Mud-club
Vehicle & Technical => Military => Topic started by: Jonathan M on February 06, 2008, 22:03:25
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Bit of a geek question, but in the news footage & various other TV footage from Iraq & Afghanistan I've noticed that WMIK LR's don't seem to have standard Wolf type wheels fitted, they all appear to be fitted with multispoke alloys of some sort.
Out of sheer curiosity, why?
Watching the Sky 1 Ross Kemp in the 'stan programme I even noticed a couple of Wolf wheels being used as table legs in some FOB, presumably removed from a WMIK at some point?
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Cant remember or even understand (its easier to perform BDR on a steel rim than it is on an alloy) why they were replaced but yes, they are some form of alloy or other - look quite cool as well, Just cos there was a wolf wheel or 2 holding up a table doesnt make it a WMIK wheel - there are 'normal landrovers' about out there as well...... I'l have a shufty about at work and find out.....
Bri
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Ta, like I say, total geek question, but just stands out that all current images of WMIKS have these alloys fitted, while older images had standard wheels.
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What's a WMIK?
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WMIK= Weapons Mount Installation Kit.
Alloys are literally to save weight - due to up-armouring/extra kit.
Standard - http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/B5C2355D-E2A7-471F-9399-A4EAC532B096/0/Page1landrover.JPG
WMIK - cant find one at the moment - but somone will
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Fair enough, must be pretty desperate to shed some weight - can't be much weight saving between steels & alloys on a 16.
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There is some, but also it lowers the 2nd moment of area quite consderably and that helps a lot with performance.
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There is some, but also it lowers the 2nd moment of area quite consderably and that helps a lot with performance.
Rotating mass?
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There is some, but also it lowers the 2nd moment of area quite consderably and that helps a lot with performance.
Rotating mass?
Yes, when it's rotating like the rim of a wheel it dramaticaly effects the acceleration, much more so than if the weight were just dropped in the boot. It's why sports cars have alloys, rather than just because they look nice. It also helps with unsprung weight which in turn effects traction, though I doubt the difference is significant having tried to lift a LR axle in the past.
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If i remenber , the reasons for the alloys is something to do with weight loss , ther are various other changes as well ,But the main reason was the WMIK wolves have been up armoured , specifically on the belly for some form of mine protection and the wheels was just one way to save wieght , I also understand that that spec wheel isn't available to the public .
Aparently this version of the WMIK is know as the E-WMIK the "E" standing for enhanced
jason
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Standard wolf rims are not up to the task required. The new WMIK II's have a alloy wheel fitted which are stronger.
(http://www.defencetalk.com/pictures/data/3186/medium/Wmik%20Practice~0.jpg)
With new style wheels.
(http://www.army.mod.uk/img/news/army_news_current_stories/ross_kemp/p9100113h250w400m.jpg)
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Standard wolf rims are not up to the task required. The new WMIK II's have a alloy wheel fitted which are stronger.
That's interesting, they will be worth having when they become "available".
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that might take a while to filter down. They are expensive and fairly rare at the moment.
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If they are stronger than a wolf steel they will stay expensive, but we've all seen trucks built where money wasn't any problem havn't we :?
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they are used 1:to save weight 2:because of the BFG tyres that dont fit the wolf wheels properly!
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A WMIK ;)
(http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n288/sMUDgeV8/Landrover/DSC01622.jpg)
A close up of the alloy :)
(http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n288/sMUDgeV8/Landrover/DSC01613.jpg)
They do look nice, (be better in black though?!!) However some "special" units do not like them as if they break they can not be repaired/welded as easy as the old steel versions?
If that's their only fault, I'll have a set please . . . . . in black :lol:
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Too many Colin McRae fans in the purchasing dept ;)
Used to have a similar thing in product development at Ford, the durability cars would often have steel rims in place of alloys because they got bust too often. IIRC police cars had steels for the same reason.
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I was just thinking the same thing - they look like gravel-spec rally wheels.
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I was just thinking the same thing - they look like gravel-spec rally wheels.
Maybe that's the idea, 95% of them are being used on gravel/sand in Iraq & Afghanistan :)
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They're available from Silverline, called "Blindo" wheels (http://www.silverlinewheels-tyres.com/4x4/aluminiumwheels/blindowheels.htm)
I've emailed them for a price, but as usual in the UK, no-one has bothered to reply to me. :rolleyes:
Nice looking wheels though, would be nice in a 16x8 instead of a 7",although they do different offsets.
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Still only 16x7 then :-k
I'd have a set in 18 inch.
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they do sell them at silverline in warwick, i inquired about them last december, they are expensive though! thing is, they say you will never be able to break it, and if you do, they will replace it! no matter what! they reckon they are the strongest wheel around at the moment!