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Depends and depends.
If the spoke mounting area of the wheels has been
perfectly well sealed with epoxy or equivalent then it might be possible
to get by without tubes. If you have any doubt, run tubes. If
there is nothing over the spoke ends currently, at least wrap the whole area
with multiple layers of duct tape. Originally there was a wide rubber band
boot covering those wire ends and that was what protected the tube from chafing
and blowing out.
If you are going to not disassemble the wheels for plating
and have them done at one of the extremely few first class wire wheel shops left
in the country, then don't waste your money on plating them as is because it may
not even last one year. Just go out and buy a set of the reproduction
wheels. If you do replate and rebuild yours after disassembly, you will
spend hundreds of dollars more than the reproductions.
Or you could have your wheels sandblasted and either paint
them argent which was a Plymouth and Dodge option, or have them powder coated in
the faux chrome. I haven't seen the faux chrome on old Motor Wheel wire
wheels yet but I think it could be a low cost alternative to proper replating or
the reproductions.
I know someone is going to say Mopar offered body colored
wire wheels and I totally disagree. I grew up in the era the wires were
offered new on Mopars and other brands. They were ALL either chrome or
argent silver.
Wayne G
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