Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Tire rubbing/tire size

Hello all,

I am new to Morgans and have a question regarding the front wheel size.
I have a 1958 Plus 4 and the front tires are rubbing on the top of the front springs.
The tires currently in the car are Vredestein T-Trac 165-80 R15.
The wheels are wire spokes with center knock offs.
As you can see from the attached picture a previous owner has ground down a portion on the top spring mount to try and solve the issue, but it is also rubbing on both the mount and the spring itself.
Are these the correct tires for the car?

I don't see any suspension adjustments that can be made to correct this, and the wheel bearings are tight.

Other than a smaller tire is there another solution?

Thanks for your help.

[img]https://photos.app.goo.gl/uvou8wQQKo5aKKTu5[/img]

The tyres should rub the top bracket.
The morgan sports car club has experts who could helpb on so old a car.
Please note the tyres on the car will rub on the chassis at full lock and that is not an issue

Sounds like you have wire wheels with the wrong offset .

''the tyres should rub the top bracket" - no they shouldn't and they don't on my 1955 and 1968 Plus 4's nor my 1971 4/4

Arwyn

Sorry fat fingers should read shouldn't re the top of the suspension

To make up for my fat digits I did check the MWS site they say
"If you have the older, tubed wheels or are fitting tube-type tyres you will need 155/165 x 15 tubes and we recommend 15"/16” rim bands."

Details here

Zimmlitt image here.



Issue can only be incorrect stub axles (unlikely), wheel offset or rim width. Out of interest is there a lot of play from worn kingpins/bushes when the checking at top and bottom of wheel?

Arwyn will probably correct me but I think the PO has changed the wheels and tyres from standard. My 1956 +4 has 5.00/5.25 x 16 crossply tyres. 165-80 R15 will be much wider so I would check he bought the correct wheels. As mentioned above the wheel offset would be crucial.

Thanks for everyone's responses.
To answer your question, there is little to no play in the kingpins or any other suspension component.

Can someone tell me what the correct wheel offset should be? I had read somewhere that there is a difference between the 4/4 and plus 4 wheels, but I don't know what that difference is. If the offset is different I guess that it is possible the incorrect wheels were installed at some point.

The difference between a 165-80 and a 5.00 is about an inch (1/2" each side) which would make a significant difference.

I'm with Arwyn and grumpypa

That'll be exactly what has gone on. There are different size off-set rims and it looks like a set were bought without too much thought to fitment requirements!

You're right in that there is not much adjustment but your car may well have had a mod to dial out the positive camber that older vehicles had as standard. at that time they were setting them in a neutral position from the standard positive camber and this wouldn't help as it would tip the top of the wheel inboard. Have a look at the bottom tube ends of the cross head where the hub is bolted on, you might see the mounting point has been changed. Perhaps the cross head has been replaced (often the subject of accident damage) or the top mount plate has been lengthened, in any event something is amiss as that is wrong but the reason will become apparent with investigation and measuring every thing. I should be able to find some appropriate chassis, crosshead schematics which are age appropriate but the heritage guys at MSCC would be a good starting point, worth joining if you are not yet a member, especially for parts advice and tech knowledge of what the cars should have fitted!

https://www.mwsint.com/site/cms/contentviewarticle.asp?article=663

https://www.mwsint.com/custom/Fitme...;carId=FG000083&make=MO&CarYear=

It's all there ^^^^.but that size wheel is from 1968, so your 1958 could be different.