New road wheels from ESM

[dewaraj]

Has any members bought new wheels from ESM. My 1972 Morris is in very good original condition, rust free except for 2 of the wheels. I am interested to know if anyone has bought these wheels and if the are pleased with the quality of them.
Thanks

[bmcecosse]

Welcome to the forum....if you just want standard wheels - there are always plenty to be had on here - just ask - maybe even FREE !! If you are considering the wider 4.5" wheels, then you really should be getting 4 (or even 5) of them to keep the balance - not an inexpensive purchase....but they do allow the use of 155 X 14 tyres.

[dewaraj]

Thanks for the reply, I should have explained I stay north of Inverness and to have a set of wheels refurbished locally I was quoted £350, hence a new set from ESM seemed a good purchase if the quality is good.
Thanks

[Jefftav]

The Highland Classic Car Club got a deal with "The Wheel Specialist"in Inverness who refurbed 4 alloys for £250. They are on shore street near the railway bridge. They have done quite few of the members wheels and I have only heard good reports plus they can do a number of finishes.

Worth a call anyway before you order new wheels and pay for delivery.

[Boomlander]

I purchased a set of five 4 1/2J rims from ESM and the paint started falling off within a few months.
Underneath the thin top coat was bare rusty metal - no primer! beware!!

[bmcecosse]

You can 'refurb' a set of Minor wheels yourself - very inexpensively! Knotted wire brush in an angle grinder to remove old/loose paint. Then undercoat and finish with 50/50 mix of white and magnolia Dulux Gloss ! £350 is rip-off madness....as is 'powder coating' which is likely to chip off first time you fit a balance weight....

[alexmcguffie]

Some powder coaters use a zinc base which does chip. If the powder coat is applied to freshly sand blasted steel - so it is well keyed - then it will last for years. My wheels have lasted well for 15 years so far. I know people who've tried to strip powder coating of classic bike bits and it needs to be burnt off.

[kevin s]

not had much luck myself with powder coating on alloys, the corrosion seems to run underneath it, i find an etch primer followed by topcoat works best, t may be different for steel though.

In my experince with steel wheels the cheapest way to re-furb them is find someone to sandblast them (not usually to expensive) then prime with zinc paint followed by topcoats, can be brushed or sprayed, agricultural enamel such as Teamac works well and is tough.

kevin

[Neil MG]

I bought the wider wheels from ESM. It should be noted they are sold as "second" quality. I had to shot blast and repaint them as the supplied finish would not have lasted. Same problem as described above; poor paint adhesion and surface rust under paint. If I wanted standard size wheels I could have just blasted and painted the old ones. I would also see if there is a local blaster who can blast and prime them. You can use an aerosol or brush for the top coat.

[1098]

Well,all the posts re ESM 4.5 wheels are interesting. I was thinking of buying a set myself.
I have five original 4.5 wheels. They need shot blasting,then painting,but I will have them powder coated.
The safety rim on ESM's wheels really attracted them to me. Having said that,I have driven many miles on
original 4.5 J's,with tubeless tyres. I don't doubt ESM's commitment to supplying a safe wheel, but the
negative feedback re these wheels,has kind of put me off. When I speak to people re these wheels,the
reply's are always the same - they're ok... but !

[samuria]

just had a set of wheels done for my riley 1500. (same as morris minor)
my mate andrew did them. they had been powder coated before.
he had to use different grades of sand to remove the coating
so blasted/primed/topcoat was a bit more than usual
all of £30 for the 4 [frame][/frame]

[bmcecosse]

You got a good deal there.

[dewaraj]

Thanks to all who have responded to my original enquiry about ESM wheels, I think I'll give them a miss. I have found a local chap (Brae Classics Strathpeffer) who will shot blast, prime and paint in two pack for £30 per wheel, this incudes removing/refitting and balancing tyres. He has looked at my wheels and thinks they will come up okay.

[bmcecosse]

£150 to have wheels painted.....geeezzzzzz I did mine in a sunny afternoon! They look grand...

[whyperion]

When painting , with the wire cup brushes trying to get into the little seam from inner wheel to outer I find very difficult. Tyre chaps around here in London want £10+ to take off and refit tyres + balance, so I don't mind £40 for new wheels that would last 20 years plus of taking off hub caps. I would only put steel wheels on the present day family fleet.

[bmcecosse]

Just pop your own tyres off - and rebalance is easy...

[alexmcguffie]

Only takes half an hour!