Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

What is best reproduction chrome wire wheel for 1950's Packards? in regards to durability, closest to original appearance, chrome quality etc...? I have seen many brands advertised but no real info on quality, thanks

Good question. One other question I'd have on any wheel not sold by our regular outlets is would the Packard hubcap fit and stay on. Wasn't the look an issue with even some of our vendor repro wheels at one time -- or maybe still is -- the hubcap diameter being a bit on the large side for the covered hub area.

Yes, it's a good question. I don't know much about it but I do recall that the very earliest of the Kanter Bros. repro wheels required a non-stock hubcap which you ordered with the wheels. I believe their later wheels eliminated this problem and were true reproductions.

Honestly, it would be nice just to identify the true manufacturers of the several 55/56 wires, as separate from the sources that sell them.

I've been advised by Fred Kanter that my comment about some of their earlier wheels requiring non-stock caps is incorrect. Must have been some other vendor's wheels I was recalling. Fred's comment:

The wheels we have always sold used exact reproduction hubcaps or originals which are of course the same. due to production variations some wheel/hubcap combiantions required a thin rubber o ring under the lip of the cap, included and invisible

Vintage Wire Wheel of Fresno, Ca did manufacture wire wheels which were silicone-sealed to allow tubeless tires, but I don't believe they are still in business. At one time they rebuilt wire wheels also as my 400 wheels were rebuilt by them in '95. They were unique in using stainless nipples on both rebuilds and manufactured wheels.

Randy, if you know, what's the story on the spoke count? At least one of the replica wheels didn't have the correct spoke count but I don't recall the details.

Packard wheels were made by MOTOR WHEEL and had 52 spokes. Kelsey-Hayes had fewer spokes. Vintage Wire Wheel had 52 spokes, but are not identical to MOTOR WHEEL. You can spot the differences if you know what to look for.