Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing 2006 Plus 4 Tyres

Hi
I have done Forum searches but it will take me a week to find what I want.

I need to change all the tyres on my Plus 4. They are currently :

Yokohama C-Drive. 195/60 R15 88H They are mounted on Stainless wires.

I have been happy with the tyres. Like me they getting old.

Anyone able to recommended trusted source for supply and fit/balancing in the Witney Oxon Area . OX29 6PZ

Thanks
Ian

Hi Ian,
I have fitted Yokohama BluEarth ES32 195/65/R15 to my Plus 4 also with stainless wire wheels. I got them from Blackcircles and had them fitted locally. I went for a higher 65 profile tyre to improve ride quality and ride height. They are fine for my style of driving which is not very fast these days.
Finding a fitting shop that could balance wire wheels took a little research and New Elms in Shaftesbury did this for me. Excellent service from both Blackcircles and New Elms.
Bob.

Yokohama C drive are no longer available but blue earth is a similar alternative. Or you could try Avon ZV7 which MMC have been fitting as standard for the past few years.
Balancing of wires is only really successful if special balancing cones are used, which hold the wheel in a similar centred position to when it is mounted on the car. My experience was that some tyre fitters when asked, would answer in the affirmative, even though they did not have the cones available so you really need to shop around and as you have done quite rightly, look for a recommendation.
Because I knew what to look for, I visited several fitters and asked to see their equipment first. Even then, Some modern electronic machines don’t seem to like the cones as they throw up an error code that the wheel isn’t mounted properly.
My experience of black circles was fine for price and delivery time BUT the tyres were transported loose in the back of a delivery van and with all the sliding about, picked up a lot of cardboard dust which was engrained into the sidewall patterns. They looked second hand…but with elbow grease came up ok. If only they had been put in a large polythene bag it would have been much better.

You could ask Alan Claridge - Unit K, Newman Court, Witney OX29 7LY, 01993 700041 - he’s quite knowledgable on Morgans and may be able to recommend someone

Ian, I've not personally used them but Vintage Tyres have a branch at Bicester and will know Mogs and be able to balance wires properly

https://www.vintagetyres.com/

Vintage Tyres also have a unit at Beaulieu, convenient to me and which I visited just last week to enquire about them fitting 5 tyres to my car if I supply them (£18 each + VAT to fit/balance/dispose). They do not have a 4-post lift and declined the job, on the basis that it could twist the chassis. An honest opinion from nice people, but one which surprised and disappointed me.

I always take the wheels off myself and transport 2 at a time, to the tyre place in my tintop. There are good reasons for this as when you take the wheel off, it will have lots of muck on the inside and dried up grease from the splines etc. it is an ideal opportunity to give it a good clean. You wont have that opportunity at a tyre fitter.

Excellent advice Doug.

Thanks Guys.
All good Advice
reference the RJW suggestion of Yokohama BluEarth ES32 195/65/R15. Using Profile 65 instead of 60. Excuse my ignorance but if it increases ride height does it impact speedo readings. Anu other unintended consequences of going for 65s

Yes it does impact speedo readings but, upon checking, it appears that the speedo is now more or less accurate compared with an under reading before the tyre swap. No margin of error at speed limits now though.
Bob.