63 Wire Wheels????
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 99
Likes: 8
From: Houston Tx
63 Wire Wheels????
Just looking for a little advice or opinions....I am now the owner of my father's 63. He was the 2nd owner and bought the car back in 1981. I am all about keeping things semi original or bringing them back on parts of the car that can be seen. My father had the car in Cali since 88' and it was pretty much a driver for him. I am not trying to win any awards or things like but what do you guys think of these rims? I have seen a couple cars at auction that had them. Very few though
Last edited by bigkat; Dec 1, 2009 at 10:34 PM. Reason: .
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,557
Likes: 224
From: Manitowoc WI
If you like them, keep them, it's your Corvette. Many years ago my fellow Vette owners kept telling me I had to get rid of my knock off wheels and put some "Americans with big meat tires" on. Forty years later the knock offs are still there and I still like the way they look on my car.
Enjoy the car, it looks like a sharp ride (I think the wires look good).
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 8,067
Likes: 315
From: Central Florida
Wire wheels and Corvettes go back a ways, as the Corvette did try to capture the European flavor during the early sixties, remember the Jag had wire wheels. I think on the red Vert they look great, and if thats what your Dad had, well I guess I would keep it that way too.
White walls or back, don't matter to me, as I have seen them both ways. The only thing I don't like about wire wheels is cleaning them and if you don't they do look lousy, so you got to spend the time to detail them to keep them looking good. But in a way you have drum brakes so you only get road dirt not brake dust, so that is a plus.
I like them...you really don't see many midyears with the wire wheel look....
White walls or back, don't matter to me, as I have seen them both ways. The only thing I don't like about wire wheels is cleaning them and if you don't they do look lousy, so you got to spend the time to detail them to keep them looking good. But in a way you have drum brakes so you only get road dirt not brake dust, so that is a plus.
I like them...you really don't see many midyears with the wire wheel look....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 9,015
Likes: 331
From: Southeast Missouri
I always thought the wire wheels were classy, back in the 60's I would have liked to have had the spare cash to have run a set on my '63. But, I was lucky just to have enough to acquire the car and buy gas, much less splurge on wheels.
I'd personally stay with the whitewalls, looks more period correct in my opinion. Either way, it's a great looking combination!!
I'd personally stay with the whitewalls, looks more period correct in my opinion. Either way, it's a great looking combination!!
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 13,671
Likes: 14
From: Down on the bayou in south Louisiana
St. Jude Donor '10
Wheels are not permanent. Keep them for now and if you see something you like better, change them out. I've always been partial to a nice set of Craigers or Americans.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 19,777
Likes: 4,592
From: Canada's capital
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C1 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I'm looking for a set of wires for my 62, love the look. I had a Jag xk140 with 16in wires and have been hooked eversince. But dump the whites, if you doubt it take a digital photo of your 63 from the side and black out the whites in plotoshop and save them side by side and go back and forth in a slide show to compare. Blackwalls make the wires pop.
_______________
______________
_______________
______________
Last edited by Kerrmudgeon; Dec 2, 2009 at 09:44 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 19,777
Likes: 4,592
From: Canada's capital
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C1 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Mark, the above pic is a shopped version of the posters car not mine, and he says that his Dad put them on years ago. Various makes available, Kelsey-Hayes, Truspoke, Vintiques, etc., but, they are all pricey. However since you are both in Texas, maybe you could work out a deal.......?
_____________________________
________________
_____________
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
Picture worth 1000 words
These are real Knock-offs and all the above comments apply...You can wash the Vette in 10 minutes or less and then devote a hour or two to clean the wires....these are the same brand as the 'Route 66' Vettes and where I got the idea to use them on three different Vettes 61-63
PS, The the Blackwalls are best way...1962 when new is the White walls and today with the Blacks...
PS, The the Blackwalls are best way...1962 when new is the White walls and today with the Blacks...
Last edited by Ironcross; Dec 2, 2009 at 06:30 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,557
Likes: 224
From: Manitowoc WI
These are real Knock-offs and all the above comments apply...You can wash the Vette in 10 minutes or less and then devote a hour or two to clean the wires....these are the same brand as the 'Route 66' Vettes and where I got the idea to use them on three different Vettes 61-63
PS, The the Blackwalls are best way...1962 when new is the White walls and today with the Blacks...
PS, The the Blackwalls are best way...1962 when new is the White walls and today with the Blacks...
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 99
Likes: 8
From: Houston Tx
Pops bought the car in 81 and they were on there. Back then I do not think there was so much research into a cars history. People do like them and I kind of like the white walls because that is all I have come to know with the car. I have one the will not balance and it is tough enough just to find someone who has a machine, even in Houston to do it. Took it to a Hip Hop Rims (24" chromes and stuff) place but they would not let me bring the car in their garage. Insurance would not cover. Had to put the car on stands and bring them in.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,317
Likes: 111
From: St Louis MO
Bigkat, those wire wheels look great, and so do the tires!
What brand are they? They look very similar to some I had on a Cadi, but the downside was that they often broke spokes and sometimes caused leaks in the required tire tubes.
Other than that, kept clean, they are awesome!
__________________
1978 Corvette
406 SBC AFR heads Lunati roller Quadrajet TH-350 3.08
11.59 sec / 118.9 mph 1/4 mile
What brand are they? They look very similar to some I had on a Cadi, but the downside was that they often broke spokes and sometimes caused leaks in the required tire tubes.
Other than that, kept clean, they are awesome!
__________________
1978 Corvette
406 SBC AFR heads Lunati roller Quadrajet TH-350 3.08
11.59 sec / 118.9 mph 1/4 mile
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 99
Likes: 8
From: Houston Tx
I did some searching as well looking for someone to tighten the one up that would not balance. No such luck but too me they almost look identical to a wire rim from the Jags or MGB's of the day. I still love the looks my buddies have on their faces when I start swinging the lead and taking them off!!!!
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 99
Likes: 8
From: Houston Tx
If you can believe it and not the safest thing, my father has had those tires on the car since he bought it in 81. He was the 2nd owner and the car had 29K on it when he bought it. They are just MIchelin 205/75/15..........I am starting the search for some new ones but love the glossy side walls
Thanks for the comps
Thanks for the comps
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 9,556
Likes: 288
From: Granbury Texas
In 1963 I saw a red Split Window Fuelie Corvette coupe at a race in Mansfield, Louisiana with BORRANI wire wheels. It looked KILLER!!! I met the owner at a San Jacinto Corvette Club meeting in 1966, and tried to buy his car. He was asking $4000 for a 3 year old car without warranty. Instead, I bought a brand new 1967 427/400hp coupe with a 5 year 50,000 mile warranty for (only) $4800.00.
While on the test drive of the 63 Fuelie car with Borranis, I noticed severe wire wheel talking or wire popping noises in turns. This is "typical" for wire wheels....(I also had a wire wheel Jaguar). This leads to constant (expensive) wheel maintenance.
SO.............If you are looking for looks ONLY.........Buy Them!!!
However, if your Corvette is a driver.........especially with peformance pretentions, then use an other (steel or alloy) wheel......Honest!
While on the test drive of the 63 Fuelie car with Borranis, I noticed severe wire wheel talking or wire popping noises in turns. This is "typical" for wire wheels....(I also had a wire wheel Jaguar). This leads to constant (expensive) wheel maintenance.
SO.............If you are looking for looks ONLY.........Buy Them!!!
However, if your Corvette is a driver.........especially with peformance pretentions, then use an other (steel or alloy) wheel......Honest!