Technical Ok Moriarity and Stogy are right ! This is what I’m gonna do …

Sombreros look great

I dig the flippers as well

Mmmmmmm

 

Tires? these never had “the look” in my opinion

the bias “look” radial is a huge improvement
but The real thing is art in rubber form

 

It’s weird trying to explain to someone how one tire looks better than another.
$$$ is the reason I used black wall radials on the daily driven junk. But, if I actually build something to fit an era or period, the bias would be the only choice.

but a narrow whitewall radial stretched over a almost too wide rim for a low rider doesn’t seem off to me for early-mid 60s up rides.

 

I dunno...I've never heard someone say "my car drives/handles better now that I switched back to bias-plies".

 

The handling or driving is no excuse for not using a bias tire. Cost or availability makes sense.
But the look is worth the “sacrifice” of handling or ride quality.
On a period style or restoration

 

how bad is the ride from an “ok” radial to a new bias ply ?

obviously materials and construction have come leaps and bounds since the 50’s .

yes a high end low profile radial is like driving on glue ( I had pirelli pzero yellow , tires )on my 69 Lincoln and that thing drive like it was on rails !

but I’ve grown up and want a different look with this car .


Right now the 40 has 10 year old “cost effective “ radial tires
It drives good , not a corner carver , but it stops and steers just fine .

how much “worse” are a new set of bias plys ?

or will it be comparable?

 

Bias vs radial in my opinion/experience. The bias would need a few miles to “warm up” to remove a flat spot after sitting a few days.
The bias tires seem harder but easier to turn without power steering.
Handling? Well that’s relative. If you want a car to corner like a Porsche, then tire selection is only part of the equation.
I like the way old cars ride and handle. For a nice clean ride like yours, I would just make sure the stock stuff operates correctly then used period methods to lower.
Period caps and tires. But that’s just an opinion.
If you want the new car handling, then do all the off topic mods associated with it.

but just for reference, there was a racer that campaigned a straight axle T in road races back in the mid-late 50s. Held its own and even beat the best sports cars available at the time.

I will add that a bias tire will not out mile the average radial but out last in terms of age.

 

[QUOTE="VANDENPLAS,

ive thought about this all winter and as much as I would like steelies and caps , ( @lothiandon1940 car is the tits )[/QUOTE]....You're too kind. Thanks for the nice words.

 

.......Don't let @hotrodjack33 hear you talk like that!.....

 

no I’m NOT looking for a corner carver , just a comfy ride I can take on the highway

it does have a SBF with an AOD so it does have a bit of stink to it and it will be driven to work the odd time ( roughly 45-1 hour one way )
So as long as it rides as good as it does now with shitty radials I’m ok with that as proper looking WWW really do fit this car to a T .

 

If you feel that you absolutely must have radial's, you might check out the Diamond Back Classic radials. It's kind of the best of both world's, radial's that actually look like bias ply's. Check out the Auburn Deluxe model tire's.

 

I friggin' give up. There's no talking sense to you guys...UNLESS...you mount that single driving light in the center. Then folks won't think you lost one

 

You Guys .Are kinda , almost, sort of , trying to be nice to each other in this debate .
So, recently scored a set of Fog’s for our 39’ Deluxe.
After 2 Brews , one is polished. So do i only polish/ mount 1 ?
Stretch

 

Yes you only polish one mount , why would you go through the extra work when your only mounting 1 light ?

 

and that’s the point so no one knows WTF your thinking !!!!!

 

Copy Sir . You guys crack me up .
O, and you guys also know what you are talking about.
Stretch

 

That car looks too smooth as is WITHOUT fog/driving lights or spotlights! Keep it clean!
Radials have less rolling resistance and run cooler, both of which extend service life. They handle and brake better than bias plies as well (there has been enough testing over the years to prove this). Since you're not planning on parking it in your living room, and trailering it to the occasional show, I suggest radials. JMHO

 

The bias/radial debate is a no winner. Bias certainly has the correct look. With the proper setup, like shaving (making them true round), and a high-end balance job, they can probably be decent. Bias are already expensive, then some guys spend a lot more fixing them. Radials can be decent right out of the box. If a guy can only afford radials, let’s try not to give him a hard time.

it also depends on the car. I need new front tires on my Model A. I’ll get bias-ply, because the looks are top priority. I’m currently building a low-buck custom. Guess what, it will run what I can afford for a while. I would love to do a tire test thread with the same car switching back and forth between bias and radials. Get several drivers to rate the experience.

 

It's like walking around wearing only one shoe...folks will wonder, why only one shoe...and what happened to the other one?

 

Shoe fell off while crawling around looking for 2nd Fog Light !

 

Pffft….. that’s just a normal day . When the going gets weird , the weird turn pro !

 

I wouldn't have anything else on my pre 65 rides than Bias Plys (BP) it's just part of the experience period...shortcomings and all...

I am of the opinion many things blamed on BPs could be attributed to other component issues within the drive lines...

These are cruisers. BPs have made their due on the Lakes and the Nations roads and are fit for the task...

If I had to make the forward leap it would be to one of the BP lookalikes that are continually evolving in the effort to capture the look of the Yesteryear...

...and the one light debate has roots in history...



https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/rarest-32-ford.201153/page-6#post-14396259

...I share this to highlight what influences those that do the things they do...those that question the why of lighting are many times no doubt daft of the why of everything they are looking at...

Me I have a fairweather Hotrod...I'll leave fog lights and other luxuries to the daily...I don't even use them on it...just me...

My Custom would have no Fog lights Spots possibly...

We have choices now as they did then...

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LMAO. Oh yeah, them folks had a real handle on tasteful accessory design

 

Jack you need a fur coat...

Purpose over looks you know...

No to fogs on my Custom or Hotrod...1 or 2...just me...I just love the History...as it has influences...tasteful or not...

 

Mmmmm x2...there are a huge multitude of choices indeed...these Customs are quite a simple balance of accessories, Chrome and Color...I really am in awe of this era in the movement...

https://www.customcarchronicle.com/custom-cars/30-40-fomoco-sedan-customs/

...a link to the 4dr you shared at CCC...Hamber X38's Thread is one to inspire as are many others dotting the archives here at the Hamb...

Here's a link below to the Merc 4dr @Joe Blow shared...



https://kustomrama.com/wiki/Mel_Lehman's_1940_Mercury

This Merc was seriously reworked fenders molded front and rear to body...I certainly don't expect you to take yours to this level but there's no reason you can't capture and Salute what was accomplished here and that's truly exciting...

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