Radial Or Bias Ply Tires

[petew]

I need new tires on my 30 coupe and was thinking about putting radials on it instead of the bias ply originals .
The cost of the radials is obviously quite a bit more than the bias .
Is the improvement in ride and handling that great as to justify almost double the cost ?

Thought I was going to get in on the sale at Universal but they are out of stock and won't have any 19" radials until Feb and no 19" bias until late Jan.
Are there any other sources for the radials ?

Pete

[alexiskai]

You wanna come over and test drive my coupe? 21" radials.

[nkaminar]

Pete, I have radials on my heavy Fordor and love them. I run more air pressure than recommended. 55 in back and 50 in front. The trick is not to allow them to run hot, just warm to the touch, which has to do with air pressure. Some people have reported that the stickers located inside the tires are cutting the tubes and causing flats. The tires seem to be wearing better than the old bias ply tires, so the added mileage may make up for the added cost.

[AzBob]

American Classic Radials available at Jegs.

https://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stor...0002&langId=-1

[Roxo]

If I remember correctly, you will also need special tubes for Radials.

[ronn]

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so what are the radials costing? around 400. at Jegs buys you a set of bias...........

[Gene F]

Alexiskai (post above) offering his neighbor a test drive sure is nice. To me that is one of the benefits of joining the local Model-A chapter.

[petew]

Originally Posted by alexiskai

You wanna come over and test drive my coupe? 21" radials.

Thanks Collin , nice to have resources 3 miles away !
As it turns out I was able the order 4 radials from Jegs , get a $100 discount and free shipping so I will have new radials.

What is the story on tubes , I would hate to use chinese tubes and are radial specific tubes necessary ?

Pete

[Roxo]

Originally Posted by petew

Thanks Collin , nice to have resources 3 miles away !
As it turns out I was able the order 4 radials from Jegs , get a $100 discount and free shipping so I will have new radials.

What is the story on tubes , I would hate to use chinese tubes and are radial specific tubes necessary ?

Pete

Yes go back to their website and lookup tire tubes. I don't know what's different but they do recommend radial tubes.

[AzBob]

I ordered Snyders (radial) tubes with my Jegs ACR's. No problems to date. Holding pressure.

[Y-Blockhead]

Please ensure you check closely for any inspection stickers inside the American Classic Radials. I hope Coker has rectified this issue by now but when I last talked to them they didn't seem too interested.

The inspection stickers have to be removed. They will cause flats.

[petew]

Good tip on the inspection sticker removal ...

[WHN]

Back in my youth. If you put radial tires on your MG or TR3, you also had to use radial tubes.

Anyone out there old enough to remember?

Enjoy.

[nkaminar]

The radial tubes are thicker. The radials flex more than the bias ply tires so there is more stress on the tubes. Use talcum powder for tubes available from Aircraft Spruce (https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catal...clickkey=52466) This reduces the friction. Plus, don't let the tires get too hot by running with low air pressure. If you use the talc powder and run with higher air pressure you can use the tubes for bias ply tires but you are taking a chance.

[TerryO]

I received an email this morning from Coker that gives 10 per cent discount plus free shipping thru Jan 1...


TOB

[Herb Concord Ca]

WHN, yes I remember those days. Had a 65 TR-4 with the Overdrive.

[Y-Blockhead]

Originally Posted by TerryO

I received an email this morning from Coker that gives 10 per cent discount plus free shipping thru Jan 1...


TOB

Yes, but I think you will find the American Classic Radials are back ordered again, I heard something like March 2024?

[Phil Brown]

Originally Posted by TerryO

I received an email this morning from Coker that gives 10 per cent discount plus free shipping thru Jan 1...


TOB

That's a great deal but it's only on tires "in stock" so hope they have the ones that you want

[ronn]

What is the basic cost of radials?


double to bias or?

[TerryO]

Originally Posted by ronn

What is the basic cost of radials?


double to bias or?

Well worth the cost...


TOB

[ronn]

ok so I did get an actual answer on the other thread- about 280. a tire.

[Y-Blockhead]

Originally Posted by ronn

What is the basic cost of radials?

double to bias or?

Depends on which radial. The Excelsior Stahl Sport Radial 550R19 is $435.00 per. The American Classic is $280.00. It appears the American Classic is Out of Stock. Summitt Racing says shipping in March 2024.

[gdmn852]

MG , TR 3 such heresy on a Ford Barn ! Remember the flaps on rims to keep the spokes from poking holes in tubes ,people thought you were some odd ball communist driving a foreign car like that. Flaps on inner center of Model A rims help too tubes like a nice smooth surface.

[mhsprecher]

I bought some flaps for my Excelsior radials for my 30 TS a few years ago. No way I could get the flaps inside the tires, so I left them out and returned them. No problems in four or five years....

[ronn]

thank you Y block. So basically apples and oranges.
So 435. for one radial vs 400. for a complete set of bias, is possible.


How much do you drive your car?
How deep are your pockets?
Two totally different camps..............


not really a valid comparison

[CarlG]

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Been running 19" radials for years, wouldn't have anything else.

[AzBob]

Originally Posted by ronn

thank you Y block. So basically apples and oranges.
So 435. for one radial vs 400. for a complete set of bias, is possible.

As was pointed out earlier. American Classic Radials sell for ~$280. ea. Yes, there may be an availability issue right now. The ACR's offer a smooth and grippy ride.

[ronn]

ok, good to know.


thx Bob

[gdmn852]

Hello, Coker has sale going on, 10 percent off and free shipping. Don’t know what is in stock though, radials included think it lasts to end of this year.

[8EL]

Originally Posted by gdmn852

Hello, Coker has sale going on, 10 percent off and free shipping. Don’t know what is in stock though, radials included think it lasts to end of this year.

Summit has 5 of the American Classic WWW Radials tires in stock for $336.00 each and included free shipping. They absolutely will not honor the additional 10% off. Jeggs showed that they had 7 in stock, same deal but charge an additional $9.99 "over-sized" fee. Universal Vintage Tire took my order last Thursday including the free shipping and 10% off, but then sent an email this morning receding their offer, said I could wait till February but no discounts applied and would not guarantee today's price......

The guy from Summit was quite rude about it also, not listening and talking right over me. I have been buying speed parts from them for years, I bought the tires today because they had them and they are the best deal to be found today, but I will never patronize them again if what I am looking for can be found elsewhere!

[8EL]

Originally Posted by Y-Blockhead

Please ensure you check closely for any inspection stickers inside the American Classic Radials. I hope Coker has rectified this issue by now but when I last talked to them they didn't seem too interested.

The inspection stickers have to be removed. They will cause flats.

Thank you for bringing this to our attention, I recall removing these types of markers from tubeless tires that had them on the region that the bead seats on. My concern with them was that they could possibly prevent proper seating causing a slow leak.

I purchased the A-1506-19 tubes from Snyder also. I did check with them first for compatibility. They stated that they were formulated from 100% butyl rubber qualifying them for this service type. They also note that the specifically state their qualification for radial use in their catalog description. This is not noted in the additional information given online...probably would be a good idea to do so....

[Jeff/Illinois]

For me , personally. the way I use a Model A Ford, radials don't justify the extra cost.

I average MAYBE 200-300 miles of driving, a year, in a good year.

If you do a lot of touring and long distance driving yes by all means the radials.

But for me, they would age-out before they ever wore out

The tire store manager at the County FS (Farm Service) told me that the shelf life of a tire is about 7 years.

[ronn]

Im in your camp Jeff. I wish I did drive the As more..........but I dont.

[fried okra]

I was sold on radials also, but put very few miles a year on my car now so definitely hard to justify versus bias ones.

[Brokenvette]

Same for me #33 & #34 Put very few miles on mine. Just ordered some European Classics. Love the tread design.

[AzBob]

Nothing wrong with wanting to go for the bias ply tires.

However, for those who pooh-pooh the radials. The first thing you will notice with American Classic Radials is the improvement in smoothness of ride. Secondly, more grip while braking. The radial provides a greater contact patch area.

[Y-Blockhead]

Originally Posted by AzBob

Nothing wrong with wanting to go for the bias ply tires.

However, for those who pooh-pooh the radials. The first thing you will notice with American Classic Radials is the improvement in smoothness of ride. Secondly, more grip while braking. The radial provides a greater contact patch area.

I think they track better also. With my Lucas Tires my Town Sedan wanted to wander more.

[ronn]

Nothing wrong with wanting to go for the bias ply tires.

However, for those who pooh-pooh the radials. The first thing you will notice with American Classic Radials is the improvement in smoothness of ride. Secondly, more grip while braking. The radial provides a greater contact patch area.
but the greater question- do the radials help you get the chicks?

[TerryO]

Of course they do..

[ronn]

great photo TerryO and away we go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!

[ronn]

Brokenvette-let us know how your European classics work out. They are a great looking tire.
I wtd to buy a set, to compare with the Excelsiors I had already bought. But, the Universal offer from Coker was too good to be true, so no Europeans this round.......
only a 2nd set of Excelsiors

[Brokenvette]

Ronn; will let you know. They are going on a truck I am restoring. Chassis is finished. Body will go back on first of March. Hope to test drive late spring if goes according to plan.

[ronn]

thank you Brokenvette.
My excelsiors just arrived an hour ago.


so my cars will have some "new" shoes.

[Mike1291]

I also recently bought some tires. I got them from Cooker to get that sweet 10% off and free shipping. Ended up going with BFGoodrich bias-ply whitewalls and it came out to ~1500 after taxes. Ordered the tubes from Bratton's and everything should be in by the end of next week.

[8EL]

Originally Posted by Y-Blockhead

Please ensure you check closely for any inspection stickers inside the American Classic Radials. I hope Coker has rectified this issue by now but when I last talked to them they didn't seem too interested.

The inspection stickers have to be removed. They will cause flats.

Originally Posted by Mike1291

I also recently bought some tires. I got them from Cooker to get that sweet 10% off and free shipping. Ended up going with BFGoodrich bias-ply whitewalls and it came out to ~1500 after taxes. Ordered the tubes from Bratton's and everything should be in by the end of next week.

Don't seem like that great of a deal Mike, the radials could have been had for less..... The tubes and rim liners have been delivered, and the tires are scheduled to arrive this Saturday...

[petew]

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The new Coker radials that I ordered in December were due to be shipped on March 22 but now they say end of April....
Guess things are busy in China.

[alexiskai]

Originally Posted by petew

The new Coker radials that I ordered in December were due to be shipped on March 22 but now they say end of April....
Guess things are busy in China.

They're probably on a container ship getting shot at by Yemeni insurgents.

[petew]

You mean the Houthis are targeting my tires ?

[alexiskai]

Originally Posted by petew

You mean the Houthis are targeting my tires ?

The main problem with global commerce right now is you've got the Houthis targeting traffic going through the Suez canal, and drought in Panama causing long traffic jams at that canal. So anything coming from Asia will be delayed getting to the east coast regardless of which direction the boat goes. So I mean it's a joke but also I seriously think your tires are sitting on a container ship somewhere and it's been delayed for one of the reasons I described.

[Big hammer]

Originally Posted by petew

The new Coker radials that I ordered in December were due to be shipped on March 22 but now they say end of April....
Guess things are busy in China.

China is still closed down due to the pandemic , we should feel lucky that this country is back up and running

[petew]

Originally Posted by Big hammer

China is still closed down due to the pandemic , we should feel lucky that this country is back up and running

Really ?