Thread: Mixing bias ply's with radials

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Experts say not on same axle but OK if bias on front and radials on rear . Any body done it ? My rear Firestone 700 x 18's ride hard and am thinking of replacing them with radials for a bit softer ride . I am ready to sacrifice "the look " for the ride . LFE

I may be doing this exact thing Ed. Want to run Hurst slicks on the rear and bias up front. Everything I've heard is that this is ok to do, and supposedly all the guys running these Hurst slicks are doing this same thing. I think Glenn (AHOTROD) is one.

I've also heard radial on the front and bias on the rear is a no no.

Don

Here in Sask. there's actually a law against radials on front with bias on the back. I have run that combo on a '66 Chev 1-ton with no handling problems, but the dual rear wheels might have had something to do with it.

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

I may be doing this exact thing Ed. Want to run Hurst slicks on the rear and bias up front. Everything I've heard is that this is ok to do, and supposedly all the guys running these Hurst slicks are doing this same thing. I think Glenn (AHOTROD) is one.

I've also heard radial on the front and bias on the rear is a no no.

Don

i used the hurst slicks on the street . i have used bias in back of the GTO many times . i am still here . i went radials up front it was ok but they were all race tires with low air psi .i used abit more air in the front tires. now i just use the Bf race tires on back

bias /radial fine. Radial/ bias is a nono. Radials on the front, bias on the rear will give you vauge steering, create an oversteer condition and make an already existing oversteer downright dangerous.

It used to be accepted to use radials on one end and bias on the other to correct a severe understeer or oversteer condition. My problem with this is that radials grip so much better in wet conditions that it can lead to extremely dangerous handling when the road is wet. Probably OK for drag racing only but certainly not on the street.
I concur with not using a mix on the same axle. I had to use a bias spare to replace a radial on the rear once and the car was sideways on almost every corner unless I drove like a little old lady.

Originally Posted by RestoRod

My problem with this is that radials grip so much better in wet conditions that it can lead to extremely dangerous handling when the road is wet.

Fierst of all thanks for the comebacks guys. This morning I have found a pair of decent used Michlein 265 70 18 's , the tire guy says they will fit ok on my 7" wide rims . There is no doubt that these tires will grip better than my skinny bias plys up front . As my rat is rear engined I have over 60% -2000 lbs- of my weight on the rear wheels .so i'm thinking if most of my weight is on the rear wheels and they grip better , will that just make me stay in a straight line when braking -with or without wet conditions . Of course with no fenders I avoid running in the rain, in fact I have NEVER run in the rain . Being retired gives one some added options . The plan is if caught in the rain away from home I will just sit tight till the rain stops . Every motel has a reataurant and lounge and there is no one looking for me on Monday morning . LFE

Originally Posted by luckyfasteddie

Fierst of all thanks for the comebacks guys. This morning I have found a pair of decent used Michlein 265 70 18 's , the tire guy says they will fit ok on my 7" wide rims . There is no doubt that these tires will grip better than my skinny bias plys up front . As my rat is rear engined I have over 60% -2000 lbs- of my weight on the rear wheels .so i'm thinking if most of my weight is on the rear wheels and they grip better , will that just make me stay in a straight line when braking -with or without wet conditions . Of course with no fenders I avoid running in the rain, in fact I have NEVER run in the rain . Being retired gives one some added options . The plan is if caught in the rain away from home I will just sit tight till the rain stops . Every motel has a reataurant and lounge and there is no one looking for me on Monday morning . LFE

Now that sounds like a plan I can relate to Eddie!!!!!! Leave home when it's sunny and nice, pray for rain in the afternoon!!!!!!

Well I never did have much patience , so i went back and bought em . Now their used , but I got the pair mounted and balanced for 62 bucks . Put them on and took a ride , seems to be a smother ride . Guess time and rain will tell .Here's a few pics .LFE

I resize mine through my email program....