14 replies to this topic

[Juju]

Hello my lovelies.
I've been searching for tips to refurb my GT's steelies, but all the searches come up with alloy wheel refurbs.
Is it possible to make these steelies pretty again? I haven't peeked behind the hub cap jobs to see what horrors lie beneath, yet... ...or are the rims too rustificated to do anything with?

[cambiker71]

Refurbing them should be fairly straightforward, similar procedure as alloys really, but, you're going to struggle to sort out some tyres and service kits for the Dunlop denovo wheels and tyres, they've been discontinued for a long time now. Good luck anyway.

[Juju]

Refurbing them should be fairly straightforward, similar procedure as alloys really, but, you're going to struggle to sort out some tyres and service kits for the Dunlop denovo wheels and tyres, they've been discontinued for a long time now. Good luck anyway.

Yarss, I know they'll be more than thin on the ground. I only want to maintain this set for show, rather than trundling about. So you reckon it'll be easy, then?

[Lt-SilverDragon]

Should be easy enough, could wack on some kurust first or whatever then just rub down with sandpaper then spray. Take your time and they should come up lovely

[stickycreambun]

do you want to keep the tyres on Juju? if you could get them off then a sandblaster could take the wheels right back, then you or them could paint/powdercoat them. not too pricey either.

[redhotmini]

use a wire wheel brush in a drill, to get all the rust and old paint off. you can use sandpaper or wet and dry paper if you prefer.
then use the colour of your choice, after using a primer thats suitable for the chosen colour. a couple of coats of lacquer after will bring out a shine and add some depth to the colour.
just make sure that wherever youre painting had adequate ventilation unless you like getting high on fumes, and is warm, dry and dust free.

[panelbeaterpeter]

Get them sandblasted. Manual techniques never get rid of all the rust, it'll just keep coming back. Then get them etch primed, primed, and topcoated.

Easy peasy, in fact easier than alloys, as there's no chance of damaging any profiles of the rim, as steel is obviously harder than alloy. Any alloy refurbers will do them, the practice is identical.

[Ethel]

make sure you find a tyre fitter who's seen a set of Denovos before, dread to think how messy it could get if they try to remove them on a bog standard tyre machine

[Juju]

make sure you find a tyre fitter who's seen a set of Denovos before, dread to think how messy it could get if they try to remove them on a bog standard tyre machine

Right, I've done quite a bit of research on these denovo jobbies now. I don't think I'll be able to get the tyres off without trashing them:

"The beauty of the Denovo system was that when the tyre was punctured at speed, special phials situated on the inside of the rim were broken, releasing liquid sealant which instantly closed the leak, as well as partially re-inflating the tyre, thereby allowing the wheel to run flat for 100 miles. The wheel rim held on to the beading around the inside edge of the tyre, preventing it from pulling away once a puncture happened."

and....

"The concept has been realised over many years, Dunlop suggested the 'Denovo' which was a tyre locked between a split rim, this wheel had no internal recess that allowed the tyre to 'off-set' and detach from the rim, this also involved internal canisters that would be crushed and released a gel to keep the tyre cool... at the time the concept was very expensive and ultimately failed, apart from cost the fundamental flaw was if the tyre deflates then it was 'scrap'"

So, if I can reinflate the tyres, then I'll have to refurbish the wheels with the tyres in situ.

BUT, if I can't reinflate the tyres, then what to do?

Trash the current tyres getting them off, only to replace them with what exactly?

Or try & source more wheels with tyres still inflated?

I think I may drop Mr Dunlop a line....

[mk3 Cooper S]

Get the wheels sand blasted and keep the tyres on.
I had my s Reverse rims done locally for £7 per wheel and I left the tyres on. The shot/sand just bounces off and causes no tyre damage.

Let me know if you need the details.

[Juju]

Get the wheels sand blasted and keep the tyres on.
I had my s Reverse rims done locally for £7 per wheel and I left the tyres on. The shot/sand just bounces off and causes no tyre damage.

Let me know if you need the details.

Yes please!!

But if I can't get the b*ggers to hold pressure, what then?

[stickycreambun]

well, do they need to hold road pressure? maybe if you have a road set, so long as they can hold enough pressure to look good at shows? or is that not an option? just thinking of the originality. did you say you had found another set?

[mk3 Cooper S]

well, do they need to hold road pressure? maybe if you have a road set, so long as they can hold enough pressure to look good at shows? or is that not an option? just thinking of the originality. did you say you had found another set?

Emergency tyre foam for the shows?

[Juju]

well, do they need to hold road pressure? maybe if you have a road set, so long as they can hold enough pressure to look good at shows? or is that not an option? just thinking of the originality. did you say you had found another set?

Just enough pressure to hold the car up I suppose. Three of them are flatter than my chest at the moment.

Emergency tyre foam for the shows?

That might be a spanking good plan! I suppose if they're full of gunk & I can't get air through the valve, I could just take the valve out & squirt them full of foam?

[mk3 Cooper S]

I think you just add the foam throught the valve as normal.