Technical bias vs radial ?

Lots of good info and opinions here. When I have time I'll read the whole thing.
In the meantime I'll add my own 2 cents worth.
I prefer radials for the ride and handling.
I get tired of the old bias ply or nothing bs.
There are radial tires that look great on fender less cars a few of them are mentioned in this thread and there are others too.

 

You might do some more searching here on the HAMB for more info on this subject. Here's my personal experience:
I love the look of the bias tires but, after buying three Firestones (Coker) and one Lester (Vintage tire) that were OUT OF ROUND, and no one in my area with a tire truing machine to make them round, I quit buying the bias tires.
I have Coker radials on my deuce roadster (white walls) and Coker radials on my 34 coupe (black walls) and have many miles on both with no problems. Also, I run them without tubes. Not bad looking, and I don't have the wobble at 60 - 80 mph.

 

Bias ply are the way to go. The difference in handling isn't that big of a deal unless you're truly a horrible inattentive driver. I've had mine on since 2007 so I don't know of any radials that have lasted that long on any other of my cars.

 

I'll be the first to admit that I'm biased. When it comes to tires I'll have radials, thank you.

 

When "traditional" looks affect my personal safety , I have to draw the line. I took my coupe on the highway with new bias ply tires ( Firestones) and thought I was going to die! Squirrely as hell, and on a roadway with a crown it was like driving a boat. A friend suggested I borrow a set of radials from him, and it was like night and day. (Didn't change anything but the tires) Cruises straight as an arrow at 65 all day long.----- Bye , bye bias.

I do run bias ply on my roadster, but that's a 4 banger with a top speed of 40-45 MPH. It's a back road car for putting around and enjoying the scenery.

And then there's cheater slicks in the rain- check your shorts!!

 

prpmmp, what size are the tires on your coupe? look great!

 

I have them both. In my opinion if you are going to drive the car a ton the radials are more forgiving. The bias plys keep you on your toes. Either way they both look good to me.

Radial

Bias

 

Boxer briefs.

 

I've had two pair of 215 85R 16 Michelin radials. The first set was used, the second set new. I am over 100,000 miles in a '49 Chevy 1/2 ton, still a long ways to go with the second set. I remember my first set of radial tires in 1971...I thought I had won the lottery. Soft and smooth, the look is important, the ride, safety, and handling are more important.

 

Bias plys for me, thanx for asking

 

Thanks!!560-15 front and 820-15 rear!! Pete

 

I love the way bias look. Got them on a few cars. But on my model a coupe I love cruising the fast lane at 80 mph. The bias just weren't cutting it.


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Too bad they are not available in tubeless 16" sizes yet.

 

Awesome car both options look great . what size are you running ? thank you

 

Yeah why is that?

 

Ah yes- the age old debate- if you are building a die hard traditional ride- period correct the question becomes- what was available at the time? Answer that question and you have your answer-
If you are willing to compromise the authenticity of the build for driveability- you have another option in more modern technology.

 

I don't understand the comments about "wobbles at 60" or thinking you were going to die taking your car on the highway with bias ply tires. WTF??? I mentioned earlier about the issues with rain grooved freeways, but even those aren't that bad, I don't hesitate to get out on the freeways or to drive 80+ with the bias ply Firesdtones on my A. You guys got something wrong with your car, or got some bad tires or maybe you didn't grow up driving on bias ply tires and aren't used to them? I understand about personal preferences, but some of the comments above seem really over the top.

 

my '37 drives/rides just fine with bias ply tires...plus they look right..

 

Yup, as I mentioned in my post, I got 3 bad ones that were out of round right out of the wrapping. And yes, I did grow up driving on bias plys.

 

IMO, depends on how much driving and conditions of roads in your area. Short run Hot Rod and old school look, bias ply.. Again IMO, I drive my cars alot of miles, radials are the way to go for me. I have a 51 Buick Roadmaster w/ coker wide whites, bias ply, looks killer, but if we would use for long trips, would switch to radials, again IMO and remember I am a senior citizen.....Short story, friend had a nice 32 5 window and 2 sets of wheels, tires, rode in car, was OK, he took me for ride w/ the bias ply tires to show me difference, World of difference, day and night, radials much smoother ride and handling, keeping in mind, 32 Fords are not sports cars.

 

What about commando? HRP

 

My first car I had radials on was my '64 Ford Country Sedan. I thought it rode okay on the bias tires, but the radials made a dramatic difference. 225/75-15 on the rear 205/75-14 on the front.

Got radials on the '59, have about .8 miles on them, hard to say how good it rides.

 

And there are others that say the same thing about radials they bought. What you both are missing is it isn't the bias or radial nature of the tires that causes them to be out of round.

 

Bias v/s Radials? Yep..... it's been 3 months. It depends on the car, roads and driver preference. I'll do a search and see if that's what I said 3 months ago in the other thread.

 

From my experience, on my 51 Woodie..I have both bias & radial set up...The Deluxe Champion bias look great.. driving with bias doesn't bother me.. The radials are different a animal...driving is more a pleasure for sure.

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I'll bring up one aspect of the bias vs radials argument that's never mentioned...

One issue with bias tires is there's so few current choices, with the Firestones being the overwhelming choice. Now, 'back in the day' there were far more choices; General, Uniroyal, Goodyear to name just a few. All of these tires had different looks. Get into a herd of 'traditional' bias-equipped cars these days, and it almost looks like they came off the same 'assembly line'. So while I'll agree that tires can 'set' the look of a car, looking like every other car isn't high on my list....

 

Why did you join this forum? ^^^

 

It wasn't to have a lowest-common-denominator copycat....

 

I joined so I can be Insulted!! Pete

 

Then you have come to the right place, my friend.