Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) 4/4 Tyre Size...e ha

I will put this post in the context of that I 100% appreciate the 'original' 4/4 for what it is...

However, I am interested if anyone on here has changed the standard OEM 165/80/15 tyres (as Henry Catchpole describes as 'trailer tyres'!) for something that would give better handling?

These are sitting on a 5 inch wide rim... max width available is 185...

175/55/15's seem optimal... and offer a huge variety of tyre options...

Cheers,

Peter.

Vredestein Sprint Classic (same size as original Continental) is a good choice. It gives better overall feel and is much safer on damp surfaces, where the Conti switches suddenly from low grip to no grip without warning.

175/55 R15 would be a very low tyre for a 4/4. You may be better off with 185/65 R15 would only be a few millimetres lower.

There is a useful tyre calculator at
http://paws.kettering.edu/~amazzei/tire_calculator.html

This will allow you to do some comparisons on proposed tyre changes. Don't forget that you may need to Re-calibrate the speedo.

Check how much clearance you have with the exhaust by the real wheel.

There may be some adjustment available of the exhaust if your wider tyres are close.

With 185 width you are getting very close to contacting the top of the cross frame on a 4/4.

Maybe getting close, but still space enough left on my 4/4.

I have tried 165x80 and 185x70R15 size. The wider are the preferred tyres for me. (Vredestein Classic)

I have no idea if bigger tyres improve or detract from the handling on a 4/4 but I do like the look of the bigger balloony 185 Vreds. They may even add a little extra much needed comfort too.

But on a 4/4 the bulging side wall may just kiss the inside of the rear wings at full suspension travel. It may not even be noticed but it can leave a tale tale rub mark on the black under seal.

About here



The only way that I can run 185’s with zero contact is to reduce and limit the rear suspension movement with my bump stops

I've always used the 165 section tyres on my 4/4 and IMO the standard Continental CT22 (The 'van' tyres that Catchpole was referring to) are more than a bit pants.

Vredestein Sprint Classics are, on the other hand, flippin' brilliant and can easily cope with the 165bhp of my car. I think T-Tracs have the same compound but a more modern tread pattern, and by all reports they are very good too.

I see absolutely no benefit to switching to wider tyres on a car with a standard engine. Change tyres by all means, but be wary that wider tyres do not mean better handling, and as the standard widths are easily capable of dealing with a standard 4/4 you won't improve grip either unless you drive like an absolute mentalist.

If you are looking to improve handling (rather than roadholding) then I think you'd be better focused on improving the suspension rather than widening the tyres.

If, on the other hand, you fancy going wider for cosmetic reasons then by all means fill your boots, but don't expect your car to feel 'better'. It'll certainly feel different, but you may or may not like the difference.

Hi Tim,

Useful post, thanks.

Any of these...

http://antiquetyresonline.com.au/vredestein-185hr15-sprint-classic/

Those are the 185s. As others have pointed out, they may give clearance problems. Why not simply go for the 165s and avoid the issues?