the_tool_man
Gold forum user
- Messages
- 196
What was commonly used for a Tiger spare? My car came without one. I was thinking of picking up a used Alpine steel wheel for a spare.
Thanks in advance,
John.
Thanks in advance,
John.
Tiger spare wheel
- Thread starter the_tool_man
- Start date
Use Tiger Wheel for Spare
John,
Tigers did come with a spare wheel. It was steel and identical to the other four original steel wheels.
There is a difference between the Tiger and the Alpine steel wheels, with the Alpine being weaker than the Tiger wheel. Many folks recommended not to run a Tiger on Alpine wheels, due to this. I have no idea how long an Alpine wheel would last if used temporarily as a spare.
The original LAT aluminum wheels, being 5.5" wide, are too wide to fit under the trunk deck.
David
John,
Tigers did come with a spare wheel. It was steel and identical to the other four original steel wheels.
There is a difference between the Tiger and the Alpine steel wheels, with the Alpine being weaker than the Tiger wheel. Many folks recommended not to run a Tiger on Alpine wheels, due to this. I have no idea how long an Alpine wheel would last if used temporarily as a spare.
The original LAT aluminum wheels, being 5.5" wide, are too wide to fit under the trunk deck.
David
- Messages
- 2,968
Observation
Strange, but; although I can see a difference in the steel wheel stampings, there does not appear to be any structural reason for a difference in strength?? Any enlightened engineers out there ?
Strange, but; although I can see a difference in the steel wheel stampings, there does not appear to be any structural reason for a difference in strength?? Any enlightened engineers out there ?
Warren
Gold forum user
- Messages
- 3,872
Weld em
I often wonder why the Alpine / Tiger wheel could not have a hub side weld to make someone feel safe while driving on them.
I would love to see the facts and comparison between the two wheels.
Not to bash the mother of all our pets, but I would bet that they would not have spent more to create a Tiger specific wheel.
I often wonder why the Alpine / Tiger wheel could not have a hub side weld to make someone feel safe while driving on them.
I would love to see the facts and comparison between the two wheels.
Not to bash the mother of all our pets, but I would bet that they would not have spent more to create a Tiger specific wheel.
Last edited:
the_tool_man
Gold forum user
- Messages
- 196
If someone can post photos of both, I'd like to see how they're different.
Stock Steel Wheels
My understanding is that Rootes added some stiffeners to the Tiger steel wheels. There was nothing extra welded on, it was how the hub portion was (I assume) stamped.
Here is a photo of a stock wheel for my MkII. The Rootes parts book for Tigers lists only one wheel (part number 1214930), so there is no difference between the MkII wheels and the earlier Tigers, except for painting. I don't have any photos of an Alpine wheel without the hub cap. Maybe someone else could post a photo of the stock Alpine wheel. I also do not have any part number for the Alpine wheels.
By the way, while Rootes made the Tiger steel wheels stronger, they have been known to fail under very hard use. SCCA will not allow stock Tiger steel wheels to run in their events.
David
My understanding is that Rootes added some stiffeners to the Tiger steel wheels. There was nothing extra welded on, it was how the hub portion was (I assume) stamped.
Here is a photo of a stock wheel for my MkII. The Rootes parts book for Tigers lists only one wheel (part number 1214930), so there is no difference between the MkII wheels and the earlier Tigers, except for painting. I don't have any photos of an Alpine wheel without the hub cap. Maybe someone else could post a photo of the stock Alpine wheel. I also do not have any part number for the Alpine wheels.
By the way, while Rootes made the Tiger steel wheels stronger, they have been known to fail under very hard use. SCCA will not allow stock Tiger steel wheels to run in their events.
David
the_tool_man
Gold forum user
- Messages
- 196
Thanks for the picture, HolyCat.
Looking at the one photo I have of an Alpine wheel, they appear identical. Perhaps Tiger wheels are thicker?
Looking at the one photo I have of an Alpine wheel, they appear identical. Perhaps Tiger wheels are thicker?
- Messages
- 4,325
If i understand correctly there have been quite a few SV Alpines that seem to have the "tiger" steel wheels.. you would assuem at some point they just standardised the wheel with the strengthening ribs near the lugs.
As for not using Alpine wheels on Tigers.. I think they would be fine if you are just driving around normally.. i think as per the owners manual.. they are not intended for competition use.. and given anyone runnign around on stock wheels these days tend to use them for show.. or very gentle driving.. i would not be that concerned.. but as always.. at your own risk.
As for not using Alpine wheels on Tigers.. I think they would be fine if you are just driving around normally.. i think as per the owners manual.. they are not intended for competition use.. and given anyone runnign around on stock wheels these days tend to use them for show.. or very gentle driving.. i would not be that concerned.. but as always.. at your own risk.
- Messages
- 4,325
Tiger wheels are date stamped as well... as for supplier.. you would assume the same.. but never know.
- Messages
- 35
Alpine and Tiger steel wheel, side by side, the only thing that sticks out is the size of the counter sink for the acorn nut is way larger on one then the other. Also the one with the smaller counter sink has a little stamped gusset/rib above the hole. Hope that helps.
- Messages
- 462
steel wheels
I've always been told that the gusseted steel wheel with the smaller lug bosses came on the later cars and the wheel without the gussets but the bigger bosses was the earlier version.
I also had the impression that there was no distinction between alpine and tiger steel wheels, only early and late versions.
I have a mk1a and a mk2 tiger and they both had the later version steel wheel used for the spare. I have had a couple of mk5 alpines and they all came with the later version wheels that sure seemed to be identical to the tiger spares.
I once had a mk4 alpine and it the earlier version big bossed wheel.
regards
Bob
I've always been told that the gusseted steel wheel with the smaller lug bosses came on the later cars and the wheel without the gussets but the bigger bosses was the earlier version.
I also had the impression that there was no distinction between alpine and tiger steel wheels, only early and late versions.
I have a mk1a and a mk2 tiger and they both had the later version steel wheel used for the spare. I have had a couple of mk5 alpines and they all came with the later version wheels that sure seemed to be identical to the tiger spares.
I once had a mk4 alpine and it the earlier version big bossed wheel.
regards
Bob
- Messages
- 35
That could be, the small lug wheel came off a series v I parted out, both my mk I Tigers had the large lug wheels
- Messages
- 1,942
wheel
look at the date code stamped on the two wheels you posted photos of. it will be easy to tell when they were made and will be proof of which is the earlier wheel. starting in late 1967 another version of the wheel went into production. they eliminated the welded on ball to hold the hubcap and changed to a center stamping that had tabs pressed in to hold the cap. when i crashed my alpine in 1970 and we had to buy a wheel, this new version was all that was available from the dealers.
look at the date code stamped on the two wheels you posted photos of. it will be easy to tell when they were made and will be proof of which is the earlier wheel. starting in late 1967 another version of the wheel went into production. they eliminated the welded on ball to hold the hubcap and changed to a center stamping that had tabs pressed in to hold the cap. when i crashed my alpine in 1970 and we had to buy a wheel, this new version was all that was available from the dealers.
the_tool_man
Gold forum user
- Messages
- 196
1978-1993, to be exact. I'm quite familiar with this option, as a former Mustang owner. I'm actually considering using a steel "spacesaver spare" from this era, as the narrower width would mean more trunk space. My car has no spare cover box, so I can make it anything I want.
Regards,
John.
Last edited:
- Messages
- 35
Tiger wheels stamped 64, Alpine wheels stamped 66
- Messages
- 207
spare
If you're not looking for something vintage "correct", just a functional spare tire, I found a real nice space saver spare with an aluminum rim in a 2000's T-Bird at the junk yard that has the same OD as the Tiger 13" tires, right bolt pattern, weighs almost nothing, and takes up less trunk space than a conventional rim.
If you're not looking for something vintage "correct", just a functional spare tire, I found a real nice space saver spare with an aluminum rim in a 2000's T-Bird at the junk yard that has the same OD as the Tiger 13" tires, right bolt pattern, weighs almost nothing, and takes up less trunk space than a conventional rim.
cobrakidz
Gold forum user
- Messages
- 2,289
1974-1978 were Mustangs II's, 1979-1993 were Fox bodies.
Same here, but to match my 15 inch alloys setup, I am using a space saver from a UK Peugeot 206, same wheel stud pattern and gives me more room in the boot for my foreign trips. More importantly it clears the the Brembo four pot calipers on the front
They are about $30 from a breakers yard in the UK.