Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Plus Four, Supersport & Plus Six (CX & CXV Generation Vehicles) Plus Four wheel weight - Alloy vs. Wires

It may just be my particular experience (and/or the tyre fitter who did the job) but when I had replacement tyres fitted 3 years ago, from the outset they have not held pressure well (loss of 2 or 3 psi in a ten-day period). The "rim bands" (which stop air from escaping, especially around the end of the spokes), sustained some damage when the previous tyres were removed. I'm not aware of that happening with alloys (on account of there not being any "bands"....), and there's always tubed tyres to consider

Yes if they do it wrong they leak. Either use gloop to seal them or take of the tyres and renew the sealant. Don't add tubes as they can fail with tubeless rims and tyres.

That is why I prefer alloys. Plus ease of cleaning

Certainly the Roadster wires need the tyres taking off on the outside, not the usual inside, and rough use of levers, or pulling the bead over the sealant will peel some off. Perhaps a lubricant would help reduce this. Even Fairy Liquid.

My Roadster tyres were replaced at the local garage. He was in incredibly careful, but still peeled on three wheels. However he had some grey/black silicon sealat which he applied over the damage, which was only small. We left that 24 hours to cure and it's held air ever since. I had left the Morgan at home on axle stands and just took the wheels, which is a worthwhile consideration, rather than get stranded.

You are all right with your arguments in favor of aluminum rims. For me, unreasonableness won out. Just the sight of the spoke rims on my PlusFour brings a smile to my face. 🤗

Heart vs Head, Clemens. And that's what a Morgan is all about in my humble opinion.

This is what still has be waffling. All my reason points to the alloys, and I am decided. But one beauty pass of a well sorted Plus Four with wires, and I am back in the conundrum!

With alloys and an auto you get the simpler life, no question.

But wires, plus a spare, and a manual box are probably 95%+ of what Morgan means to most, because that's what most Morgans are, or were, anyway..

hmm, nice day, i've got a spare couple of hours. lets get the car out & give it a wash & get those wheels cleaned. ....naa, lets go for a blast around the hills instead. ill wash it next month.
manual & alloys every time.

Unfortunately, the manual transmission is not available in the US. As I understand it, Morgan had to pay a bunch of money to get it homologated in the US. However, due to emission differences, the manual and auto each had to be done separately. Morgan went with the auto for the broader audience. With only 325 units that they can sell each year in the US due to the FAST "Recreation" law, that may give them sufficient sales that they may never pay to have the manual legalized. So I can buy an auto now in all the colors and to the specs I want, buy an older used car that checks a lot of the boxes, or wait 25 years so I can import a manual EU car hoping I find one that I mostly like.

Just found this video when browsing gomog...