Bias Ply tires vs radials on the street?

[Chevy454]

For "occasional" use, the Polyglass will be fine. Granted, you're not gonna out handle anything on a road coarse, but they're fine for cruising, or for a blast down the strip. We've driven our cars on cruises, rural highways, interstate, backroads...no sweat.

If you regularly drive it quite a distance, then radials would be the way to go. But if not, the Polyglass will be fine and look a heck of a lot better.

[hvychev]

The bad ride is a lot bigger of a myth than reality. I have been running bias plys for thousands of miles in all conditions (on the street, for long trips, in the rain, & on the track) with no major problems. If you want a perfect ride buy a Caddy or Benz. Muscle cars were ment to have them and they look awesome!

[Supercar_Kid]

musclecars look stupid with radials. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img] There is no such thing as a radial that "looks" like a bias ply, and radials totally kill the vintage look of any 60s or early 70s musclecar in my opinion... people drove these cars every day for years with bias plys, I don't see why weekend cruisers need radials. jmo. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif[/img]

[tom406]

I think, with alignment and everything optimized, radials are better. But I don't believe the difference is as great as most people are lead to believe. I believe that, much like 6 volt electrics, bias ply tires are very unforgiving of things going out of spec. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] Most cars that have a huge drivability gain when switching to radials from bias have other issues, in my opinion. The effects of worn front end parts, worn steering boxes, bad shocks, or poor alignment are all diminished by the soft sidewalls of radials, and most of us are too lazy or cheap to properly fix the problem, when changing tires will take care of the 1000 miles a year we drive the cars. I've driven super low mile cars with bias plys - they're not "all over the road". I also think some of the repro bias ply tires suffer from quality control issues, based upon the cosmetic blemishes and balancing challenges I've had. So maybe they're not always a good representation of the breed.

And you just can't get "the look" with radials on a period-correct looking car. The square shouldered EAGLE GT's of the mid to late 80's were about the closest I've seen. I wish Goodyear would re-release those with Polyglas style small lettering, and no sizes (after all, "P215/65/R15" in white letters would screw up the visual, no?)

[mmcporter]

Actually, Coker makes a set of redline radials that look like Bias Plys from 10 feet. And they ride a lot better and are more forgiving than bias plys. I've driven my car with Bias Plys and radials, and I'm sorry, the radials are more comfortable, forgiving and confidence-inspiring than the Bias Plys. True the BPs look nice, and are better for the drag strip, but for people that DRIVE their cars, radials are a safer choice.

[CWilliams]

Give Diamond Back in Myrtle Beach SC. a try. They make an awesome redline radial out of a road king brand tire. Just mounted a set of 215/70/14's on a set of JJ 14x6 wheels and I think the look is just about right. Not exactly the square shouldered bias ply look but the best I've seen in a radial, very square and no lettering on the redline side. Also...If I'm not mistaken, I don't think Coker's are speed rated!

[Belair62]

I've used Coker and Diamond back....no question the handling and ride are better....bias look much better but they suck to drive with.

[mike32]

BELAIR62, WHATS WITH THE 63 CAMARO?