Radials on a 37. Yes or No??

[Tom in SW VA]

I am considering putting radials on my stock 37 Ford. What is your
opinion? Any problems?

Thanking you in advance.

Tom

[Phil Gillespie]

Originally Posted by Tom in SW VA

I am considering putting radials on my stock 37 Ford. What is your
opinion? Any problems?

Thanking you in advance.

Tom

In my experience the radials are a good option. A better driving experience in my opinion and thats what its all about. Have changed all to radials.
Phil NZ

[Ford Freak]

Originally Posted by Phil Gillespie

In my experience the radials are a good option. A better driving experience in my opinion and thats what its all about. Have changed all to radials.
Phil NZ

X2 what Phil said !

[drolston]

Better ride.
Better handling.
Cheaper.
Serviceable/replaceable anywhere.

[A bones]

Do it. Be sure though, to never run both. A mix of radial steer followed by bias on the rear will lead to trouble.

Radial tires are wonderful compared to bias. They last longer. The have superior grip on wet surfaces.

I would never consider driving on bias ply tires again. They may look good for show, leave them in the museum.

[petehoovie]

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Replaced the bias ply on my '37 with radials and the difference was impressive. Be sure to use tubes though....

[twostickmutt]

I'm going the same route tom with the 39 . i'm sick of all the thumping the next day after driving it for a couple hundred miles and then parking it to let the square spots grow over night. what size were you thinking ?

[tubman]

I agree; if you drive your car on a semi-regular basis, get radials; you'll be glad you did. BTW, I put them on the stock wheels on my '51, and have experienced no leaks. Ford built quality parts back then.

[JM 35 Sedan]

I started using radials on my early Fords over 15 years ago. They improved ride and handling so much that I would never consider going back to bias ply tires.

[TomT/Williamsburg]

Have them on my avatar, my nearly completed 5-window and the 40 pickup I am building for the wife. I do have some bias plies I could mount for local shows (have ww’s for the wife’s pickup), long distance and drive frequency really denote bias or radial. In 1990 I drove my 40 coupe across country on bias ply tires and a nearly stock suspension for the 40 Ford Is 50 tour organized by the late Art Barnum. They were polyglass ww’s - never again!

[deuce_roadster]

Bias tires for judging only. My 40 wagon does not need to be point judged anymore (only a walk around) so I ditched the bias tires and now enjoy driving the car. I think the EFV8 club should allow radial tires in the same way they do not deduct for seat belts or turn signals, it is a safety issue.

[Automotive Stud]

I have diamondback radials on my '47 and it does drive nicer than my '40 with bias plys, but they don't look as good as the bias plys. The diamondbacks don't turn yellow either though.

[Talkwrench]

Pfft! whats wrong with you guys I drive on cross plys everyday! I guess it depends on your roads , ours aren't too bad here I dont have issues. Don't think I'd like to drive on them on some of your U.S. freeways with those expansion strips .. but harsh.

[Tinker]

I like them too. 6 ply mil tires on my 38 truck, no drift. NDT tires though and a completely redone front suspension.

36 drifts a "little" or finds a groove when highway driving, but It doesn't concern me and I'm critical on safety. I have not done the kingpins and rod ends on the 36. Still nothing that I get weirded out about. It's a old car experience and I'm not texting when I drive.

I know newer radials made by some look just like old bias plys. Which is great. My only concern would be the wheels and seals (rivets). Noticed someone said to run tubes with radials???








.

[Marvin/TN]

Just asking, why run tubes in a tubless tire? But if you do make sure they are Radial tubes

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by Marvin/TN

Just asking, why run tubes in a tubless tire? But if you do make sure they are Radial tubes

The wheels/rims on our old fords were not made to accommodate tubeless tires - especially radial tubeless tires. Also, peace of mind with the tubes inside....

[vilanar]

Sorry, I hate the look of radials in classic cars , but I have ones in my ´50 Conv. They are American Classic Bias Look Radials, drives excellent , looks great but expensive and are not available 16 inch. I have had them 3 years now and around 10000 miles on them. Next tires will be the same.
My ´50 was equipped with radials on stock steel wheels when I bought it and left front tire popped off from the wheel lip when I was driving in the middle of LA traffic.
At the tire shop later that day I changed all the wheels for tubeless type where is that bead
which keeps tire against wheel lip. So I strongly recommend using tubes with original wheels.

[tubman]

I put bias ply Firestone re-pops on my '51 when I restored it in '87. I ran them until about 6 years ago when they started to show considerable wear. I replaced them with Coker Classic radials, and it became a completely different automobile. It drove much better and the best part is that it didn't "hunt" on older highways. I'll never go back to bias plies because I like to drive my cars.

I mounted the fronts on the stock wheels tubeless and never gave it another thought (the rears are later Ford that are a bit wider). It's about the only vehicle I own that when I remove it from winter storage, all of the tires are still up. Just lucky, I guess.

[V8 Bob]

Originally Posted by vilanar

My ´50 was equipped with radials on stock steel wheels when I bought it and left front tire popped off from the wheel lip when I was driving in the middle of LA traffic.
At the tire shop later that day I changed all the wheels for tubeless type where is that bead
which keeps tire against wheel lip. So I strongly recommend using tubes with original wheels.

The safety bead was introduced in 1940, long before tubeless or radial tires, and will help keep the tire on the wheel, by design. Tubes, however, hold air, nothing more, and will not help the tire stay on the wheel. The only reasons to use tubes are tube-type tires, or wheels that are leak prone, like some wires.
Upgrading to newer wheels is a good idea, but tubeless radials can run very well and safe on older wheels that are in good shape.

[blucar]

Tubes in tubeless tires can be troublesome, friction between the tube and tire casing.
I have found throughout the years that many people run their tires under-inflated which can cause side wall flex with radials and excessive wear on the outer edges of the front tires. Contrary to common beliefs radials are high pressure tires, 28-30 lbs is to low, 32-34 lbs on the average car is just right..
In 1956 I put tubeless tires on my '53 Olds 88, my insurance man was going to cancel my insurance because he felt the tires would roll of of the rims, causing a sudden loss of air.
Got a letter from Kelley-Springfield Tire Co. that disproved his theory.

[Tinker]

Coker has wheel liners (strips) to help with that friction.

https://www.cokertire.com/accessorie...im-strips.html



I've seen threads were people have suggested duct tape....

[Ol' Ron]

I've been running radials on a 42 front suspension for the past 30 years. The only problem I had with them was: they wouldn't stay on the tracks. Ir was a common practice to drive on the railroad tracks, by lowering the air pressure to 15 lbs on the Bias tires and run down the rails. but the radials keep falling off.

[Tinker]

A old friend of my pops had a model a that only had wheels (rims) up front (no tires), he used it to pull us on the iced lake with a rope and tube. He had a few "junkers" to mess with. it was a winter setup.

[tubman]

I hesitate to say it, but you guys are showing your age.

[Tinker]

Na. I'm pretty young.

[blucar]

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Originally Posted by Tinker

Coker has wheel liners (strips) to help with that friction.

https://www.cokertire.com/accessorie...im-strips.html



I've seen threads were people have suggested duct tape....

I think the wheel liners are intended for wire spoke wheels and split rims.
wheel liners are very common on cycle wheels, motor and bike, because of the spokes.

[GB SISSON]

I think the friction problem between tubeless tires and a tube is from the ribs that run at an angle on the inside of the sidewall on tubeless tires. I have had trouble with those in the past, but never understood how a 'radial tube' solves this. Thicker?? I too have considered radials on my truck based woodie. I do like a fairly tall, narrow tire. A lot of dually pickups came with 225 85r 16s and I wonder about those. Thanks for posting this thread. It has been informative.

[Randy in ca]

Originally Posted by V8 Bob

The safety bead was introduced in 1940, long before tubeless or radial tires, and will help keep the tire on the wheel, by design. Tubes, however, hold air, nothing more, and will not help the tire stay on the wheel. The only reasons to use tubes are tube-type tires, or wheels that are leak prone, like some wires.
Upgrading to newer wheels is a good idea, but tubeless radials can run very well and safe on older wheels that are in good shape.

-
Are you sure of this? I don't recall seeing them on any wheels made before sometime in the early 60's.

[V8 Bob]

Originally Posted by Randy in ca

-
Are you sure of this? I don't recall seeing them on any wheels made before sometime in the early 60's.

Safety-rim wheels were introduced by Dodge in 1940, an industry first, according to the book "Cars of the '40s" I have.

[V12Bill]

About 10 or 15 years ago the was a lot of talk here about using wheels that were designed for radials. Also the suspension was supposed to be"radial tuned" what ever that was. There was talk of the metal around the lugs failing from fatigue because of flexing causing thd wheel to fall off. Is all that "fake news" now?

[philipswanson]

Running Cooper steel belted radial blackwalls on my 40 wagon on F100 5.5" wide wheels. Stock hub caps even fit as long as you get 66 or earlier F100 wheels. Tires are only $97 a piece. They look and perform great. No Diamondbacks or Cokers for me! Rip off prices.

[95476]

I just switched out the brand bias ply Firestone Deluxe Champions on my '34 truck this weekend.
I switched to Excelsior radials and cannot believe the difference.
I might switch to the larger 750 16's on the rear but I am very happy.
If you drive your car treat yourself to some radials.

[Talkwrench]

Oohh nice truck... So any difference in steering effort ?

[1oldtimer]

Originally Posted by GB SISSON

I think the friction problem between tubeless tires and a tube is from the ribs that run at an angle on the inside of the sidewall on tubeless tires. I have had trouble with those in the past, but never understood how a 'radial tube' solves this. Thicker?? I too have considered radials on my truck based woodie. I do like a fairly tall, narrow tire. A lot of dually pickups came with 225 85r 16s and I wonder about those. Thanks for posting this thread. It has been informative.

I like the square commercial tires, they look close to bias. Last 2 panel trucks ('54 F100 and '56 Chevy) both had/have 215/85 lt16's on them (the F100 had 16x5 wheels and the Chevy has 16x6).


My '47 had really square radials on stock 16x4.5 wheels for years, the '41 pickup has radials not really square so they look so so. After the A is done I'm thinking of bias looking radials, because most regular radials look bulbous and balloony (ie crappy). My '47 had 235/75 r15 wide whites on stock 15x5.5 wheels when i bought it and it looked bad......the 16's with diamondback tires look way better.

[95476]

Originally Posted by Talkwrench

Oohh nice truck... So any difference in steering effort ?

Easier steering and it tracks much better.
I did go to a smaller front tire.