This section covers the supporting hardware that every wire-wheel-equipped classic MG needs, the centre-lock spinner that holds the wheel onto the hub, the tools that tighten and release it, the rim-protection components that keep the inner tube serviceable, and the cleaning and maintenance items that wire wheels uniquely require. Wire wheel ownership brings specific service requirements that bolt-on disc wheels do not, and regular maintenance is not optional, as neglected splines, corroded spinners, and loose spokes all pose genuine safety risks.
Spinners, Spanners & Hammers
The centre-lock spinner is the threaded cap that draws the wheel onto the splined hub and holds it in position during driving, and the threads are handed, left-hand on the left-hand side of the car and right-hand on the right, so that forward motion tightens the spinner rather than loosening it, making the hand of the spinner critical, as fitting the wrong side means the spinner progressively unscrews under driving with the obvious consequence. Spinners are stocked in chrome and stainless steel, in two-eared and octagonal patterns, and the correct tool depends on the type. Copper and hide-faced hammers are the traditional means of tightening and releasing eared knock-on spinners, the soft face transferring the blow without bruising the chrome or distorting the ears that a steel hammer would damage, while a two-ear spanner offers a leverage alternative for home-workshop use, and the octagonal spinner spanner is the specific tool for cars supplied with octagonal spinners, which cannot be fitted or released with a hammer. A spinner saver slips over a two-ear knock-on to spread the impact and protect the ears during tightening, a practical investment for owners who remove the wheels regularly.
Rim Bands, Tape & Spline Grease
Rim bands are a wire-wheel-specific tube-protection item, as unlike a pressed-steel disc wheel a wire wheel's rim well has the inner ends of the spokes projecting into the tyre cavity, and an inner tube fitted directly over these spoke nuts would chafe and puncture within a few miles, so the rim band is a protective strip fitted around the inside of the rim before the tube is installed, available in 14-inch and 15-inch sizes to suit the different wheel diameters across the range, with rim tape as an alternative or supplement. Note that modern tubeless wire wheels do not require rim bands or tubes, so these items are for owners maintaining original tubed wheels. Spline grease should be applied to the hub adaptor splines at least annually, and more frequently on cars driven regularly in wet conditions, as water ingress past the spinner washes grease from the splines and dry metal-on-metal contact under acceleration and braking loads causes progressive wear that shortens the life of both wheel and hub, the characteristic sharp knocking sound when pulling away or braking being the telltale sign of dry or worn splines.
Cleaning, Spoke Keys & Hub Renewal
A wire-wheel cleaning brush is sized and shaped to reach between the laced spokes, into the hub area behind them, and into the rim well, the places where brake dust and road dirt accumulate worst and where a standard sponge simply slides over the outer spokes, with regular cleaning particularly important on chrome wire wheels which are prone to pitting if brake dust and road salt are allowed to stand. Spoke keys allow individual spokes to be tightened, though truing a wire wheel is a specialist operation that should only be attempted with experience and the correct equipment, and spoke condition should be checked periodically by running a finger along each spoke and listening for a consistent ring, a dull thud indicating a loose spoke that needs attention before it leads to progressive failure. The splined hubs themselves are stocked for owners renewing worn splines or converting from disc-wheel hubs, the only proper solution to rounded-off splines being renewal of both hub and wheel, and wheel chocks are an essential safety item when changing centre-lock wheels, as loosening a spinner requires the wheel held stationary, which cannot be done safely on a jack alone without the opposite wheel chocked.