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Bias ply vs radial

Started by CadillacRob, January 16, 2018, 12:17:37 AM

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CadillacRob

Sorry, I'm sure this topic has been beat to death in the past but here goes:

I'm about to buy white walls for my 56.  I have standard cooker 4" L78-15 bias ply white walls on my 50 caddy.  That just gets driven around town and I don't have many complaints really.  Sure, it doesn't handle like a radial but this is a cruiser, not a performance car.  I also really prefer the look of bias plys on a car like this.

That being said, the 56 is getting a full mechanical rebuild so it might go on road trips.  Am I nuts to run L78 cokers down the highway?  Does anyone own the radials with the bias ply look? I'm curious about them even though they only allow a 3 inch WW.

It's a 50's car with drum brakes.  Yes I've had to emergency stop on bias plys doing 50.  Wasn't fun but wasn't horrific. Thankfully.   Trying to decide.  Thoughts? 
1950 series 61 sedan
1956 coupe de ville

Steve Passmore

I run all but one of my cars on the Radials that look like Bias and it has transformed the ride on each one. I have one car left to convert and had not done this because these tyres were not available in 16", but now they are and I have bought a set.  In this country, the judging never gets that pedantic and the driving pleasure is more important to me. the only downside is the smaller whitewall but Diamondback is offering a new line of tyres with wider whites called 'Auburn'
Steve

Present
1937 60 convertible coupe
1941 62 convertible coupe
1941 62 coupe

Previous
1936 70 Sport coupe
1937 85 series V12 sedan
1938 60 coupe
1938 50 coupe
1939 60S
1940 62 coupe
1941 62 convertible coupe x2
1941 61 coupe
1941 61 sedan x2
1941 62 sedan x2
1947 62 sedan
1959 62 coupe

Cadillac Jack 82


I once did a trip of nearly 800 miles in my 1954 Buick with BF Goodrich Silvertone tires and I never had an issue.  My 57 Cadillac currently has radials which I'll be ditching as soon as spring rolls around.
Tim

CLC Member #30850

1959 Cadillac CDV "Shelley"
1964 Cadillac SDV "Rosalie"
1966 Oldsmobile Toronado "Sienna"

Past Cars

1937 LaSalle Cpe
1940 Chevrolet Cpe
1941 Ford 11Y
1954 Buick 48D
1955 Cadillac CDV
1955 Packard Clipper
1957 Cadillac Series 62
1962 VW Bug
1962 Dodge 880
1966 Mercury Montclair
1967 Buick Wildcat Convertible
1968 Chevy Chevelle SS
1968 Plymouth Barracuda
1977 Lincoln MKV

35-709

From my personal experience and that of others, I am sure you will be more satisfied with tires from Diamondback Tires --- www.dbtires.com --- for tires that you will traveling more with other than ...  "just gets driven around town."
1935 Cadillac Sedan resto-mod "Big Red"
1973 Cadillac Caribou - Sold - but still in the family
1950 Jaguar Mark V Saloon resto-mod - Sold
1942 Cadillac 6269 - Sold
1968 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible - Sold
1950 Packard 2dr. Club Sedan
1935 Glenn Pray - Auburn Boattail Speedster, Gen. 2

David Greenburg

Now that ther are bias- look radials available, there really is no reason not to go radial. I’m about to take delivery of aset of the new DB Auburn’s to replace the bias-plies on my ‘61.
David Greenburg
'60 Eldorado Seville
'61 Fleetwood Sixty Special

CadillacRob

The downside is they cost about twice as much, and you can't get a 4" ww
1950 series 61 sedan
1956 coupe de ville

Alan Harris CLC#1513

In favor of bias plies, in fifty years of driving all kinds of cars and tires, I have never had a bias ply tire disintegrate or fall apart or shred while being driven. I have had three or four instances of radials doing this. In at least one case, rear quarter panel of my 1970 Cadillac was badly damaged by flying belts.

I have also had bad front end shimmying when belts shifted on radial tires.

Admittedly, radials handle much better, particularly on wet roads. They also wear way better. However, mileage and wet handling are not serious issues on our cars, which are driven limited miles on nice days.

My 1940 LaSalle and my Continental Mark II both roll on bias ply tires.

CadillacRob

Yeah, I'm really leaning towards the bias plys, mainly bc I own them ony other caddy and they're comparatively not as expensive
1950 series 61 sedan
1956 coupe de ville

Carl Fielding

Do yourself a great big fat favor , Cadillac. Get the new 'Backs as David has. Have 'em put the WWWs on as you like. Be the first on YOUR block. I have run more radial on more Cadillac (and even a great many brand X and truck for over 50 years in all conditions over 3 continents and the skinny little strip that connects a couple of them - over a million miles) , than I can even remember. Only problem I EVER had was on a '72 SDV I pulled out of an apartment garage in L.A. Old tires , a couple (or all) , very low , maybe flat. Been sitting in one spot like that for several years. Now if you don't drive it much , more like to look at and work on it , throw anything on it. Radials are for road (and off road) , runners , and freeway flyers. If you ever have ANY tire START to vibrate , that is the warning. Slow WAY down until you get to the tire store. I have run high quality radials right down to the steel before I yanked them. I have got back to the shack after a 6 month adventure in Mexico with my modified off-road '71 Eldo droptop with 2 out of 7 tread plies cut through (the original B.F. Goodrich All Terrain Radial T/As) , never so much as a slow leak , much less a flat.     - Cadillac Carl

P.S. Alan would you please tell us the name of radials which have failed. If we are not allowed to bad mouth brands , rhyme them. For example : Stupor , Witche's Skin , Poker , Wood Beer , etc. Were your tires properly inflated to high speed or high speed plus spec. ? Thank you.  - CC

Steve Passmore

Quote from: CadillacRob on January 16, 2018, 09:15:07 PM
The downside is they cost about twice as much, and you can't get a 4" ww

They certainly do cost more, but in the long run, probably not. I dive my cars at least once a week for about 9 months of the year. One car I had for 30 years from 1982 wore out 3 sets of BF Goodrich Bias ply in 16 years, and the handling in the wet on dreadful English roads was not for the faint-hearted. In 1998 I fitted radials, the first I could find in 16" with a 2.5 whitewall. It transformed that car and I sold it in 2012 with the same set still on it. The latest owner tells me they are just about ready for replacement. So cheap in the long run.  My 37 has a set of Lester now bold after 7 years.

I don't understand running down the integrity of radials on this forum?? Virtually everything on the road has them and most are rated over 100 mph.
Steve

Present
1937 60 convertible coupe
1941 62 convertible coupe
1941 62 coupe

Previous
1936 70 Sport coupe
1937 85 series V12 sedan
1938 60 coupe
1938 50 coupe
1939 60S
1940 62 coupe
1941 62 convertible coupe x2
1941 61 coupe
1941 61 sedan x2
1941 62 sedan x2
1947 62 sedan
1959 62 coupe

Bob Kielar

Will judges deduct for bias ply looking tires?
Keep Cruzin,
Bob Kielar
Keep Cruzin
1955 Cadillac Fleetwood

Steve Passmore

Quote from: Bob Kielar on January 17, 2018, 09:24:21 AM
Will judges deduct for bias ply looking tires?
Keep Cruzin,
Bob Kielar

I believe so but the day may come when they can't tell?
Steve

Present
1937 60 convertible coupe
1941 62 convertible coupe
1941 62 coupe

Previous
1936 70 Sport coupe
1937 85 series V12 sedan
1938 60 coupe
1938 50 coupe
1939 60S
1940 62 coupe
1941 62 convertible coupe x2
1941 61 coupe
1941 61 sedan x2
1941 62 sedan x2
1947 62 sedan
1959 62 coupe

Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621

My biggest gripe about radials height which causes the car to sit too low. Second issue is tread width which much wider on radial which doesn't look right on a vintage car to my eyes. I might consider swapping out if there's such an animal in radial that doesn't have either of these issues.

I'll echo Alan's view that in many years of driving, I've never had a problem driving on biases although I'll be the first to admit to the handling/stopping advantages of radials. I've never had difficultly maintaining pace with highway traffic on biases.

Back in the day, a British automotive reviewer even once recommended the 1962 Fleetwood 60 Special "for effortless all day cruising at 100 mph."  8)
A Cadillac Motorcar is a Possession for which there is no Acceptable Substitute

David Greenburg

I’m having DB’s new bias-look radials installed on my ‘61 in the next few days.  I’ll post a follow up once that’s done.
David Greenburg
'60 Eldorado Seville
'61 Fleetwood Sixty Special

Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621

Quote from: David Greenburg on January 17, 2018, 02:17:26 PM
I’m having DB’s new bias-look radials installed on my ‘61 in the next few days.  I’ll post a follow up once that’s done.

David...please post some pictures when you can.

Thanks.
A Cadillac Motorcar is a Possession for which there is no Acceptable Substitute

David Greenburg

Will do; the tires are in; I just need to coordinate my work schedule and the weather to get a morning off when it’s not raining.  These are the “Auburn” tires, which contrary to their website can be had in other WW widths than those listed.
David Greenburg
'60 Eldorado Seville
'61 Fleetwood Sixty Special

Steve Passmore

Quote from: Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621 on January 17, 2018, 02:01:00 PM
My biggest gripe about radials height which causes the car to sit too low. Second issue is tread width which much wider on radial which doesn't look right on a vintage car to my eyes. I might consider swapping out if there's such an animal in radial that doesn't have either of these issues.


Eric,Up to now I fully agree with your view on radials but the new Coker radials I have just bought for my 37 have exactly the same ride height, tread width and profile width as an original 700x16.
Steve

Present
1937 60 convertible coupe
1941 62 convertible coupe
1941 62 coupe

Previous
1936 70 Sport coupe
1937 85 series V12 sedan
1938 60 coupe
1938 50 coupe
1939 60S
1940 62 coupe
1941 62 convertible coupe x2
1941 61 coupe
1941 61 sedan x2
1941 62 sedan x2
1947 62 sedan
1959 62 coupe

Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621

Quote from: Steve Passmore on January 17, 2018, 06:16:53 PM
Eric,Up to now I fully agree with your view on radials but the new Coker radials I have just bought for my 37 have exactly the same ride height, tread width and profile width as an original 700x16.

Do you know if the same applies to the 8.20x15 size?
A Cadillac Motorcar is a Possession for which there is no Acceptable Substitute

Paul Phillips

Guys - I am not going to take a stand here on which is better for looks, driving, etc., but do want to caution if you plan to have the car judged in the CLC’s authenticity based judging.  Bias ply tires on a car where they were not offered is a deduct per tire, including spare.  Same thing with whitewall width not following guidelines for your car, or a tire manufacturer ‘repro’ name not one that was originally offered.  This is discussed in depth in Appendix B of the Judging Manual.  It is also discussed at length in the judges seminars for the GN or Fall Festival, so don’t expect that a judge won’t look or can’t tell.

If you just plan to drive & not go for authenticity judging, buy what you like & enjoy!

Paul
Paul Phillips CLC#27214
1941 60 Special (6019S)
1949 60 Special (6069X)
1937 Packard Super 8 Convertible Victoria
1910 Oakland Model 24 Runabout

Steve Passmore

Quote from: Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621 on January 17, 2018, 06:31:07 PM
Do you know if the same applies to the 8.20x15 size?

I can't answer for the Coker tyres in that size Eric but our supplier's website in this country give all the dimensions of the tyres they sell and you can compare sizes. These are the American Classic radials. They do a 4" whitewall very similar. Diamond Back are similar also.  Compare sizes to a normal cross-ply.

http://www.northhantstyres.com/main-tyre-pages/american-classic-tyres/820-15-american-classic-radial-whitewall.html

Steve

Present
1937 60 convertible coupe
1941 62 convertible coupe
1941 62 coupe

Previous
1936 70 Sport coupe
1937 85 series V12 sedan
1938 60 coupe
1938 50 coupe
1939 60S
1940 62 coupe
1941 62 convertible coupe x2
1941 61 coupe
1941 61 sedan x2
1941 62 sedan x2
1947 62 sedan
1959 62 coupe