[ROVERNET - UK] Wheels - Lots of info...

[Kent Kinard]

On further reflection, I find the idea of patent avoidance 
very interesting.  Since the MG wheels had only four 
spokes, RO may not have had the potential problem with 
patents held by Motor Wheel.  I conceed that at some point 
the patent issue could have been resolved clearing the way 
for RO to use the cheaper and more reliable welded 
construction.  My next bit will be to take a closer look 
at the 15" RO-styles fitted to the P5B and see how they 
are put together.  We know precisely when these were 
introduced at the beginning of P5B production in the fall 
of '67 and continuing through the end of P5B production.

Roverly,
Kent K.

On Fri, 04 Aug 2006 11:08:45 -0500
  "Kent Kinard" <kkinard at wcc.net> wrote:
> Hi Fletcher et al.,
> Even I'm beginning to get confused on this.  I like the 
>comment that "parts on cars take precedent", so this is 
>what I have or have had in the way of parts.
> 
> I have hubs with 1/2 " studs and 4 3/4" bolt circle.
> 
> I have had, but cannot now locate, at least one steel 
>wheel with welded center which matches these hubs.
> 
> I can find no evidence from catalogue or OEM data that 
>indicates that Motor Wheel ever made a steel Magnum 500 
>in anything other than 4 1/2 and 4 3/4 inch bolt circles. 
>Studs and nuts may have varied, but all the Rover Magnum 
> 500 I have seen were welded centers and large studs.
> 
> Assumption:  If Motor Wheel had made a Magnum 500 with a 
>5" circle, Rover would have bought them and saved the 
>expense of machining the hubs for an odd (other than 5") 
>bolt patern.  Magstar production was such that the 
>centers could simply be machined to a particular bolt 
>patern, thus Rover ordered them to fit the stock 5" bolt 
>patern hubs. 5" Magnum 500 would have required a special 
>stamping 
> which would have driven the price of the wheels up 
>considerably.   From the small volume of Magnum 500 and 
>the short time they were available, it would seem they 
>were a sort of stop-gap.  The decision to offer styled 
>wheels evidently came from sales and probably from North 
>America and the styled wheels were a popular option. 
>Magnum 500 and Magstar were never offered outside North 
> America.  I think Vern's research tends to point in this 
>direction.
> 
> All the Rover RO-stlyes I have ever seen or owned (I 
>have about 20 wheels in stock now) had a 5" bolt circle 
>and were rivetted construction.  I have never looked 
>closely at RO-styles for any other vehicle (MG, etc.) and 
>my reference should have been to Rover wheels only.   I 
>would like to see  a set of RO stamped Rover wheels with 
>welded construction.  They may exist.  I just haven't 
>seen any. I would like to see a Magnum 500 with a 5" bolt 
>circle. 
> They may exist.  Ford did offer the Magnum 500 at the 
>same time that some Mustangs had a 5" bolt circle.  I 
>doubt they were offered in combination. I just haven't 
>seen any.
> 
> There is a slight difference in the relationship between 
>rim and center on the welded wheel vis a vis the rivetted 
>wheel.  I seem to remember the welded wheel having a 
>deeper "dish."
> 
> Bottom line:  If your wheels fit your hubs and you are 
>happy, then I am happy.  If you are ordering used or new 
>wheels, make sure they fit the hubs you have before you 
>pay.
> 
> And never, never send anything out of the US by way of 
>USPS.   Peter Mitchell's bonnet badge is lost somewhere 
>between Texas and Western Australia.  If I have seemed 
>testy, I appologise.
> 
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