bias ply or radial wide whites?

i'm sure its been gone over time and time again. but i have a different combo..
i want wides whites on my 1966 ford f100. which would be a better choice? it won't be a daily driver, but will be driven plenty. also if running coker bias plys is it necessary to run tubes? thanks, Nick

 

Bias plys. Will make it KOOLSVILLE. If you got some pics of the 66 "pm" them to me. I own a 66 effie and would really dig seeing yours. I plan on dropping mine in the weeds. She's gonna be my shop truck if I play my cards right.

 

you do not have to run tubes if you have the Cokers on it.

 

There'll be a TON of people on here who will say you're some kind of sissy if you run radials... that you're some kind of poser who doesn't deserve to even own a nice ride. I say to hell with all that ****! We all know that radials are superior tires... if the ride is anything more than a show car, put the radials on her and hit the road with confidence.

 

On a full-fendered rig, where you can't see the tire commin' at you I say no need to run bias. It also depends on the roads, out here we have pretty good ruts and the bias will grab which is downright dangrous in traffic. I almost lost it a few tims in a heavy 50's car. A featherlight roadster might not be as bad. Short answer...Radials.

 

under fendes run radials, jmho

 

you cant beat the look of bias plys. i've ran them on my 53 for the last 8 years. i'll be putting them on my 29 when its ready for tires too. but to each his own, run what you want.

 

Radials might be superior in ride quality, but they totally LOSE the race as far as looks go.. I doubt your beginning question was which one looks cooler, because you'd be a fool to not know BIAS PLY look 100% cooler than radials.. now if you want the most out of a tire and dont mind spending the extra $$, radial is what you want. Can't have both.. ****s, huh?
Anthony

And in my opinion, the whole 'if its a fendered or covered wheel it doesnt matter' excuse is ridiculous.. you can still see the tire either way.. sorry..

 

I lean toward radials myself, but since it IS a truck, one thing my Dad used to always do was insist on bias ply for his '61 Ford stepside. Reason was (at least back years ago), if you dump a heavy load in the back of the truck, enough to put too much pressure on the tires, the metal coring in radials would separate from the rubber, then you'd get those bulges we've all seen from time to time on the side of radials.
So, if you aren't gonna be hauling a load of dirt in the back of it (like Dad used too), or tend to curb-check, then go with the radials, but if it gets used like a shop truck, ya may wanna consider the bias plys.

Now if it's about looks, well that's a personal choice.

 

I cant even find bias ply p***enger car tires in my city.... And your claiming you can get them cheaper than radials??????

Please, enlighten me.......

 

I´d go for the bias plys, not only because it looks better but also your suspension was made for these tires.
Here´s the whole story and some historical facts.
You have to read this, it´s very interisting:

http://www.jags.org/TechInfo/2001/05May01/tires/historyoftires.htm

 

koolsville....where did that come from....dobie gillis???maynard g krebs??

 

bias plys look better..
radials last twice as long, ride better, brake better,ect.
I'm putting bias coker firestone www on my 51 ford vicky
my 51 ford coupe had bias, wore um out, switched to diamondback radial www.
can't have it both ways.
jdl

 

My vote would be if you're keeping em under fenders, then go for the Radials. If you're in an open wheel car where the "look" is more crucial, then go for Bias Plys.

 

I've done both, radials on my '52 Buick and bias on my bucket and I have to agree with teh open wheel run bias suggestion, it's a bit more raw.

 

The tires on your truck were bias-ply when it rolled of the ***embly line. HRP

 

I currently have Denham Cl***ic bias www on my 50 burb with red steelies and a camaro front clip. Looks pretty cool. However, it is a major ***** driving in town due to the constant road walking. Streets are cupped badly at all of the intersections.

So, with that being said, I'd like to find a set of radials but most that I look at do not appear to have very wide whites. Mine are 3 if not 4 inch wide. I like the look, but may have to sacrifice look for ride or I'm going to side swipe someone.


Thanks for any help.

 

Cool read! Learned a couple things from it. Thanks.

 

From years of running twin I-beam Fords, go radials. Twin I's steer much better with 'em.

 

thanks for the input guys, but this post is over a year old, and the truck has long since been sold..but great info. none the less...p.s i went radial on it

 

I went from bias ply to radials on my '53 and made alot of difference in handling, ride and steering. It was a change for the better. And also, on the model a which as an old set of buick skylark wires,tubes and bias ply tires. When I wanted to put new tires on it, they said they would not put tubes in radial tires.

 

i'm looking at tires right now for my topolino...loveing the look of the bias tires,,,but all i read on here is that they **** for driving....28 A frame, lite *** topo with small block, going coil over rear with watts link..and only about 94 inch wheel base...i wanna drive this thing every where,,,looking at the diamond back radials...looking at the radir/coker cheater slicks,,,these seem to have the look,,but what about the ride???????

 

So far my car has had every tire combo except mud terrains. I just installed the new www.universaltire.com/ wide white bias and love them.

 

Too bad the guy ran radials...for anyone else out there, don't think twice---Bias Plys!

 

wow this post is real old. glad it was brought back up with more replies. I have been wondering which way to go with mine too. Bias ply it is.

 

Bias with tubes

 

I have had great luck with Diamond Back tires,I have them on my 36&46 Fords.It realy makes them handle better than the bias tires.They have the wide w/w and look great.Had Cokers on my 62 Olds and they wore out in 10,000 miles.

 

OK, since this thread is old and nearly run out, I'm going to hijack it! I searched and didn't find much, and you guys at least are talking tires.
The '29 in my avitar is setting on 165 radials on the front and 375/60/15 Pro Tracs on the back. I haven't taken the car out yet, my fab skills make me slow.
What can I expect this thing to feel like? I'd like to go to a radial on the back, but I have 15x10's on the rear, and I can't find a 275-70-15 blackwall anywhere. I want to stay with around a 30" dia. tire on the back to keep the stance.
Anyone have any experence with Pro Tracks? I got these used for $45.00 each (!!!!) so I couldn't p*** them up. And, they give me the look I want. But I don't want to be twitching around on the street like a go kart either! Thoughts? real world experence? Thanks, Mike

 

I had radials on my 61 Thunderbird. I switched them over to Coker bias wide whites (there were 25 % used), even with a fresh balance at 70 mph on the interstate it was like riding on a washboard. I put the radials back on and am saving up for a set of wide white radials.





You decide which looked better

 

Since you will drive it alot, go with radials. The bias plys belong on old rods.