Chrome wire wheels are the most visually striking wheel option available for the Midget, offering the classic British sports car appearance that has defined the marque since the 1960s. The wheels use 60-spoke construction in the standard 4x13 inch size, with chrome plating applied over the steel hub, spokes, and rim to a BS1224 automotive standard.
Wheel Specification
The quality and longevity of the chrome finish depends on both the plating specification and ongoing maintenance. Road salt, brake dust, and atmospheric moisture all attack chrome plating, and the complex geometry of 60 individual spokes provides ample surface area for corrosion to take hold. Regular washing to remove salt deposits, followed by application of a quality chrome polish, is essential to maintain the finish, particularly during winter months when salt exposure is highest. A chrome wire wheel that is neglected over a single winter can develop pitting that no amount of subsequent polishing will remove.
Wire Wheels
The strength of a wire wheel is determined by the condition and tension of its spokes. Spokes can become loose over time, and their anchor points within the rim can vibrate and elongate. A wire wheel with loose spokes should not be driven on, as it poses a safety risk, the load distribution across the remaining tight spokes is uneven, and further spoke failures can cascade rapidly. Specialist wire wheel servicing can restore a wheel with minor spoke looseness, though if multiple spokes are loose or the rim has distorted, replacement is the more practical option.