built from scratch that way). At least some Daytons (and possibly Zeniths, I don't know) were built as true knock-offs, where the adapter was bolted onto the car's hub, with the lead hammer and everything. A member of the local MBCA chapter had a set of these for sale in not great condition some time ago.
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  #12  
Old 02-19-2010, 11:33 AM
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got it , thanks, I am not sure I love the look, like perhaps
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Ron
2015 Porsche Cayman - Elizabeth
2011 Porsche Cayman - Bond,James Bond
Sadly MERCEDESLESS - ALways LOOKING !
99 E320 THE Queen Mary - SOLD
62 220b - Dolly - Finally my Finny! Sadly SOLD
72 450SL, Pearl-SOLD
16 F350 6.7 Diesel -THOR
19 BMW X5 - Heaven on Wheels
14 38HP John Deere 3038E Tractor -Mean Green
84 300SD, Benjamin -SOLD
71 220 - W115-Libby ( my first love) -SOLD
73 280 - W114 "Organspende" Rest in Peace
81 380 SL - Rest in Peace
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  #13  
Old 02-19-2010, 12:21 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Strife View Post
I'm pretty sure that the wheels were never actually offered by MBUSA, but were possibly dealer-installed options.
I realize this is only anecdotal evidence but, the two original SL owners with Daytons both said they were dealer installed options.

By the way, IMHO, when clean, bright and shiny wire wheels look really great on a SL.
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  #14  
Old 02-19-2010, 12:50 PM
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You might try contacting Wheel Vintiques in Fresno and see if they could lace up a set using the MBz hub and their larger rims. I think they go up to 16 x 10.
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  #15  
Old 02-22-2010, 01:10 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Strife View Post
The above statement is quite amazing, because my summer-only Kumho's turn my 560SL into a death trap at under 50 degrees, snow or no snow, unless I warm them up before disaster strikes. This is why I leave them on in the winter - so that I am not even slightly tempted to drive the car!
Can't speak to your Kumhos, but the Sumitomos that I described in my post have actually rendered the 380SL as the best snowmobile that we currently have in the stable. Now granted, two 3-series and one 8-series BMW(s) -- all with Michelin Pilot Sport (high performance summer) tires -- aren't much snow and ice competition, but the SL certainly got us around just fine. I DID keep the top up though

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