In the desire to keep costs and therefore price as low as possible, BMC provided pressed steel wheels. (Upgraded in later models because they were not thought to be strong enough) In many Sprite restorations, we see chromed wire wheels. These were not an original purchase option and therefore, most likely, are later additions, probably as part of a disc brake upgrade.
The wheels were painted, true to the originals. Re-chromed hubcaps, bearing “AH” were added as a final touch. The 1960 BMC approved accessory list showed the option for wheel embellishers, perhaps and addition for a later date?
Frogeye 