Well, I've put about 150 miles on the 215-85R-16 tires I just had installed on my original 16" rims, and I'd never go back to bias ply tires. The ride and handling is better and slightly quieter, There doesn't seem to be any downside to the change except possibly for slightly slower steering. Effort is a little less though.
Nowdays, any business that deals with a product that has any possibility of causing harm to property or personal injury has to be careful. There are scads of lawyers out there willing to help some one find the nearest deep pockets if an accident occurs.
I'll tell ya though, you won't have any problems mounting radials on your original rims as long as you don't try to run the Daytona 500 or something with them. The performance envelope of these old trucks in stock form just ain't gonna stress those tires.
My two bits
