Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) +4 Tyres - 195/60 or -195/65?

Good point. However, I wonder if by going up in profile, hence making a bigger balloon, perhaps one should also go up a category in load index to get an equivalent amount of “squishiness” ?
Don’t really know, maybe it doesn’t work like that.

Go for 65 profile every time , unless you are racing/hill climbing/sprinting etc

The extra flex in the sidewall is helpful to the ride quality (in a Morgan trad all things are relative of course!)

I was a firm believer in ZV5 or now ZV7 tyres, but i have noticed that they are going "hard" earlier than I would like. I have done about 40,000 miles on a set of ZV5s, and half that on ZV7s, almost zero wear based on tread depth gauge, but the rubber does not feel good any longer.

I was talking this through with Techniques and they have noticed the same "hardening" and recommend the Yokohama C Drive as a longer lasting alternative.

For what its worth I've just been though the process of choosing tyres for my 2012 Duratec Plus 4, after a huge amount of research and much deliberation I actually settled on a set of Continental Eco Contact 6 in 185/65-R15, and I've been super happy with these tyres from day one.

Some more detail here....

http://www.talkmorgan.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/757854/what-did-you-do-to-your-morgan-today

Don't dismiss going down to a 185 just because Morgan specified 195, a Duratec Plus 4 makes 143hp and only weighs 930kg so a 185 is more than enough tyre for the car, 185s will give you lighter steering and more feel too

Keep in mind even a small hatchback these days weights 1,200kg or more so modern tyres are typically made with far higher curb weight vehicles in mind, and as others have already said do make sure you dont buy a van tyre and they'll be made for even greater loads. For a tyre to work well on a far lighter vehicle like a Morgan, and assuming you want decent ride quality, you need something with a softer sidewall than you normally find on a modern tyre, the Continental Eco Contact 6 definitely ticks this box.

I purchased from my normal go-to tyre seller Camskill who are seldom beaten on price and offer excellent customer service, the guy there advised me that for a light car like the Morgan I should choose a tyre from a good manufacture's Eco range. This was a bit off-putting at first as I wasn't looking to save MPG and Eco doesn't sound very exciting now does it?

However, there's logic in the advice, apparently Eco tyres achieve the improved fuel economy partly by virtue of a softer sidewall, the happy accident being that this makes Eco tyres perfect for light cars. Don't be put off by the term Eco thinking such tyres arent suitable for enthusiastic driving, my Continental Eco Contact 6 grip brilliantly in both the dry and the wet, I drove Monty to Goodwood at weekend and the rain was truly biblical and I have to say my these tyres performed outstandingly well

http://www.talkmorgan.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/175520/1317/so-have-you-driven-your-morgan-today

Many thanks for all your input.. that’s very helpful.

I am afraid I wasn’t quite brave enough to try the smaller 185 size so went for the 195/65 Avon ZV7’s, helped by the fact they where £170 for 3 fitted.. 3 because I must of been eager to try them as it turns out one front tyre was already a 195/65 ZV7 think I fitted it during covid, lucky on did 1000 miles on it..

Now having the 65’s all round the car was softer over the bumps on the way home which was much appreciated..

Definitely a good option..