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Old 06-17-2008, 07:29 PM
TDW TDW is offline
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Default Bias and radials?

I need some wider tires for the rear. Looking for something like the Coker L60-15. They only come in bias. How bad would it be to run them with radials on the front? Looking for someones opinion who has actually run em this way.
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Old 06-17-2008, 07:53 PM
BARRY BARRY is offline
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Default Re: Bias and radials?

DO NOT DO IT REALLY BAD
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Old 06-17-2008, 07:57 PM
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camarojoe camarojoe is offline
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Default Re: Bias and radials?

I've always heard it was bad too, but my dad has a street rod with 31.50-15 bias ply Mickey Thompson Sportsman Pros on the rear, and he replaced the fronts recently with common radials (they were formerly Sportsman bias ply front runners) and noticed no difference in handling or drivability. Personally I wouldn't do it, and told him that too, but in his case, it doesn't seem to make any difference...maybe it's because the rears are already so much wider than the fronts anyhow?

Personally, I'd order up a pair of front bias tires too, it'll look cooler overall, and take any question out of the safety of it.
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Old 06-17-2008, 08:05 PM
Salvatore Salvatore is offline
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Default Re: Bias and radials?

I agree with Joe. Why mix em? Buy some Pro Trac's for all 4 sides.
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Old 06-17-2008, 08:37 PM
StealthBird StealthBird is offline
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Default Re: Bias and radials?

It's not good to mix, but if you're going in a straight line most of the time, and you're not prone to doing exit ramps at double the speed limit, there won't be a problem.

Before drag radials came along (back in 70's and 80's), almost all vintage Musclecars were shod with modern radials. It was common to bolt slicks on and go street racing for the night, or perhaps hit the dragstrip. It was rare that all 4 tires were changed over to bias, usually just the rears.

The reason you're not supposed to mix bias and radials is because the sidewalls flex at a much different rate between the two. If you have to do a emergency maneuver, the front (radials) will dig while the back (bias) will slide. So yes, it could be dangerous. But the tire manufacturers always make it sound like if you mix bias and radials, your car will explode.

Personally, I would change all 4 in order to get predictable handling, but you can run bias/radials at the track without any problem.
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Old 06-17-2008, 09:17 PM
BARN FIND BARN FIND is offline
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Default Re: Bias and radials?

I tend to think that leaving the radials on the front will make the the car safer not the other way around. Bite in two tires has got to be better than none at all. Plus he is going to be running grossly larger rear tires compared to the front so they may have some bite after all. And yes, I have done this before both on cars and trucks. (Think snow tires in PA in the 80's as just one example)
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