Just curious!! How good or bad are Bias ply tires to drive a 1940 ford.I haven't driven a bias ply tire in well over 50 years . I hear so many pro's and con's about the ride and handling and how bias at times need to be shaved.I like the look not sure if I should just go radial. Just looking for opinions
How many miles do you think you'll put on the car? If not many, then you should be OK with bias tires. I don't know how to get some that don't need to be shaved, perhaps don't get tires that were made by Coker?
Heavily grooved freeways. That’s the only time I’ve experienced any problems driving with bias ply tires. They ride different than radials but different ain’t bad. There’s a reason that some manufacturers try to replicate the look of them, they simply look better on a traditional jalopy.
I have had good luck with bias ply tires used on my '32 pickup, I got mine from Coker. I used Coker radials on the Ranch Wagon with no complaints. HRP
I recently ordered another set of Coker radials for the wagon simply because of the age, 14 years old. HRP
The most annoying thing about bias tires is they want to follow any seam in the road. I had a set on the 47 Ford I traded on my 57 T-Bird. I thought the seam in road problem might just have been the suspension on the 47. My little Bird had bias tires when I made the trade and it also followed seams in the road. In fact I think both cars looked for the seams. Radials made a big difference on the Thunderbird. Stayed with radials the 27 years I had it.
Bias tires were and are fine for those who like them or know their limitations. I personally use local freeways often enough going to gatherings where they would move me all over a lane because of the rain cuts in the concrete. So I chose not to use them.
Road ruts are an issue with bias tires, that's for sure. But on an early car with original manual steering, I will say that bias tires are way easier to steer/park at low speeds. Grippy radials with manual steering can be a workout to parallel park or make tight, low speed turns. The bias tires also have a better look, although I've used radials on several cars just because they're way cheaper. The bias-look radials are better looking than off the shelf modern ones, but I always feel like the bulge at the bottom makes them look like they're going flat. I guess it depends on your budget, taste, and also how you use the car.
We've had our '40 Tudor since early '65. It always drove terrible with bias ply tires. Dad tried everything but it just wasn't great. He was experienced with front end alignment. When I got the car 46 years ago I put radials on it and never looked back. Huge improvment! Drives great. Dave
With bias ply tires you have to drive the car, on rough roads you have to constantly be moving the steering wheel, if you don't want to deal with the idiosyncrasies of bias ply tires I would suggest you stick with radials. HRP
Bias ply tires handle terrible, follow ruts, etc. It's not an opinion, it's a fact. But I still love um. My car is a 50s car and I want it to handle like a 50s car. I drive mine everywhere, highways, distance, whatever. I don't mind the small wander on rut highways. You get used to it once you know what it is. First time freaked me out tho, lol. Been ten years on my bp's, never had an issue. I don't store my car on blocks in the winter, never had a flat spot like some say, etc. If you want a more modern feel and handling get radial. If you want traditional look and feel, bias.
My thoughts but first a simple fact. A steel belted radial tire acts somewhat as a spring, radials didn’t exist until 1948 meaning a Ford was designed and engineered for use with bias plies! Not to mention that radials didn’t exist until not become popular until the 1980s! My dad said he did not buy his first set of radials until the late 80s! Just before he and mom moved back from South Carolina. Also hundreds perhaps thousands of race cars are running bias plies every weekend including midgets, sprints, Silver Crown, Northeast Sportsman/Modifieds and Super Modifieds, all of which run straight axles!
If you like the look of a bias ply tire check out the Diamondback Auburn Deluxe radial tires. They have the look (very close) of a bias ply, but are very round and true. I put them on my car last year and I will never go back to a bias ply. They are round with no wobble, easy handling and a smooth ride down the road. Good luck.
Directional stability is poor with bias plies that's a given, but no one so far seems too bothered about lack of grip when braking. I know I am, especially in the wet, and it gets even worse as low mileage tyres stiffen with age. I have tubeless Auburns on the rear, looking for bias look tubeless 19" radials for the front of my A if such a thing exists.
I've been running bias-ply Coker Firestones on my '40 for the last six years. Yes, they follow any grooves or wear patterns in the road, but after I got re-accustomed to that I don't even notice it anymore. If it were a daily driver or going on a long cross-country trip I'd put radials on, but for the occasional 100 mile trip they work well for me.
I drove Plan II across the country a couple times with bias ply tires, it was fun...in a white knuckle sort of way. But that car had other things about it that made the handling scary even with radials, such as the altered wheelbase, solid front axle, etc.
Mandriano, do what you will. Despite opinions, the world DID NOT change to radials for no good reason. FWIW. Besides the SUPERIOR performance of radials, the price difference sure buys a lot of gas!
The new bias look radials won't save you much but I'm very happy they are designing to mimic the look of the yesteryear...
If that train of thought is transferred to high speed handling and cornering, the "grippy radials" thing is an advantage. Traditional is great, as long as you realize that it brings with it all of the mediocre performance aspects of the time.
I’ve been running bias ply Coker’s Firestones on my builds for years without an issues. I replaced the ones on my roadster after ten years on the road just to be safe. All my builds have been 32 Fords so your 40 is a heavier vehicle. Not sure if that makes much difference. However we are using basically the same suspension . Nothing says Traditional like Firestone Bias tires!
Just buy the coker firestone bias tires. I run them on all of my cars and have had zero issues. The people that complain about them just have roo high of expectations for an old car. They are not new lincolns they will drive differently but that's the entire point of having an old car. My 48 tudor has gone through 2 sets my model A needs a new set just from milage. They perform great even in the snow. Also people complaining about coker tires needing shaved to be round are ridiculous.
Im on my second set of Firestone bias on my Buick. If the roads are heavely worn itll drag left/right and crossing lines is the same, the worn out faster, probably because of the drag when driving bad roads. Talking of plus, as said before slightly easier steering, alot less roadnoise, much much softer ride cause of the much less psi, and dont forget the look, those Firestones is a piece of art. On nice roads you can steer with one pinky going 55 Im gonna run them as long as I can get them
I have Coker bias on my 30 A and have put 1000 miles on in the last 2 months. I agree with everyone’s comments on the difference with radials, but, the look is spot on and worth the drive. They balanced well and seem as good as any tires I’ve had before. I’ll not put radials on it. That being said, I just purchased Diamond Back bias looking pie crust radials for our 29 A Sedan to replace the cheap no name radials. Have to get them mounted and balanced soon and will find out if they are as good as they cost. I do like their look.
I have put around 10k miles on my bias ply tires on my 51 in the last year. Not planning on radials for any of my 40’s or 50’s cars. They drive as expected to me and I love the look.
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