How bad will bias ply whites suck to REALLY drive??

Theres a reason biasplys are cheaper.
There is no question radials have a better ride. I like the way they look on traditional hot rods but on big cars radials are the way to go.

 

I actually replaced by coker ww radials on my model coupe with the ww bias and i think it rides and drives better. I have non-ww bias on my roadster and its good.

 

With my bias plys, I just drove 400 miles to Ohio to Rock n Race. Made several passes down the track, and then drove 400 miles back home... 2 years in a row. The same tires have been 1200 miles to Austin, and 1200 miles back. I don't think they suck in the least.

 

So is that thing shinney yet?

 

They are not anymore.

 

I run bias on my roadster, Cokers. It's a little weird from about 40 to 50 but once you get over 85 or 90 it does'nt matter anyways. Seriously, they run fine on most roads and I drive the wheels off this thing including a lot of 500 mile or so road trips. My only worry is I don't have any room for a spare, no worse than a bike I guess. So far so good.

 

IMHO, trad-style hot rods should have bias-ply tires; customs can get away with either, as the tires are obviously not as visible as on a fenderless rod. However, I personally think radials look hideous on any car pre-'60 or so, so I'm willing to put up with the downside of slightly poorer handling...

But, um, hasn't this topic been hammered to death on the HAMB???

 

Don't you have to run tubes with bias ply tires?

 

No.

 

Tubes, I believe, are used on certain wheels that require them. My cokers are tubeless.

 

I just installed a set of Firestone biasplys on my 37 coupe. I ran radials for 7 years prior. I cant tell a difference in handling at all regardless of the speed.
They hit bumps alittle harder in the ride. They won't last as long as radials. I wanted a traditional tire and I am happy with them. I'd do it again.

 

Couldn't agree more! Bias tires are period correct but at some period so were outhouses. Drive on radials and show on bias.

 

Bias plys are fine as long as your are not listening to your Ipod when you are driving. That is strictly prohibited according to the Traditional Hot Rod Rule Book, page 13, section 8, paragraph B.

 

No way! I crank the Benny Goodman, Johnny Burnette, and everything in between on my iPod in the coupe! Of course it's kinda hard to hear with no mufflers on the car. Hahaha!

 

Sorry Django, in subparagraph B, it clearly states that "traditional sound device of that era, such as a tube type AM radio or portable phonograph may be used to reproduce sound." No mufflers is also an acceptable sound device in a traditional Hot Rod though.

 

Had them on my 58 caddy coupe, and never experienced any bad manners at high speeds. The only time I really noticed a difference between them and radials was in turns at slow speeds. It handled fine, just felt a little different. I liked how they rode.

 

I've done the same thing that HRLC did on 3 different rodes. There was no comparison. Radials rule on full fendered cars at least on Michigan roads.

 

I drove for 3 years to high school on Bias-plys. I never really noticed anything bad about em. Coker Candy Classics. Still have em on my Chebby, very little wear, considering.