Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Tyre size change

My 2015 Plus 4 has wire spoke wheels with 195/60R15 tyres - Yokohama which have been on from new so certainly need replacing.
Before I change for same again has anyone any experience (good or bad) of a change in size/profile or a recommended make?
Thanks

Yes, I am on my second set of Good Year Efficient Grip 195/65 R15
I have found them excellent particularly for wet grip and have lasted well with no cracking over a 6 year period. They were slightly cheaper than 60s as they are a more popular size.
Fitting the 65 profile was a good move for me giving that little bit extra ground clearance. It also makes the speedo more accurate, reading around 31/32 at a gps speed of 30.
To fit the spare, I had to adjust the wheel securing bracket slightly but the holes are slotted, so not an issue.

Fully support Doug’s recommendation for 165 profile tyres. Swapped from the original 160 profile on my 2014 GDI after only 12 months and it made a massive difference in ground clearance with absolutely no noticeable adverse effects. Currently waiting for the tyres on my Duratec Plus 4 to wear out, previous owner replaced originals with the same size unfortunately. I would say it is car specific as my current car doesn’t seem to too bad but the last one was awful.

Remarkable isn't it?!! And that is with only an extra 19.5mm (0.77") divided by 2 or only 9.75mm more of an air cushion than originally. https://www.tacomaworld.com/tirecalc?tires=195-60r15-195-65r15
It is why I refused 16" wheels when the MMC offered them in 2002...despite knowing manufacturers were constantly moving to lower profile tyres (which I still can't figure out!) Imagine the difference between a 14" and 16" Plus 8! I use an experimental set sent by MWS for the MMC to try for your cars or so I was told.

We confronted this cushion thing on my wife's mundanemobile here in the Andes. She had 5 blowouts the first 2 years. My Morgan experience suggested a cure. I bought 4 new rims an inch smaller and compensated for the loss of height with higher tyres. That was a decade ago. No blowouts since and the wife thinks I am a magician.

Lorne

That’s really helpful thanks for the info from everyone.
Is it possible to fit a wider tyre, say a 205? Or would this be no benefit?

The only risk with going wider is the front tyres rubbing on the chassis, though you can fit rollers to lessen the effect.

I’m going through the same at the moment, my Plus 8 is currently on 205/55 R15, factory fit was 205/60 R15, I’m dithering about returning to a 60 profile to improve the ride. I went lower in the first place as that was the only size the Toyo Proxxes T1r were available in.

It largely depends on what you want to achieve. On a race track, you're on a predictable, smooth track with no unexpected events (hopefully). you are prepared to sacrifice a great deal for speed and you want maximum ultimate grip so wider tyres will help that.

But on the road, you need to deal with a more complex set of factors, not the least of which is steering feel and agility. You also have to accept that you can't dodge the laws of physics. If a tyre loses grip, then the car will start sliding and you'll slide until you stop or slow down enough to regain grip or hit something. On a racetrack, you'll see the first two, but on the road it'll be the last almost every time.

So: do you want to drive around on a tyre that gives loads of feedback, starts squealing under modest pressure, and lets go gracefully at comparatively low speed, or do you want a tyre that hangs on like grim death at high speed, but when it does let go you're going very fast indeed?

Personally, I'd rather be going backwards into a hedge at 50mph that 70mph so I go with the narrower tyres because I prefer the light and agile feeling and not fussed about ultimate grip. My 4/4 gives 165bhp and runs on 165 section tyres perfectly happily.

Yep, I'm with Djay here to the letter and let's just look at pricing. On the 195 65 15R you are now in the VW Pole tyre size with a whole myriad of top quality tyres at low pricing. I had 5 fitted, of what are considered one of the most expensive brands at just over £300 whereas 60 profile of the original fitment were twice that........ and guess what? the car drives much better!

Lorne's description of ultra low profile tyres is spot on. My wife's car has 40. YES 40 profile tyres on a Skoda cooker car and I think we have replaced more tyres in three years of ownership than 40 years of motoring on all our cars combined. Yes we wore tyres out before but not on this crap they are all hardly worn when damaged beyond repair!

Great post! I would have added that on a race track, the support infrastructure and a pint are mere meters away. Yet so many of us road-going owners adopt modifications that only make sense for a race track rather than tweak our trads for the venues we use. We do not mog on racing surfaces,where there is no slow traffic and a fully equipped paddock at hand. Frankly, though I very much enjoy being pitcrew, I much prefer mogging country back roads.

30 years ago, when I learned about camshafts and their effect, I asked John Sheally, the famous racer, to advise me on which to buy. He mildly replied by asking which type of roads I liked the most and that I should choose accordingly for all components.

L.

Indeed! Saved some money there then Lorne! The Morgan excels on the back roads, B roads best of all, and most A roads too. I haven't come across a Morgan yet that if driven on the roads it was designed for fails to give pleasure and lets be honest, isn't it just great having fun at legal speed limits whilst the super car driver/owner needs to find a track to enjoy his. Now here's the thing..... if you love fast driving and that's your thing your Morgan will do that too! And if you really want to compete it's not so expensive to hot the old MOG up either.
Yes it's true that nothing will do everything brilliantly but next time you see a Ferrari driver sweating in his car in heavy traffic you'll be able to tap on the window and suggest a Morgan to him and if he's having non of it, the clincher just might be that the pretty girls are far more attracted to the MOG than a sweating man in a Ferrari red or otherwise!