Coker tire question bias-ply vs. radials

Gonna order a set from Coker and have em brought to Charlotte auto-fair for my '50 F1, I love the bias ply look, but am concerned with driveability and ride vs. radials. Opinions please before I call and order. Also, what kinda discount have the members been getting?

 

ck your PM

 

this has been dragged into the ground so much I don't think anyone will post a reply.do a search ,you should get all the info you need to figure it out.it's funny most of the HAMBers here will claw your eyes out to get you to go thier way.I'm going to stay out of it,this time around.

 

Just one quick note: Bias ply Firestones on my A pickup went to Atlanta this weekend. 85+ miles per hour smooth as gl*** no wandering no bouncing no problems. Now they are not as smooth as radials, but still a very good ride.

 

I recently bought from Coker a set of four 15x6 chrome gennie wheels with Firestone Deluxe Champion bais ply white walls mounted on them for my '52 F1. I drove the truck from Phoenix to Bonneville and back for Speed Week. I crused at 75mph most of the way and the truck handled and drove quite nicely.

Also, I saved about $90 with my HAMB Alliance discount.

 

If your roads are nice and smooth you can run bias-plys. Around here with the roads as bad as they are with potholes, frost heaves and construction, radials sure do smooth out the bumps.

 

I get tired of the arguments too... so I will be brief in saying that none of my old Fords will ever run radials ever again.

 

I, too, got tired of the arguments...so I will be brief in saying that none of my six CARS will ever run bias plies again...radials are the only way to go down the hiway...

(Sorry DJango...)

R-

 

Hahaha, no worries Roger!

 

nothing sets the mood on an old car like bias-plys.

and no i am not trying to start ****, but he asked for an opinion.

 

Not to hijack but why does Coker say that you should never run bias-ply and radial together. Like radial out back and bias up front?

 

cross plys float around a bit so having both ends of the car "move" the same is important...having one end handle with a radial response[tight} and the other end crossply{loose} is asking for trouble......I havent heard the reason why, but id say thats why you shouldnt do it.......I just bought a set of cl***ic cokers for my 30 A rpu and im willing to put up with them for their period look...which is what Im after....If I was thinking about handling first I would run Independant front suspension and not an I beam...matter of fact, Id probably not build a rod if I was thinking of handling as a major priority.....my 2c worth........and by the way, their not that bad.....on a heavier car its not a nice feeling but on a light rod things are OK...just pump the *******s up hard ..bert

 

Bought a new set b.f.g.'s (cokers) for my car ,They were junk ! Damm things are not round. Had weights half way around the wheel trying to get them in.
Both bubble & speed balanced. Lucky enough to get my money back for the fronts,ate the rears. Bought a set of Diamond backs 7k on them now ,no problems.

 

Kinda off topic: for a real eye-opener experiment, try a radial on one front and a bias on the other. Hang on!

Jerry

 

You asked about the discount, I recently bought tires only and got $12 off per tire. It seems to vary quite a bit.

 

i have coker radials on 2 cars not very good i would go with someone else,s tires

 

i've got bias plies on my 58 ford, it drives itself on good road. the slighest wear on the road and you better hang on. nobody said looking good was easy. seriously though, I,ve run em for about a year and have about 25,000 miles on them, they,ve been rebalanced once and rotated a couple of times.
one is nearly bald , but the other three still have a little tread left.
Next time(very soon) I think i will use radials.
A friend has basically the same size radials on his 51 ford, with a questionable front end and the ride is still better, go figure, modern technology might have a use after all.

 

I have bias plies on my 55 buick - I hate the way they drive, and love the way they look. If you drive around town a lot, bias may not be too bad. If you live in hilly, curvey country, radials are the only way. For me.

 

I did do some searching on this before posting, just wanted some fresh opinions. This will be my parts chasing truck, around town mostly, so I think I'll go with the bias, thanks all!!

 

For your application I would go with radials, you would not belive how many people call in to get radials from us after buying bias tires for a car project they are finishing that they thought they would only drive every other weekend around town. The bias tires look great and if you are used to driving a car with them it is no big deal but to most the ride differnece is well worth the change over to radials. If I can help you with anything else you let me know.

 

Had bias on the 49 Merc for about 10K, was hard to handle (wife wouldn't drive it)! Changed to radials, now a whole different car, one hand drivin....OLDBEET

 

I wouldn't put bias on my training wheels !!!

 

Just when I am about ready to order a set of G/78/15 BIAS plys I read this thread! hmmm

 

separates the men from the boys

 

Don't be a jerk, not everybody knows as much as you.

 

Search function is your friend

 

My lowered 46 ford rides and drives nice with Firestone bias-plys all around. I experimented with tire pressure and toe-in and it's great now. Toe-in is 1/8" and my tire pressure is 30 PSI all around. I do have a tube shock conversion at all 4 corners also(Posies). To each is own........I think there is a t-shirt for sale elswhere that reads "Radials are for old men and little girls" or something like that?

 

Since I started this thread I'll add that I went with the Coker cl***ic bias-ply's 5.60s in front and 7.60s on the rear and love 'em. Dealt with Eric at Coker, a stand-up guy and thanks Ryan, I saved enough to pay my Hamb dues!

 

Thanks for the business Bobby, I am sure those tires will look great...