How bad will bias ply whites suck to REALLY drive??

I wanna get a set for the Merc, but I don't wanna white knuckle the damn thing every time I'm on the highway.

I'm talking 3000 miles to teh HAMB Drags and every day back and forth to work kind of driving.

By the way...here is a mini-update....she should be in shiny black by end of May early June...



-Abone.

 

I don't think they would be all that bad. They're what America drove well into the seventies.

 

i run on my daily. no big deal.

 

Gosh, you know bias-ply tires carried cars like yours for many many years, so I doubt you'd have a "white-knuckle" ride, unless you think you're at the race track. Absolutely nothing wrong with NEW "quality-made" bias ply tires, especially if you're a "period-perfect" fan.

"a five second fuse lasts exactly three seconds"

dj

 

They're only if you say they're bad. I like bias plys better for the look but nothing beats radials for all out driving.

 

Had WWW bias on my Merc and it was all over the road. Put a set of cheap radials on and liked them so well I bought BFG Silvertowns from Coker. We have really bad groves in the freeway here, lots of truck traffic. I drive a lot, like the radials.............OLDBEET

 

I have em on my 56 and to be honest with you I don't feel like its that big of a difference. I love the look verses a radial too. No white knuckles either !

 

If South Carolina's roads are anything like ours here in Jersey, good luck. I had bias plys on my daily for 2 years and dealt with it, but it was nowhere near a nice ride. They're cheaper and look way better, but is it really worth it?

This thread will get closed in 3...

 

shiny black??,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,how cool....cant wait to see it,,

jim

 

I liked me bias. But then again they were on a 51 plymouth withwhat, 95 h.p.. Drove on the freeway several times with no problem. And I don't think any state has worse roads the good ol' Ca.

 

Dude the way your drive get some radials... you're gonna drive the shit out of that thing just like you do the A.... I doubt you would like the bias plys...

 

there not bad, in fact i like em better. they do grab gooves in the road more than radials, but they're more cushiony.

 

Put 2700 miles in 5 days on my roadster with Coker Classic bias....couldn't wait to get home and get 'em off. The rears seemed OK (with 10psi air) but the fronts, 5.50x15's, absolutely SUCK. 62 mph (and right thru to 85mph) and you'd have thought the front end was coming undone. Have since tried new wheels, dynabeads, spin balance on the car etc.. Nada. Coker acted like they never heard of a problem with these tires. If your going to drive it....Radials, my man, radials.

 

If your steering and suspension are all dialed in and well maintained you have nothing to worry about... and they look a helluva lot better than radials! Hell, the steering in my '52 is all over the place and I still run 'em (I just hang on REAL tight-like)! BPWWW... ain't nothin' like the real thing!

-ns

 

Go bias! No big deal. It appeas that the pussies have you spooked...don't be! It was the WAY back then..enjoy your return to "how it was" and you will be fine!!!! Your car geometry/setup/balance is more important...asl long as you have not been crazy (stupid) with weight, shocks, springs, etc...ENJOY!

 

if you have wore out suspension/steering parts you better carry an extra set of drawers!! if i could find a radial with the same white wall i would run them...just sucks they cost more than set of 33's for my truck! the wifes merc does nice with the bias plys

 

What the hell is the deal with NO RADIALS?
Do you think that they wouldn't have been used back when?
HOLD IT DIDN"T BEN HUR RACE CHARIOTS? THEY HAD WOODEN WHEELS.

 

You haven't driven with Yokum..............EVERY ride is white knuckle!

You want Silvertowns dude.

 

You gotta be shitin' me,,,South Carolina roads are like a piece of glass compared to Jersey roads!

Use the Coker Classics and you won't have any problems,,,In fact now the Firestones on my mor-door sedan are another story

BTW,,,the merc looks great! HRP

 

I ran with bias tires on my 53 for 3 years..ride sucked and handeling sucked, i just thought thats how it was.

I went and put a set of radials on it over 5 or 6 years ago. I'll never go back to bias. I like to drive my car and i like to relax while i drive my car.

do what ever you want , but i bet if you tried a set of those nice Coker WWW radials, you would never go back to bias..no matter the look..especially if you like to drive the shit out of it.

 

I've gone from low-pro 20's (shhhh don't tell anyone) on a vehicle to wide whites on steelies. There is a small difference in sidewall roll that's barely noticable. The benefits in the looks of the vehicle far outway this. How does the old saying go? Once you go white, you never go back, or something like that...

 

I would put Bias Ply's on that car.

And if that would turn it into a white knuckle ride, I'd search for suspension problems/adjustment before I'd replace them.

One of the things that I found out is that going from a Shitty Old set of Bias Ply's ( you know... the ones you build a car on ) to new ones was a bigger difference than going from a good set of Bias to a good set of Radials...

 

Love the look....HATE the ride!!!!!!! I'm getting some new tires real soon and i'm on the fence about which ones to buy. Put radials on my son's Shoebox,cause it rode so bad. HUGE difference!!!!! Not sure about the Merc yet.

 

Come on FLAME.grow some balls!!! You gonna put radials on such a bitchin' ride???? Please NO!

 

Wow..thanks guys, that's alot of info. I am really leaning towards bias plys....but..my buddy Boones bought a set of bias from a reputable vendor and had to have them shaved because they were so out of round.

I am trying to avoid that... I wanna bolt em on and drive the fuck out of em. Rain, shine, sleet, hail..all that crap. I mean REALLY drive.

Where is Corky when you need him??

-Abone.

 

thats one sick merc.

 

Serious....Most problems that people face are not because of the tires/rims, it is because of GEOMETRY---alignment, weight distribution, spring differentials, weird shocks, axle/a-arm problems, tracking issues, etc. There is SO much more to ride and comfort than just tires!!!!! It is about the PACKAGE not just the tires....I do NOT work for Coker..but those poor bastards have to be pulling their hair out!!!!

 

I haven't had to shave any and I've driven for weeks at a time on them. I could keep a steady 85 mph without suspension rattle or hop. I think it's like metalshapes said check the front end for problems if it's riding rough. I've always used the Firestones but not the 450's people say they have had problems with. Scarylarry had Goodyears and had to have them shaved for a smooth ride.

 

waitaminnit.
justadamn minnit. you mean to tell me that although I am building a tudor to stand next to yours, only with olds power, so we can have our very own Brand X grudge match...and you're drivin the merc to the drags this year?

That's it, I'm goin' drinkin.

and personally, I would use the wides bfg silvertown they have. The camaro clip is not well suited for Bias plys. Personal opinion, backed up by higher Caster and Camber rates than the Merc had stock.

Bias would look cooler, but your suspension wants Radials.