Hi Heinz, Interesting subject. I changed my 165/80 R15 Continentals, which were standard on my 4/4 2014, to Vredestein Sprint Classics 185/70 R15 in 2017. I had to repaint my rear fenders 2 years later, because of the damage caused to the outer ring. I just moved the fenders 1 cm outwards, which was easily done, because the factory makes rather big holes to mount the fenders. You managed some problems with balancing, which I also have. Some wobble around 80-90 km/hr. I have now 53000 km on the clock, so not long before tire change will be necessary. You mentioned the Nankook tires. I checked the Dutch Automobile Association (ANWB). Their verdict on these tires was not very good.
Test result: Hankook Kinergy Eco 2 K435
New model of this brand from South-Korea. The Kinergy is the 'green' product with the emphasis more on fuel consumption, mileage, and comfort than on sportivity
+ Good on dry road surfaces and low fuel consumption.
- Clear imperfections on wet road surfaces (with insufficient road handling).
These are not specs you're looking for for your Morgan.
Hi Nagrom, sorry for delay. Sometimes I have the feeling that it is not so easy to find the right online dealer that I can fully trust to start with. Then there's the tire itself. Look at this example, the same tire is offered twice on the same platform by the same dealer. With different prices and different EU labels. This must be completely confusing for many customers.
![[Linked Image]](https://tm-img.com/images/2024/08/04/IMG_5123.png)
and here again but with the „nicer“ label for the wet.
![[Linked Image]](https://tm-img.com/images/2024/08/04/IMG_5124.png)
My guess is that nobody in the store takes care of the software management. I suspect that one is the CT22 as it is offered today, and the other is a residual stock with the lower rating of the EU label for wet conditions. So the tire appears twice and nobody is automatically informed in the company. Now I come to a second point that will cause confusion, for example the CT22. Many here know that the Conti CT22, when mounted on a new 4/4, is a tire that is terrible and life-threatening in the wet. Accordingly, it is not surprising that the CT22 has received a very miserable "F" for its wet grip. It has been doing that for many, many years.
And suddenly, just a few years ago, the CT22 went from an "F" for wet grip to a "B" for wet grip... at every online retailer in Europe. I did some research and I didn't find anywhere that the Conti CT22 had been improved or changed in any way. If this were the case, the manufacturer would have made a lot of advertising for its "new great" CT22, let's say CT22 2.0.
But nothing happened. Without wanting to offend anyone, I assume that nothing has changed about the tire. BTW, it would be interesting to ask the EU itself how these tire labels come about, who tests for the EU and such questions. Then an explanation would have to come as to why the legitimate "F" for wetness on the CT22 can become a "B" B quite quietly, secretly and almost in a covert night and fog operation?
With online dealers, people are supposed to believe that there is competition for the best offer. This is often just nonsense and we are dealing with a market that has been artificially inflated, see the screenshot, all these dealer brands come from the same kitchen and are trying to create a variety of offers.
![[Linked Image]](https://tm-img.com/images/2024/08/04/IMG_5126.png)
By the way, I have had very good experiences with this dealer from your country, link nelow, over several years for various cars in terms of communication, for example when I had to change my mind about an order. Within a few minutes phone calls are answered. This is not my advertising and I have no business relationship with them, just my subjective experience. In addition, the tyres were always with a fresh DOT number. It is just an example, there are other good dealers too.
https://www.reifen-pneus-online.de/Because of the Hankook Kinergy Eco 2 K435, my dealer had called it. I don't know it. But I agree with you that an eco tire cannot have the best grip. If you could believe the EU label, then a tyre would be good for the Morgan if it had a bad value for fuel consumption and a fairly good value for wet grip. Because that's pretty important to me with the light 4/4. For example, this offer, if the rest of the workmanship is good, even if it's from China.
https://www.reifen-pneus-online.de/pkw-reifen/nankang/econext-na1/165-80-r15-87-t-ww-d-b-70-b.htmlAlthough I just see that this same tire also comes with different labels again, OMG.
https://www.reifen-pneus-online.de/pkw-reifen/nankang/econext-na1/165-80-r15-87-t-c-b-70-b.htmlI have Nankang tires on my Elise and I am very happy with the performance, NS2R. Before that I had Yokohama AD08R, which were better than the Nankang. Then the EU banned the AD08R because it was too good and due to the very good grip the car used a drop more fuel. The successor, the AD08RS, is now no better than the Chinese Nankang, according to many forum reports from people who drive track days. This is a small digression to show that brands and countries of production can change, develop and improve or make it worse.
The crazy thing about the 165/80/15 dimension is that there are a few well-known manufacturers (with Continental being extremely well-known and offering the worst tyres). Then there are countless brands that at least I have never heard of... more so every year... and then there are these completely overpriced classic tires from Michelin, Dunlop, Vredestein and others, only some of which have good test results (Dunlop, but only a C for wet). Most of them have no test results at all and no EU label.
https://www.reifen-pneus-online.de/pkw-reifen/dunlop/sport-classic/165-0-r15-87-h-c-c-69-b.htmlI almost think, as a summary, that I won't buy a T-Trac 2 anymore, I'm disappointed with the overall quality of the tyre from India. But I wouldn't know what I would drive, maybe I would try the Nankang because the other Nankang on the Elise is really good. Now I have what I have with my new T-Trac 2 and I am not any more in the market for three or so years. And then I will have a new look at the offerings.