Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Performance Street Tires for Plus 8. All seasons?

Researching new tires. Fortunately the Wire wheels are 16" so there are plenty of choices for the 1995 +8.

In a perfect world I would run right out and buy High performance V rated Summer tires, but after some research the manufactures do not recommend driving on summer tires below approx 40F / 5C, and for sure not below freezing temps. Handling is severely effected and damage may occur as temps lower. I found out some extreme performance tires are warned to possibly crack and be ruined below 20F / -7C.

I have personally driven cars with High performance summer tires below freezing and not had any serious issues, but maybe I have been lucky so far?

Living in the northeast USA we see nice hot summers, but also the driving season before snow flies can be way below freezing.

I like to drive aggressively, but will not be tracking the car. and my first inclination is to buy some nice summer performance tires, but I also like to drive in spring and late fall and early winter in the cold weather. Putting all season tires on is the only recommended option from all the manufactures. It seems crazy to put all season tires on a car like the Morgan, but it seems the only and best option.

Several high performance All seasons tires get some good reviews. I focused on dry and especially wet traction ratings,and ignored the snow driving scores. The size is 205-55-16" and there are nice tires I am considering like the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric All-Season, and the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3.

Anyone have experience they want to share with tires for their Plus Eight? thanks

Have a look and see if you can get vredestein quatrac tyres your way

I have been led to believe that asymmetric tyres on Morgans are not a good idea due to the suspension geometry but I am sure a more expert Morgan owner will be able to confirm whether this is correct or otherwise.

Neil

You have recalled correctly Neil, you brain is still working even if you can't remeber what you drive.

Toyo ProxEs T1 R work well for me and others.

What is the specific issue with asymmetric tyres??

I have heard good things about the Toyo's. How are they in the wet? How bout when pushed hard in the dry?

Quite a few competitors use them sprinting - they stand up to quite a lot

My understanding is that due to the tread pattern and cut it can have to effects, resistance to turn in, easily overcome on a modern car with power steering, not a Morgan. Also the can be prone to causing a trait called tracking, follow the undulations an imperfections of the road surface causing the vehicle to wander.

Maybe some can confirm or otherwise

Jeff

If you are not overly concerned about the higher wear rate, than go with the Toyo Proxes , they are super in dry and wet conditions. And in Europe they are competitively priced as well.

Don't get too hung up about the summer tyres issue. In Europe the tyre companies are trying to persuade us all to use winter tyres, but most of us continue to drive on summer tyres , but go more carefully when the grip gets marginal due to low friction surfaces. Winter tyres are great , in the winter, but will wear very fast in higher temperatures, and you are going to need a complete set of wheels as wheel as the rubber, which is quite an investment.

I have Yokohama C drives on my Plus8. V rated to match the car 's speed.
I find them great. They are down to 3mm tread and I have new ones ready to replace. New have 8mm tread. They are rated as having decent grip in the wet - very useful in a Plus8! Plus 8 torque still gets the back end out though!
Tracking?
There are a couple of roads near me that are in bad nick and I feel tracking both in the Plus8 and the tin top. The cheap tar+chippings "repair" has led to significant grooves in the road surface, also seen on many stretches of the near side lanes of motorways due to heavy vehicles.
Here in S Wales we don't get prolonged very cold weather and the Plus8 gets reduced use so no real justification for winter tyres.
However, if the tyres are specialist high performance with a compound susceptible to low temps then that's a different matter, if you think about having to get heat into tyres for grip when racing then the same applies to road use to a certain extent.
A Lotus Exige has road legal semi slick tyres as standard, great when I drove one on a track in more or less dry conditions, but on wet roads? Hmmmmm....... could be interesting.