Register now to get rid of these ads!

push me off the fence...bias or radial?????

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Topolino Kid, Feb 28, 2009.

  1. well i'm needing to buy tires to get thru the next faze on Lil Beast...i've read and read but i'm still setting on the fence as to bias or radial..hard core Hamber's say bias and then there's those screamin radials...pie crust is too cool looking...but it comes down to cool over ride i guess..i have had several tell me that it's too short to get any ride comfort out of the bias ply..then there's the "grip" issue..too many posts on the bias ply not getting a decent bite......so, i'm looking for help in decideing...
     
  2. budd
    Joined: Oct 31, 2006
    Posts: 3,478

    budd
    Member

  3. Bias if its fenderless...radial if its got fenders
     
  4. Mr 42
    Joined: Mar 27, 2003
    Posts: 1,215

    Mr 42
    Member
    from Sweden

    Hot Rod Bias
    Street Rod Radial
     
  5. eightbanger
    Joined: Feb 17, 2007
    Posts: 378

    eightbanger
    Member

  6. Daily driver, driven to events or, gawd-forbid, trailer queen?
     
  7. Ruiner
    Joined: May 17, 2004
    Posts: 4,141

    Ruiner
    Member

    Guys, be realistic here...it's a Topolino drag car that will be on the street...a lot...put skinny radials up front and some hard compound drag radials on the back and save the bias plys for the traditional cars...and for the record, I'm typically anti-radial, except in situations like this...
     
  8. pasadenahotrod
    Joined: Feb 13, 2007
    Posts: 11,772

    pasadenahotrod
    Member
    from Texas

    Correctomundo.
     
  9. hotrodladycrusr
    Joined: Sep 20, 2002
    Posts: 20,765

    hotrodladycrusr
    Member

    Depends if you planning to actually drive the thing outside the Metro Detroit area. If so, radials. I spent one summer running both radials and bias plys on Big Olds depending on what my plans were for that weekend. Roasting the tires at an event in town of just cruzn around, I left the bias plys on. When I left for out of town I put the radials back on because the tracting on the bias was really bad when I was driving around town both surface streets and highway. Functionality over looks in my book.
     
  10. AHotRod
    Joined: Jul 27, 2001
    Posts: 12,316

    AHotRod
    Member

    If your going to REALLY drive it ? No question it's Radial's.

    If you want to chase the steering wheel and the car all over the roads of today, then put Bias on it.
     
  11. well i guess it would qualifiy as a "retired drag car body"....but it does set on a 1928 model A ford frame...and has disc brakes up front...my intent is to drive it..everywhere..hell i want to roll to Bonnie to see the salt!!!so i been kinda leanin towards the Diamondback pie cut radials...but have found little info or opinions on them..anyone running the cheater they make??????

    or does any one else make a radial besides DB that looks good?????
     
  12. vintagehotrods
    Joined: Nov 16, 2002
    Posts: 2,705

    vintagehotrods
    Member

    Does it need to hook up when you drop the hammer? Radials! Long distance coast to coast drives? Radials! Local cruising in good weather? Bias! Short runs to nearby events? Bias! Like with most everything, its a compromise of what you kind of driving you plan on doing most of the time. The answer (when you can afford it) really is two sets of wheels and tires. It lets you put a new dress on your girl for different dates!

    For all weather driving, be careful of the "cheaters", either radial or bias because they can be like driving on ice if you run into rain suddenly, with all the oil and gunk on the streets.
     
  13. Special Ed
    Joined: Nov 1, 2007
    Posts: 8,659

    Special Ed
    Member

    This is a great answer. Re-read it.
     
  14. If you're driving it, Radials are the way to go.
     
  15. patrick66
    Joined: May 14, 2008
    Posts: 4,780

    patrick66
    Member

    Buy the tire that gets you down the road in the manner in which you desire, and in the look that makes you happy. Try them both and decide yourself.

    These "radial versus bias" threads pop up from time to time, and it's the same answers every time.
     
  16. Evel
    Joined: Jun 25, 2002
    Posts: 9,044

    Evel
    Member

    Hot rod chassis has a tee that explains it all...
    [​IMG]
     
  17. NOTCH
    Joined: Apr 19, 2006
    Posts: 663

    NOTCH
    Member

    Thats Right!! And I need to get that shirt
     
  18. Mercury Kid
    Joined: Nov 22, 2007
    Posts: 408

    Mercury Kid
    Member

    I run bias plys on my car, and I drive it everywhere with no problems. Remember, radials are a "new" invention and people drove everywhere for a lot of years on bias plys.

    My Torque-Twister II's hook better than any other street tire I've had, and they're older than I am. They get pretty hard when it's cold but they're pretty sticky in the summer. Yes the skinnys up front follow cracks and lines in the road, but not really any worse than low-pro radials.

    Radials just kill the look of a traditional car.
     
  19. Alfster
    Joined: Jan 15, 2002
    Posts: 1,174

    Alfster
    Member

    That is real cool. I'd drive that. Would need to fit some doors to get it registered down here. Some custom paint and signwriting and that would be it.
     
  20. swazzie
    Joined: Mar 30, 2004
    Posts: 940

    swazzie
    Member

    It depends on if you really like to drive or not . Bias plys are completely a sensory experience . Every groove in the road , bump , wind sheer . etc.etc.
     
  21. Go look at the discarded tires at the tire shop. You will see lots of radials with plenty of tread that have gone bad. Most of the bias will just be worn out. Radials are only good for a certain time when they age the belts begin to slip and they go bad. I have some bias on a 66 ford 2 ton that have been on it since 1972. If you drive a lot of miles and will wear them out in a year radials are fine. But if you dont put a lot of miles they will go bad just sitting.Bias almost always will work better on a trailer. OldWolf
     
  22. flamedabone
    Joined: Aug 3, 2001
    Posts: 5,733

    flamedabone
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I was worried about bias plys handling like shit on the Merc, but they were GREAT. They never did anything unexpected, I was pleasantly suprised.

    [​IMG]

    If you need bias plys to look "right", get em and don't worry.

    Good luck, -Abone.
     
  23. rockin-bones
    Joined: Jul 11, 2006
    Posts: 129

    rockin-bones
    Member

  24. coupster
    Joined: May 9, 2006
    Posts: 860

    coupster
    Member
    from Oscoda Mi

    I run bias ply tires on my coupe with no problem so far. The rolling bones hot rod shop web site has an interesting take on the issue in there trip to Bonneville 08 article. When these tires wear out I will be going back to radials. Its my car and I like driving it, it also helps that I don't care what others think of it.
     
  25. Ranunculous
    Joined: Nov 30, 2007
    Posts: 2,465

    Ranunculous
    Member

    Who makes "pie crust" cheater slicks in a radial? Is there such an animal?
     
  26. 37dodge
    Joined: Feb 22, 2006
    Posts: 203

    37dodge
    Member

    I have BFG silvertowns bias on my 57 and they respond great. I think modern reproduction bias ply tires are a better quality tire than back when they were the norm.
     
  27. Kustom7777
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 5,188

    Kustom7777
    Member
    from Austin, TX

    "it's better to look good than feel good"
     
  28. AHotRod
    Joined: Jul 27, 2001
    Posts: 12,316

    AHotRod
    Member



    Hurst Tires does.
    http://www.hurstracingtires.com/

    Got 'em on my "A" Coupe !
     

Share This Page

Register now to get rid of these ads!

Archive

Copyright © 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. Terms of Service. Privacy Policy.

Atomic Industry
Forum software by XenForo™ ©2010-2014 XenForo Ltd.