Twin cam original wheels

[Lotus supplies]

We are looking at having a batch of original style twin cam wheels made.Would anybody be interested as we want to make sure there is enough call for them before we go ahead, they would be around £175 a wheel would ideally like to sell them as a set of 4.

[Certified Lotus]

That would be a very realistic price. Where were you two years ago when I had mine restored........

[jlmullen2]

I just refinished mine as well, a tedious job to get all the old paint off and mask it.

I'd suggest you look into the design of the new wheel, specifically the issue of balancing them. I believe I read that the original wheels were lug-centric, that is, the lug bolt diameter was the center of the wheel. The hub opening in the wheel was not always the "center" leading to difficulties in balancing the wheel on modern hub locating balancing machines. I know that several folks on the board have had difficulties in balancing original Brand Lotus alloy wheels. Might as well try to fix an issue if you are fabricating new wheels.

Larry

[BDA]

If we're making design suggestions, I would say that instead of the stock lug nuts, as pretty as they are with their washers, design the wheels for tapered nuts with steel inserts.

[magno_grail]

Are tapered nuts available for 3/8 studs?
I changed to 12mm studs from a Land Rover Freelander with Ford Probe GT nuts.  Inexpensive and readily available.
If you are making "Lotus look" wheels you might consider altering the profile slightly to make fitting disc brakes easier. The rear wheels have the least clearance. I am using Wilwood Forged Dyna-Lite calipers and they will not fit in Lotus wheels. I have BWA alloys.
A 260 x 20mm vented disc in front with the FDL caliper has less than 1/16" clearance with the Lotus wheel.
A 256 x 9mm solid disc in the rear has 1/8" interference with the Lotus wheel.
The rear caliper would probably have to be a single piston sliding frame type to clear the Lotus wheel.

[literarymadness]

Hey if I am going to have a wish list.  It would be great is the Original Lotus Brand wheels could be made in a larger size to accommodate low profile tires while maintaining the original style.

[Pfreen]

Hey Lotus Supplies.  I would be in for 14” Lotus clone wheels (same offset) with tapered lug nuts for centering.
 These wheels would take care of the wheel centering problem, tire availability limitation with 13” wheels and allow Room for rear disc brakes, while keeping the original look.

Would these wheels be cast or forged?

Thanks.

[Bart]

Hi,

I am certainly interested in an original style wheel that would take a lower profile 14" tire, the 13" tires are limited in supply and from few manufacturers it seems.

If you decide to go in this direction LMK.

Thanks!

Bart.

[jbcollier]

They are looking for expressions of interest in new, original specification, alloy wheels.

[Pfreen]

I know that JB.  However, I am interested in 14” wheels to fix the problems with 13” oem wheels.

I don’t have interest in 13”oem wheels.  I already have them.

[Bart]

Same for me, I have the 13" wheels that are waiting for the time to be refurbished, and if there were 14" ones available I'd take them. I know its taking away some of the originality of the car, but I've already moved there with electronic ignition, electric fuel pump and Webbers etc.

Bart

[literarymadness]

If you are going to go with a non-original Reproduction, "why not" go with one that improves upon the original while maintaining the design integrity of the OEM.  But as others have said, I already own the OEMs, but I would like a low profile tire.

[tedtaylor]

maybe our petition should be to the tire companies?....to make a low profile option, as well as OEM sizes

[EuropaTC]

In the UK you can get lower profiles than the 70 series in 13" tyres, but from what I can see they're mainly 60 series tyres. And to get the same diameter as the 185/70 you'll need somewhere around 205/60 (which you can get) and even that's a touch smaller on diameter.  As most of you guys know, I went to 15" wheels to get a low profile and better choice of tyres, plus of course more space for larger disc brakes.

This will sound extremely negative but I doubt there's the market to re-introduce the Europa alloy.  If you're going after the owner who wants originality then it's the TC & TCS market and on "how many left ?" there were roughly 80 TCS, 90TC cars registered in the UK. (forum member Alex has the lion's share of the TCS    )  It's not a big market to go at. International sales would increase that of course, but there's added cost to the buyer and not every restoration is aimed at 100% originality - just look at us lot on this forum !

I can see the desire for a new 13" wheel and I suppose it depends what the minimum production run is required.  The price isn't unreasonable (£700/set ?) compared with modern car alloys so that's not a deal breaker, it's just how many folks would buy them.  When someone finally re-cast the TC head there was a pent-up demand already, but that head can sell to Lotus Elan/Elan+2/Europa and Ford owners so it's got a much larger market.

In conclusion I really, really DON'T want to pour cold water on anyone for re-introducing parts or supporting our cars,  I'm very pleased that someone is even considering the project.  What I wouldn't like is to see a stockpile of unsold wheels though, that doesn't help anyone.

Brian

[Rosco5000]

maybe our petition should be to the tire companies?....to make a low profile option, as well as OEM sizes

There are tires available, it seems no one likes paying the premium price to play with the right sized tires.  Petitioning the tire companies is just going to increase your choice of expensive tires, not a glut of cheap tires because non of the OEM manufacturers use those sizes anymore.  My recommendation is to run the Avon CR6ZZ, they are a fantastically balanced tire for Loti.  My plus 2 is a dream to drive on them and they have a good period correct tread pattern to top it off and available in all the right sizes.