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Re: Minilite clones - any experience or recommendations?

To: "Dean Mericas" <dmericas@limno.com>, <triumphs@autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: Minilite clones - any experience or recommendations?
From: "Phil Ethier" <pethier@isd.net>
Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 21:49:46 -0600
References: <325A7659E6271447B8E770073EEEC307019EF663@LTI-MAIL.limno.com>
> Panasport - seems to be the defacto standard mag wheel on LBCs in the US,
so
> everybody and their brother has them.

Mostly because they are true, well-finished, well-balanced and
commonly-available.  I have several friends running them on several
different kinds of cars.  I have not heard any complaints.  One fellow has
had the spokes and centers painted to match his Lotus.  The rims have been
highly polished.  They are stunning.

Panasport also makes a peg-drive center-lock wheel to fit Elan and Plus 2
cars as well as the few Europas converted to take them.  The only Triumph
connection there is that I have to believe that Spitfires could be converted
to take them.

The standard 4-bolt Panasport would be my first choice.  They come in a
standard and a light weight, I believe.  For your use, I wouldn't pay extra
for the lighter ones.

> I assume this is the wheel that Moss
> carries.  They require a special lug nut that Moss wants $6 each for, but
is
> available elsewhere for a lot less.

The ones I have seen on Loti seem to have the standard tapered seat.   This
is a boon to us, as Brand Lotus Europa alloys are notoriously approximate in
their centering.  Several folks have had a lot less wheel-balancing
frustration after changing over to the Panasports.

I have seats which I think are similar to Panasport on my BWA Sportstar
wheels on my Lotus.  I use ordinary off-the-shelf lug nuts from the
car-parts store. I would be astonished if a paid as much as a buck for each.
I suggest you look at a set of Panasports to see if there is any reason to
use a trick nut.

> KN - The least expensive of the lot, and I gather this is what Vicky Brit
> and other parts houses are selling as Minilite clones.  The KN wheels I've
> seen in photos look a bit unrefined., but it could just be bad
photography.

It's not just bad photography.  The KN Minator wheels are not as
highly-finished as the Panasport.  They do offer a version to fit the Rudge
knockoffs used on wire-wheel Triumphs, but these are fairly pricey.

I just heard about the

I just heard about ROTA RB wheels which have the same look, but I don't know
anything about them.

Phil Ethier  West Side  Saint Paul  Minnesota  USA
1970 Lotus Europa 65/2597, 1992 Saturn SL2, 1993 Suburban, 1962 TR4 CT2846L
pethier@isd.net  http://www.mnautox.com/  http://www.lotusowners.com
"Drifting is the synchronized swimming of auto competitions."  -Gene Bennett



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