Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) Wide body MGB

Thinking about my earlier statement about mgbgt for everyday use....actually I might consider a Porsche 924.
I drove one for a couple of weeks in the eighties and I remembering struck by how much it resembled an updated mgbgt. Nice to drive, good balance. Reliable.....

I think you're missing the point, unless your wifes Smart Roadster went for 18 years without ever entering a garage......

I do all my own servicing - including brakes, fan belts, timing belts, exhausts etc etc. I find the MG much easier (and more fun) to work on than my (relatively) modern Vx Corsa. And mine also have modern tyres as it's hard to buy 1960's tyres these days,

An interesting comment re: modern tyres Howard as I've had several sustain punctures on different "everyday" cars during my time commuting to work just outside Tewkesbury and also once to Malvern over a 20+ year period. Mainly screws or nails left on main roads.

I think road quality (in terms of debris) must have an awful lot to do with it. I've only ever had one proper puncture (on my Honda CRV) in over 40 years of driving, and that was simply a question of noticing the screw in the tyre and driving to a tyre place for a repair before it went properly flat.

I had two 'punctures' in 48 hours in France in the Morgan, but they were caused by cheap inner tubes being chafed by the spokes. Once I fitted heavy-duty inner tubes I had no further problems, and since I went tubeless I never even think about punctures.

This is why I wonder about carrying a spare. Like many (most?) I baulk at the idea of not carrying a spare wheel, but the risk of actually getting a puncture really is infinitesimally small for most of us.

Howard, do you have any statistical evidence that current (OE?) tyres are less susceptible to punctures ?
We had lots of punctures when we worked regularly in industrial estates and put that down to nails and screws from pallets and general industrial tut. Thankfully we had a great tyre shop close by and I still use them.
My Kangoo has new top quality tyres and has had several punctures in the last two years,
I got a puncture in the first week of the Volvos life and have had two in the last year !
Because of squirty only puncture repair I bought a run flat as did my friend with a v90 . I used it recently to save a punctured tyre. I did have a small bulge on a front tyre last summer ( honest did not hit a kerb but perhaps a pothole) whist in Austria and they could not get an acoustic tyre for the Volvo for 4 days. After 5 days we had to drive home carefully . My tyre man found 1 in the U.K. and said there was a shortage although I could get the same tyre minus the acoustics foam lining.
Guess we have been unlucky , MM
PS
I thought squirty puncture repair was to save weight but you might be right about tyres getting less punctures !? And at the last service they wanted to charge me for new squirty foam as it was out of date ! I said did you not see the run flat…….

Had one last week in the "shopping trolly", a VW Polo. It seemed to be some sort of antique clout with offset head. I probably picked it up from buiding work near where I parked as the tyre was seen to be flat before I drove on it. At the insistance of HO when the car was purchased it has a spare
The tryre, according to our tyre shop was unrepairable due to the size of the hole (I was not really convinced) and because the tyre was well worn I had to replace 2.
A total cost of €220 for a car that will be sold in the next 6 months

The Morgan has a spare but I have never needed to use it in 80,000 km and the Jaguar does not but I have not had a flat in 40,000 km.

The Polo, on the other hand, has needed to use the spare three times in 50,000 km; twice for nails and once for a very nasty pothole.

Road debris and potholes will puncture any tyre, new or not. In fact low profile tyres are worse on potholes because it can damage the rim.

Once I had screws penetrate both rear tyres on our previous Polo. One was a crosshead, and must have been over 3 inches long. It's where you drive that matters.

I think it's a usual 'howard' - lot of noise, not much substance

I have no evidence of this but have always thought that OE tyres on all my new cars over the years did more mileage than replacement tyres , exactly the same make, rating etc. Any truth in this view ?
I’m happy if new tyres are better at reducing punctures, so les need for bulky spares but I have not experienced any noticeable reduction and feel more comfortable having a spare or run flat. I have always felt good tyres are vital as it’s the only thing between the car(you) and the road and at high speeds comforting.
MM
PS Is there a thread/topic on the site that covers and recommends car cleaning and detailing products - not just for Morgans but for our other cars. I have real difficulty in wheel cleaning and plastic trim ( eg back to black) etc etc.

In the time when exhausts were mild steel, new cars were fitted with higher quality systems to last through warranty, so it's not impossible that tyres on new cars were longer lasting. Although less wear would imply less grip.