What are Cadillac wire wheels?

Cadillac wire wheels are a specific type of wire wheel featuring rolled rims and chrome plated spokes. General motors developed the design for showroom model cars in the 1940s.

The original design for Cadillac wire wheels included 40 spokes arranged in a two-cross pattern. General motors introduced the design at Motorama shows and began fitting production model El Dorados with Cadillac wire wheels in 1953. Despite their popularity, safety and maintenance issues led original equipment manufacturers to begin phasing them out of production after the development of the disc-type wheel. As of 2015, replica wire wheels remain popular among custom car builders throughout the United States.