57SC icon

1936 Bugatti Atlantic Replica Project
- Wheels & Tires - RABUGGI

The 57SC original's wheel rim size is 18 x 5.5 in. front, 18 x 6.5 in. rear. We'll design for 18 in. rims (7 or 8 inch width) with cross laced wires for a Euro '30s look, with a 235/50 x 18 tire section. Modern radial laced wires also could be appropriate in spirit, since the Bugatti type 59 of the early '30s had radial wire wheels (the "piano wires").

Apologies to the Bugatti purists. Yes, these style wheels are not particularly correct. Modern wheel and tire section is one of our intentional deviations from a true 57SC replica.

OE and proposed wheel sections [S10 bolt pattern is 5 x 120.65 (5 x 4.75), 12mm x 1.5 studs]...
OE and proposed wheel sections

OE and proposed wheel sections overlaid with tire sections...

OE and new wheel sections

This size should have no serious issues with the S10 chassis and suspension. We have control over the fenders. 0 to 10 mm offset would be acceptable.


[02-08-07] Wheels acquired. Here's what we're proceeding with...

18x8 section 0 offset wheel front face wheel back face

wheels & tires
[02-22-07] Wheels with the 235/50 - R18 tires

Some observations in the course of buying wire wheels...

With the exception of Dayton (Ohio) and Zenith (California), it appears that all the other brands of wire wheels found on the internet (ie: Cruiser, Gangster, LA, Luxor, MOB, OG, Player, Pinnacle, Roadster, Supreme) are imported from China.

The wheels I ordered from "Insane Sounds N Customz" are OG brand. They were drop shipped from OG Wire Wheels in Santa Fe Springs, CA. The rims and hubs inside are stamped "YDH". A Google for _ydh wheels_ finds:  Ningbo YingDaHuang Machinery Co., Ltd. [link NLA] ("Universal Luxury Collections Group"), listing wire wheel products [link NLA].

My guess is that all these wheel brands import their product from YDH, AITL, or possibly Wheel India Limited, and market them under a name deemed suitable for their particular demographic target.

Some wire wheel brands
Dayton
Luxor
OG
Pinnacle
Player
Zenith
     
Some wire wheel on-line resources
CustomWheelsDirect.com (Santee, CA)
H & H Wheels (Sacramento, CA)
Insane Sounds N Customz (Brooksville, FL)
Super Buy Tires (Bellflower, CA)
Wheel Technical Information (R & S Racing)

57SC Home Donor S10/Chassis Wheels/Tires Body Pattern Body Molds
Body Parts Hood/Radiator Systems/Wiring Glazing/Finishing Interior

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