Radials have been on the market since 1949 so rationalizing running them on a 50's style car wouldn't be impossibe, just improbable. I started driving a string of British and Italian soports cars, and French and German cars in the 60s, and ALL of them had radial tires on them, Michelins or Pirelli. I got used to the hang forever untill they let go all of a sudden road manners. When I got my first '55 Olds I couldn't understand the handling. Tires squeeled if I took a turn over 10 mph. Handling? Wallowing is a better term. A set of Vogue radials cured it.
I think what really helps is the way you drive. I drive almost like a little old lady in the Poncho, I love my car too much to let it get hurt.
LOL, here we go again! Radials are better tires, thats why they are here. I could never understand this look thing. When you put them next to eachother the radial looks better. Now maybe the bias looks better on an open fendered rod then a radial. I was talking to a friend and he asked what tires I am going to put on my 58, I said radial, and he said "Oh your one of those guys!" What in the hell does that mean? I prefer the ride and I think the tires look better. He goes on about bias being cheaper. Well there you have it, another guy calling something lame only because he can't afford it! What really cracks me up are these guys that say that bias ply is for the right look and there running disc brakes, DUH!
ooooh ooooh... I wana give my 2 cents too. Don't be a Sally... run the bias plys. I think bias plys get a bad rap. I run 'em on the coupe and love 'em. You've got to start with a good set though, and match mount each tire to each wheel for the best force variation. Force variation is not the same as balancing. Force variation is a measurement of how much the sidewall 'squishes' all the way around the tire. This simulates the weight of the car on the tire. The force needed to 'squish' the tire a certain amount is not the same at different points around the tire. The idea is to match the hardest part of the side wall to the lowest part of the wheel's diameter. A good tire shop can measure the force variation of your tires and mount them accordingly to each wheel. Bias plys and old wheels make for a bumpy ride without proper match mounting. And yes, I have got a brand new tire that measured outside the limit specs for force variation, so just because it's new, doesnt mean it's good. My coupe sails down the road as fast as I want to go... It'll grab a rut here and there but hey, it's a freekin' Hotrod. LP
The Jalopy Journal
