Motor Rim & Wheel Service, Inc. of San Leandro, California provided the beautiful wire wheels we see on Chrysler 300s and Imperials, available from 1953 to 1956 according to Chrysler parts books. They have also been seen on many Chryslers from 1951 on.  They also provided the same wheels to Packard, and the two are indistinguishable except for the bolt pattern. With a bit of modification, they can be interchanged. If you look closely at the  inside of the rim, next to the valve stem hole, you will see the manufacturer's imprint stamped into the metal, along with the wheel size. They were also stamped "Detroit." They were a factory option on the C300 and a dealer option for the 300B. They were no longer an approved option after 1956, but many later year 300s have been seen with them installed because they are gorgeous and original 300 wheel covers are hard to find!

The wire wheels that appear on early 1950s Chrysler cars are not Tru-Spoke or Kelsey Hayes wheels, they are the original Chrysler Corporation supplied 52 spoke Motor Rim wheels. Kelsey Hayes somehow mistakenly got the credit for the Imperial wheels in a car magazine article years ago. The Motor Rim wheels are of a heavier construction than the more common Kelsey Hayes wheels.

300 Owners with these wheels can use either  Imperial wheels or Chrysler wheels, unless they have  a special order car such as the Kiekhaefer race cars, which may use Imperial hubs. Also, the first C300 had  Imperial hubs, so if you have a very early serial number, it may be worth a look.   The Packard wheels are identical to the Imperial wheels except for the bolt pattern and the size of the center hub clearance hole. Many  Imperial wheels have found their way onto Packards with a modified center hub. Once the caps are installed,  it is impossible to tell the difference. 

The New Yorker and lesser Chrysler Corporation models are equipped with wire wheels that have a different bolt circle than the Imperial wheels.  There are three types of wheels; the style we see on the C300, and a long spoke type optional on  Plymouths and Dodges, with  the lacing of the spokes running to both the inner and outer felloe of the wheel, and a 3rd for senior Chryslers and DeSotos.  

Imperials had the 5.5 bolt circle. They could be ordered chromed or argent painted. Relatively few sets were sold in argent silver.  They were never painted any other color from the factory. The Imperial wheels were 52 spoke and are 1/2" wider than the Chrysler / DeSoto examples.

There are some very good imitations around, and you'll notice that many restored Chrysler products are wearing them. (See wirewheelworld on Ebay) Some have slightly different designs, but all of them are very attractive and lend an air of class and beauty to any Chrysler automobile. The Motor Rim company was around in the early 1980's, but appears to have gone out of business, at least under the original name.

Gallery of Various Wire Wheels