MTFCA Forum

I know a lady whose late husband collected Model A parts - she has a couple of barns full of just about anything you can imagine. One thing I noticed is a whole bunch of wire wheels. I understand some people adapt them to fit a model T - not that I'm interested in them for my 1917 but maybe a set would be good to have for a potential future project. Anybody care to share their experience or opinion on the subject?

What is the possibility that some of those are Model T wire wheels?

Google; model a wheels on a model t. Click on the top link, The 2015 post has some pictures of adapters, some nice work.

Model A wheels do not look right on a model T.

Dave,
Unlikely. The husband disassembled a bunch of Model A’s. I looked for T parts but didn’t see any. I WISH it was Model T stuff...there is so much of it.

Here a some previous MTFCA discussions about the two
Fitment
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/80 ... 1247500698
Difference
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/50 ... 1440458505
Hub Conversion
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/17 ... 1299549165

If you decide to buy the Model A wheels, don't pay much because they aren't worth much.

I need a Model-A wheel for my speedster spare, what are they worth?

$50-100 depending on condition

Like real estate, value depends on location, location, location.
the 28-29 wheels have a rolled round "edge" on them, and if you are in a winter salt area, they can rust out from the inside. Also there are "AR" wheels used in the first months of production that are hard to find. The 30-31 wheels don't have a rolled round edge, so are easier to inspect. Both wheels do sometimes crack on the inner flange, as do the T wheels. The T wheels are formed differently, and fairly easy to spot.
I disagree with the "No Value" statement. Depends on condition. Really nice ones are becoming hard to find! BUT, I do have a personal "stash" of some, including T ones. I bought the T ones as a stack o' wheels and an A wheel was on top of the stack, so I paid "A" prices (yes, I will grant you that T wheels are worth more than A wheels-in the right market). And, yes, I knew there were T wheels in the stack when the guy priced them. Should I have said something, probably, but I am known to be CHEAP! (not Frugal) and he was just clearing out the junk his Dad left behind (likely for drug money). The wheels were in high grass and I was not the first person there, nor even the first week of selling, so. . . . what would you have done?

The easy way to identify any A model rim is to check the hub.

A frequent problem with wire wheels is cracking between the stud holes on the flat base of the hub
The A model wheels have a teinforcing ridge, pressed outwards beteen each stud hole. That ridge is common to all A model wheels.
Allan from down under.

Pictures of the front wheel model A wheel adapters.
The wheels are probably stronger because of being designed for 40 HP.
I will post the rear picture when I have a wheel off.
I bought a set of wood split rim wheels for the 25 picku and am going back to them so that I can put the Model A wheels back on the Model A.

Model A wheels are stronger when they are on a Model A. When they are on a T, they can and will flex more than when on an A due to improper support provided by every adapter I've seen (and in full disclosure, I am sure I haven't seen them all). My wife and I rode in a '26 touring with 4 people and it was such a handful with the rear swaying, my wife refused to return to the fellow's home in the car (and I didn't fight her on that). We each found a spare seat in other cars for the return trip and I didn't feel the need to hang on for dear life. They're probably great on speedsters or cars with 2 passengers, but fully loaded, the rear can sway so hard, that the driver has to constantly counter steer.

The owner who was new to Ts, found and fit up correct wire wheels and was amazed at how tame the car became. Sometimes this stuff isn't exactly intuitive.

FWIW - not saying folks shouldn't do it if they really feel the need...just that I wouldn't with the adapters presently available.

This thread gives very good insight to the shortcomings of adapter plates vs correct design: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/17 ... 1317081943

Scott has got that right. The A wheels were never made to be mounted the way they are with the adapters I have seen, just plain wrong. There is a way that will work.
21" A wheels are around 25-35 around here.