Morgan Tire Problem

[studegary]

Sunday afternoon, a local guy was driving his 1936 Morgan Supersport car (three wheeler) home. THE rear tire failed. The guy was ejected and died. He was 67 years old.

He was not a friend, but I knew who he was, met him and had visited his home in the past.

"There was no indication of excessive speed" per the sheriff's office. (How fast can one go in one?)
There were no seat belts.
I wonder how old the tire was. That tire was very important since there is only one back there.

[8E45E]

Strange indeed!! Morgan reintroduced the 3-wheeler last year: http://www.morgan3wheeler.co.uk/desktopindex.html

Craig

[Commander Eddie]

Yikes. One never considers the stability issue with a blowout in something like that. I have seen some of the antics by the trio on Top Gear with 3-wheelers. Rolling them over and such. All very funny until you are in one and something goes terribly wrong. Very sad story, Gary. Something to file away in the "think carefully" file.

[EssexExport]

Such a shame. Even a lap belt may have saved him.

[8E45E]

Such a shame. Even a lap belt may have saved him.

I highly doubt it. I bet it went ass-over-teakettle, being a three-wheeler; not unlike those early-eighties Honda ATX's.

Craig

[Bob Bryant]

A friend in Florida had a badly-bent pre-war Morgan, but I don't know the circumstances that caused it to happen. I think he bought it after the incident.

[t walgamuth]

It should be considered a motor cycle...head protection required. I wonder if he had motorcycle tires on it. Motorcycle tires are designed to work with a machine that leans, car tires not. A morgan three wheeler should have car tires, I would think.

[48skyliner]

"Motorcycle tires are designed to work with a machine that leans, car tires not. A morgan three wheeler should have car tires, I would think."

I went through these same thought processes, and I have much more of my life invested in the Stiletto project than you might imagine. For years I had conversations with guys who have designed, built and raced motorcycles, sidecar racers and conventional race cars. Because of my concerns about the rollover stability problem inherent in three wheelers, I ultimately made the deliberate decision to use those skinny little motorcycle wheels and tires, partly because of the classic look I wanted, but primarily to limit the cornering traction - I want my vehicle to ALWAYS slide before it lifts a wheel.

As for the early Morgans, they were built before seat belts and roll bars were commonly used, but if I had one that is the first thing I would change.

[dictator27]

It should be considered a motor cycle...head protection required. I wonder if he had motorcycle tires on it. Motorcycle tires are designed to work with a machine that leans, car tires not. A morgan three wheeler should have car tires, I would think.

As originally equipped, it would have had motorcycle tires. The rear tire on a Morgan will roll under when cornering fast. I think studegary's question about tire age is probably more appropriate.

To turn the question around, Austin Seven's (a car, obviously)were equipped with motorcycle tires to keep the cost of the car down.

Terry

[t walgamuth]

Well, on the roads of the thirties generating enough traction to make a difference in the tires was probably hard to do. Today's paved roads though would be another matter.