Hi all,
I've owned my 2008 Plus 4 Duratec from new, and it’s still running on the original Continental tyres—mounted on stainless steel wire wheels, with 23,000 miles on the clock. While the tyres appear in decent shape visually, they’re now over 16 years old, and I’ve started wondering how much they're affecting the ride comfort, overall handling, and of course safety.
Has anyone swapped out similarly aged tyres and noticed a meaningful improvement? What brands, tread patterns, etc.,have worked well for other Plus 4 owners.
Thanks in advance for any input or suggestions!
Three years ago when I bought Monty I was in the same situation, a Duratec Plus 4 first registered in early 2012 and still fitted with the original 195/60 Yokohama C Drive 2's, as installed by Morgan during Monty's build and dated 2011, despite only having completed 10,000 they were like wood!
I replaced them with a full set of Continental Eco Contact 6s in a slightly narrower 185 section, but with an equally slightly taller profile of 65, the result being more or less the exactly same rolling radius. As expected the results were transformational, massively superior ride quality with lighter more direct steering, way better grip and the right look too.
I'm tempted to go 205/65 in the new year for 10mm more ground clearance, but the 185/65's do offer more than enough grip for the tuned 185 horsepower Monty, a Duratec Plus 4 that regularly turns in sub 60 second times on Prescott Hill
