Although my 87 Plus 8 still has a few more miles to go on her original tyres, I can't help but think that compounds must have moved on since the original Avon's were fitted.
Any thoughts on best suitable replacement rubber.
Thanks in advance
Paulo
Paulo, Good tyres don't last more than 3-4 years even if you don't use them. They dry out, crack and the rubber qualities deteriorate badly. For that matter, aside from a few exceptions (LeMans Replicas and Aeros), MMC never shod their cars very well.
Nothing is more important to a Morgan's comportment, safety and comfort than tyres. Great rubber makes a Morgan blossom and bad rubber kills all the fun. There is NO better place to spend money on a Morgan than tyres.
Trouble is, most of us don't realize what we have (or don't have)..as it is the nature of a good driver to automatically and instinctively adjust to the car's range of safe action within the first mile or two on the first drive. If that range is prejudiced by the tyres, it sets very limited parameters to enjoyment of the car without realizing it. I feel sad for the people still on aged Pirelli 6000s.
First of all..forget tyre longevity. It is normally had at a cost to fun that makes it not worth the price. I do 20,000 miles in a 8 months each year on two mogs. I change at least a set of Morgan tyres a year. I have tried everything from AVOs to Yokos to sad NoNos.
Rule one is to get a "V" quality tyre or better. Rule two is to buy with your environment in mind. If you like twisty mountain roads choose for that. If you have a lot of wet road driving, choose for that. If you drive aggressively, choose for that.
Tyre models vary with each manufacturer from continent to continent. (For some reason they are cheapest in Europe/UK.) Choose a summer tyre..anyone who drives a Morgan in the snow or ice requires psychiatric help anyway. (wry smile)
I have recently settled (for the latest round of tyres) on two choices. (I always find I most often return to Michelin. They seem to have the most consistency in their manufacturing process.)
One of these choices (for all round driving) is the Michelin Pilot Primacy Sport. It is rated as good in the wet as the dry. The facts bear that out. Quite astonishing. They also allow you to THROW the car at a corner with the certainty, if your suspension is decent, that it will come right back like a boomerang. It will go through surface water like it is not there.
Get it a "W" . If you can't find it in a 205/60/15 then use a 195/65 R15 (Virtually the same size).
Another super one if you can find it is Eagle F1 GS-D3 (or GS-D2) . If I had found it, I would have opted for this one as it has the same ratings as the Michelins but is SUPER good-looking.
Lorne
