<!-- / icon and ***le --> <!-- message --> Ive read the debates about bias and radial...this isnt about which one to go with.Im wondering those of you who drive regularly with bias how do they ride? Im used to rough rides,done several 1000 mile trips in 2 days on a hardtail. The car they will go on will get driven often and probably have some long distance trips in its future. So Ive been curious how do they handle,ride,etc and anything else you want to share about them.Thanks
I love my bias plies on my 32 3W. Drive em around town and quite a few long trips, never had an issue.Braking no issues, ride is fine for ME, handling? Well its a dropped I beam with hairpins - I drive my car according to its capabilities and for what it is and dont really care too much that it dont handle like a late model - coz it AIN'T. Know what I mean? What kinda car are you putting them on ? Rat
They are going on a 26/7 model t sedan.I was thinking about going with like a 750-16 in the back and something not as tall but similar in width in the front.
With a fenderless car, radials are not a good option. I have both for my car, the radials are really a lot better performance-wise, they're just ugly. I keep the bias plys on it.
I'm run them on my 59 olds, and I really like them... only difference I can tell on my olds is you can here em whine when you cut a corner sharp! I'm runnin 5.50 front along with 7.50 rears on my T coupe... haven't had it out on the road.
My pops has driven on them from VT to LA, VT to Bonneville, and VT to FL multiple times. It does track and stop a little better with radials but he runs the bias plys more because they look better. The big thing is suspension tuning and air pressure.
Driving on bias tires is just something you have to get used to...I've had several cars in which I've driven them on both bias ply tires and then radial tires. The difference is pretty obvious, but you can handle either one. The following are based on my own experience and observations... Bias ply PROS: * Look 'right' on older cars. * Tougher tires, usually...harder to 'hurt' with curb encounters and such. * GREAT for long, smokey burnouts and donuts! * Used to be much cheaper than radials. Bias ply CONS: * Tend to 'sway' more than radials. * Will often want to 'follow' irregularities in the road. * Generally offer less 'grip' for cornering, handling, hard acceleration, etc. Radial PROS: * Improved traction and handling characteristics. * Usually offer easier steering control over irregular road surfaces. * Commonly available anywhere. * When properly maintained can last longer than bias plys. Radial CONS: * More sensitive to improper inflation. * Prone to damage if bounced off curbs or driven through potholes. * Somewhat less predictable in a hard corner (they hold better, but when they let go, they do so suddenly, not gradually like bias plys do). Just figure what's best for YOU, but for the car you're building, I would suggest the bias ply tires.
If you're fine with a hardtail, you'll be fine with bias cuz you already understand the rules when trading dynamics for asthetics. Enjoy the ride!
I completely agree with Rat Bastad. If you remember what you're driving and stay within those parameters, bias plys are fine. They do tend to grab grooves in the road, especially on Interstates. Don't fight that, just give the car it's head a little and it comes right back. The only other "issue" is in the winter time (at least here in East, TN) when I only drive the car once a week or once every two weeks, weather permitting. I notice a very slight flat spot thump for the first mile or so until the tires get warmed up and rolling again. Other than that, like Rat Bastad said, if you've got buggy springs and friction shocks, you won't even notice the bias plys!
I'll drive my bias ply 1,000 miles long before I'll ride my hardtail that far. I have had radials on this car also and it steers easier with the bias. Go bias the only thing I really notice is the bias will follow a groove in the road more.
I love my bias plys! They are on my 51 shoebox, no issues, and my wife has them on her daily driver, a 1965 Chrysler Imperial Crown (big boys too 8:20/15). Sure they track, but hell we drive everywhere on them. If you are not used to them it takes a few days to get used to, but then you don't even notice. If anything they remind you that you are driving this big toy and maybe to be a little careful, they may even MAKE you be a better driver. (in an odd sense)
Drive my 39 often , several times a week. Would not go with radial's mainly because of the look. Bias ply's tend to follow the groves in the road more than a radial , maybe a little rougher ride. Firestone Champion bias ply 7.50x16 and 6.00x16 up front
I have bias plys on my 55 and I like them. They do follow the grooves in the road but its no big deal.
I didn't notice any difference when I changed to bias plys. 5.60 Posi Trac's up front ant 235/60 Torq-Twister II's in the back. It handles corners as hard as I'm willing to take them, and hooks well as long as it's realtively warm outside.
On my 2000lb '32 Roadster I have two sets of wheels and tires. Bias plys on Kelsey bent spokes, 5:00 and 7:60x16s. And radials on artillery wheels, 175 and 215-85x16, fronts are 4 1/2 rears are 6". Nothing looks better than the bias plys so they go on for all the local events, Pasadena Roadster Club, Fathers Day roadster show, ect. At 70 mph they skate on the freeway and thats below the average speed in L.A. When we go on long trips, like Bakersfield for the races, I put on the radials. They are a lot smoother riding, handle better at 80 mph, and stop better. For high speed trips they are more comfortable. The weight of the car has a lot to do with how it handles. Lighter cars seem to be more sensitive to tires and pressure, shock valving and spring rates. My car has a stock undropped front axle, unsplit wishbone, Columbia rear ***embly, and no suspension issues, all components are rebuilt. So it's really your personal preference, both work well but are very different. The FOGGER
I'm running Firestone 7.50-16s on the rear and 5.00-16s ribbed on front of my truck. So far, it has almost 9000 miles on it, and no problem. As with any tire, make sure they're balanced good - I think that a lot of the bad rep bias tires get is from poor balance jobs.
I have a 1957 Ford with standard steering. Parallel parking with bias ply tires is much easier than with radials.
I've got them on my '34, they're the only option in my mind on a fenderless hot rod. I drive on them just about every day it's not snowing on the mean streets (pot holes galore!) of WNY. The ride is not spectacular, like mentioned above: They sway a bit, they follow grooves in the road, and they wear a little faster than radials. And sometimes they need trued up a bit on a tire shaver. BUT, if you know what to expect, they're perfect!
forgot to add, but thunderbird beat me to it, get em shaved...no biasply ive ever had from the factory is true, thats the nature of the beast..get em shaved and rounded up...only downfall is their longevity...gone thru 3 sets on my everyday driver 50 chevy in the last 3 and a half years or so, they do wear out if you drive them every single day, but roads arent like they used to be..that said, they rule...good luck... T. Hilton
No problems here. I have had a set on my car for over a year now and I drive it everyday. It is my only car. in he city I have no problems. I live in the country now. They tend to track a little on the county highways but other than that and being a little roungh no complaints.
tHE ONLY THING i WOULD ADD IS GET EM ROAD FORCE BALANCED. mADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE AFTER i HAD MINE SHAVED. RIDES GREAT NOW.
You're lucky to get 20,000 miles out of bias ply tires, so if you have many ol cars, you are a too-frequent customer in the tire store.
The only thing I have to ad is don't put a bias ply tire for a big heavy car on a light car. I bought a full set of old, hard Goodyear Double eagles in 8.20X15 size and mounted 'em up on 15X7" wheels ...inflated them to specs and bolted them on my stripped down 49 ford coupe[with a fresh alignment done and a new steering box] ...prolly weighed 2800 lbs. I drove the car to DesMoines Goodguys [160 Miles or so] and back one weekend... Thought the car was gonna kill me! Anything over 55 mph and it lurched from side to side, charged for the shoulder and wandered into oncoming traffic.... I swapped them for radials as soon as I got home and the car drove like a new car. The guy who swapped me tires put them on a "barge" 63 Galaxie and loved the way they drove...go figure.
I had bias ply on a '55 Chevy truck I drove as a daily, and loved every thing about them; with the exception of the premature wear. As for the sway of following groves in the road, if you drive more defensively and are alert and paying attention to what you are doing, you can avoid the ruts and groves before your tires catch them. At least that was my experience. I say go with bias plies.
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