Re: [FWDLK] Radial vs Bias

[Dave Grove - Grove Automotive <dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

As someone already mentioned, - there are big differences between one
bias-ply tire and another.
The "reproduction" bias-ply tires for musclecars are (IMHO) pure garbage.
They ought to have "for show use only" molded right into the sidewall.  No
way were these tires that bad back in the 60s/70s.

Another thing about the radial tire "issue" might be the rim width(?) - most
of our "finned" cars came with rather narrow wheels (compared to what is in
general use today anyway).  Pretty sure that radial tires are more
"sensitive" to having the proper rim width than bias-plys.
It's possible that if you get a radial tire that is "tall" enough to be
right, - that the wheel required/recommended for the tire will be wider than
what you have on the car.  Just a thought.

I have had no problems whatsoever with radials on my 59, - but then I don't
have 4 1/2" or 5" wide wheels either.

Regards,
DaveG.
----- Original Message -----
From: <Posti@xxxxxxx>
To: <L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, March 22, 2004 11:07 AM
Subject: Re: [FWDLK] Radial vs Bias


> I managed a tire store for a while, and was a tire/auto mechanic for
several years in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when radial tires started
taking off.
>
> At the time, we were told that older cars should run on bias ply tires, as
the radial construction caused problems with handling on cars not designed
for it.
>
> As for my personal experience, my 1959 Dodge had radials that looked wrong
and handled poorly.  A switch to WW bias ply solved both problems.  In
contrast, my small cars (1952 MG TD, and 1973 and 1978 MGBs) ride great on
radials.  I don't know if weight is an issue or not.
>
> Bob
> 1959 Dodge
>