Heresy

[Bryan Boyle]

Found, in my stash, a complete set of OEM hubcaps and steel wheels (in need of refinishing). 

I know THEY balance, and are correct for the car (well, they are called out in the TC/S parts manual.)  Bringing them down to the powder coater for blasting and refinishing.  If I can't get the GKNs set up right...going to go back to the original fitment with 175/70x13s all around. 

It's just a pleasure car for weekends and occasional beach trips.  They'll look OK.  In fact, may be a bit retro.  Why not?

That will let me get the GKNs refurbished and perhaps find a tire shop that doesn't go cross-eyed when you mention that they are stud-centric. 

TC purists may scoff...but there are plenty of factory photos of the model on steel with chrome nave plates.

[TurboFource]

I like steel wheels on cars…if you like them, use them 

[Bryan Boyle]

I like steel wheels on cars…if you like them, use them 

Sometimes, retro is a good thing!  We'll see how it turns out.  Have to use the NOS nave plates for something, right?

[GavinT]

Saw a pic of a Europa with widened steel wheels and thought it looked rather smooth.
The practice was banned some decades ago in Oz due to some dodgy operators but I think you can still get it done now the hysteria has died down.

Weigh a steel wheel and alloy wheel and see what that tells you.

[jbcollier]

Ain’t cheap but they are gorgeous and they can make it in any width you want:

https://www.imagewheels.co.uk/le-alloy-wheel/

Super light too.

[Bryan Boyle]

Saw a pic of a Europa with widened steel wheels and thought it looked rather smooth.
The practice was banned some decades ago in Oz due to some dodgy operators but I think you can still get it done now the hysteria has died down.

Weigh a steel wheel and alloy wheel and see what that tells you.

Well...they're OEM (with the original MFR stamped indications on the inside).  Not really worried about the weight nor width.  They're 4.5" wide, so the most I can put on them (based on the tire spec) is the 175/70s.  Worst thing now is that there is a distinct lack of sources for the proper lug nuts for the 3/8 studs, so the usual suspects are selling the acorn nuts to attach the steelies.  They work, but end up being hidden under the nave plate.  With all the cars I've taken apart and thrown the bits into boxes...the one item I don't seem to have ANY of were the lug nuts from the 5 cars I disassembled.  Steel wheels?  Yeah, stacked up.  Where did the darn nuts go?  LOL.

[jbcollier]

Any British sports car parts shop can supply Triumph Spitfire lug nuts in any quantity you want.

[Bryan Boyle]

Any British sports car parts shop can supply Triumph Spitfire lug nuts in any quantity you want.

I found what ostensibly are the correct nuts at Moss...fwiw, ordered a set and will try out (carefully).  60 degree cone, and the illustration shows about 3/4" for the hex size, so...we'll see.

There's a reason RD and Bean are selling the acorn nuts as the preferred solution (and has nothing to do with $$$), so, taking this as suitable with a grain of salt.  Would prefer that I was able to find the original nuts (where the hell did I put them...??), but, we'll see.

[jbcollier]

They are 11/16” AF.

https://mossmotors.com/674-625-lug-nut-60-degree-chamfer-angle