Wire wheel ownership on the MGB brings maintenance requirements that steel and alloy wheels do not, spoke tension, nipple corrosion, rim band condition, and inner tube integrity all need periodic attention to keep the wheels safe and presentable. On a car that may have covered thousands of miles on its original spokes, the condition of individual spokes and their nipples directly affects the structural integrity of the wheel.
Replacement spokes and stainless steel spoke nipples are available for rebuilding or repairing wire wheels where individual spokes have corroded, broken, or lost tension. Stainless nipples resist the corrosion that seizes standard plated nipples to the rim over time, making future truing and servicing considerably easier. Rim bands protect the inner tube from the spoke nipple heads protruding inside the rim, a perished or missing rim band will puncture the inner tube and should always be inspected when tyres are changed. Inner tubes in the correct specification are available for tubed wire wheel applications, all new tubeless-design wire wheels from MGOC Spares do not require inner tubes or rim bands.
A wire wheel cleaning brush is designed to reach between the spokes and into the rim well where brake dust and road grime collect, areas that are difficult to clean effectively with standard brushes and which, left unattended, cause the progressive discolouration that ages an otherwise well-presented wheel.