The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Radial vs Bias Ply

I am thinking about switching from the original bias to newer radials on my 42 1/2 ton. I have the original 16" pie cutters but also found a set of 15" which I'd like to drop down to. Both 4" wide I believe. Rumor has it that the vehicle perform better with Bias as strange as that may sound. I also like the old school look. I saw a 50'2 style with 215 70r15. Anyone got tips on options, tire sizes, type, etc?

To me original looks best because things will be better proportioned. So I would stay with the 16" rims.

Though I have no problem with going tubeless and or radial. For the tire size will be the same.

I also am about to put new tires on my 41, I want to see the comments on what handles the best. Dave

Do a SEARCH, this subject has been talked about extensively.

It's been far too many moons since I've driven an auto w/bias plys.
When I got the 49 running with 600x16 bias plys still on it they didn't last very long, like maybe 1/4 mile before one flew apart and rode like a square so I went with radials and will stay that way. Granted the bias plys were very old but I decided to try radials on the OEM rims.
My 49 is a driver and the tubeless radials (225 75R-16's) on the OEM rims ride and handle great. I've got approx. 10K miles on a used set of Goodyear Wranglers.
I may checkout 215's on the next set of tires as I like the skinny tire look on a Stovebolt but I'm solidly in the radials camp.
Dave

We/I used Bias-Ply for many years on our trucks back in the '70's and '80's and continued on with Bias-Ply on my Pick-ups and 1-Ton into the 90's.

I always liked them and have no complaints. About the only problem we had with them would be loading our trucks late Friday and driving them out on a cold Monday morning. The tires would "Lug" for a bit till they warmed up. That never really bothered me and I actually thought it was pretty funny.

Replacing the 7.00-18 bias ply tires on my 1959 1 ton with 225/70-19.5 radials was the best thing I have done to improve the drivability of my truck.

Well, I took Cosmo's advice and searched the archives to find the subject has been talked to death. Now I am thoroughly confused. I'm truly leaning towards the radials but as mentioned, I wanted to reduce the stance a bit without any suspension tweaking or loosing originality. This is why I purchased some stock 6 lug 15" wheels. Just finding a tire size .will be the challenge here. Thanks all as always!

What year/size 15" rims do you have? Advance-Design 3100 15" rims/tires were wider rolling diameter than the 16" rims/tires.

What does "reduce the stance" mean?

"Rumor has it that the vehicle perform better with Bias as strange as that may sound."

Rumors/experience will get you all sorts of answers. I have never seen a post that stated that the performance of truck radials, on original wheels, properly inflated, was anything but better than bias ply truck tires (on a 3100).

The 4" width might cause some issues with tire fitment. 5" width is pushing the limits for minimum width for a 215, which usually has a lower limit of 5 1/2" rim width. I won't say they can't be mounted on them, but you might get some squirrelly handling. A 205 or 195 might work better, but finding that narrow of a tire in something appropriate for a truck, especially in 16", is not going to be easy, it's pretty much obsolete. I'll do some more checking, see what I can come up with without getting too crazy on cost.

I have new Firestone 650-16 bias on my 49 and really like them. Its a new formula and they do not flat spot and do run smoothly. I had radials on my 53 (forgot the size) but the tie rod ends would rub on the inside wall and parking was a real Armstrong exercise. Still thinking about going to radials when I wear these out but am not convinced.

Well, when I say "reduce the stance" I wanted a way for the truck not to appear top heavy and teetering on the skinny, rubber band-like bias tires on my original 16's. They look good from the side but not from the rear or front. That's my personal opinion. So, the rims I recently bought supposedly came off a 1960 Apache. Same 6 lug pattern but they are 15" X 5.5 which I believe will increase my options for a little wider and lower profile tire maybe like a 205/70R15. Time to go tire shopping. Can someone write a permission slip to my wife?

A 215/75/15 would be a better fit. It's taller and wider than the 205/70/15 (which is really too small for a full size truck), and is very close to the 6.70-15 that was common on the '55 2nd and up trucks.

Jesse James,,,,sounds like you've had a change of heart where
'Old Blue' is concerned, that is, wearing out the Firestone's
and going to Radials? Glad to hear that, you must have
opted for more Advil in stead of putting him out to pasture.
"new formula and they do not flat spot", would those be
Cooker tires ya got there?
I always thought the advantaged that the radial tire had over
the bias tire was mostly that they ran cooler, had a longer
useful life, rode smoother, safer and more stable at speed
better handling during cornering because the side wall and
tread are not interdependent, keeping more of the tread in
contact with the road. I thing the list goes on but that's
enough for me to never ride on old lumpy again.

Longbox Bill, gottum question for you. In your reply you refer
to a 6.70-15, now that's a number that an old fart like me can
relate to or should I say, picture in my mind. Worked as an
inspector where metric was common place and never could
actually 'think' metric, I always had to do a conversion of
the numbers if you know what I mean.
Do you know of a chart or listing that compares the metric
sizes to the old standards from my youth, 'bout half century
back in time?????

Denny Graham
Still thinking in American English, in Sandwich, IL

I use several sources, Denny. One is a copy of the Old Timers Tire Guide, which has a couple of conversion charts in it. One converts from the old style system (6.70-15) to the Alpha-Numeric system (F-78-15) and P-Metric (215/75/15). It also has other sidewall ratios for the Alpha-Numeric and P-Metric sizes. I also use Coker tire to get dimensions for any tire I don't have listed, or want to get the approximate size, then I cross reference them with the Ultimate Tire and Wheel Fitment Guide, which is more for doing plus sizing on modern cars and trucks, giving suggested tire sizes, oe bolt patterns and offsets. But it also has a very extensive P-Metric, LT-Metric, and floatation tire dimension chart.

Wellllll, thanks.....that got complicated, real fast didn't it Bill.

Thought there might be some simple charts or data bases on
line that might simplify the conversion since it comes up
about three times a week on every forum that I been to. I
don't think, other than you, that there is one other that
hasn't had to suffer thru the which size comes closest
to the original tire.

But thanks anyway,

I see two major issues here. The wide wheel is just about guaranteed to rub on your tie rod ends if you have the original style ends. Also, if you run 15" tires instead of the tall skinny 16" tires, you should be prepared for loosing several miles per hour going down the road, unless your 15" tire is taller than the original 16" tire.

The 15x5.5 shouldn't rub, the RPO 15" wheel option from '42 is also a 5.5" wheel. I've seen wider wheels used with the stock tie rods on those without rubbing, they key is having the proper backspace and offset.
The oem tire has an average diameter of 28.3". A 215/75/15 comes in at 27.7" average, only about 1/2" shorter overall. A 225/75/15, which really would need a 6-7 inch wheel, comes in at 28.3".

Here is a photo of my 215/75/15's on my 1952/53 Chevy 1 ton truck... here

not sure what look you are looking for...this is another view...wheels are 6" wide vintques stock "smoothies"..

here

stock everything except disc brakes on the front (K5 Blazer rear end too)...I have not driven it yet so I dont know anything about the handle...hoping it isnt too bad...

MikeC

The best thing I ever did to my truck was go with radial tires.

One of the things which I miss the most since then is the look of the skinny bias tires, and the nostalgic ride down memory lane on square tires for the first mile. If that doesn't bring you back to 1950, nothing will.

Carl
Fluent from both sides of my mouth.

Many people think my black-wall "skinny" radials on original 6.50x16" rims look like bias ply tires, until they read the code/size on the tires: LT235/85R16

Hey Denny. No decision yet on retiring both the truck and myself. Still having trouble with harried housewives in SUVs though! Actually been driving it more than I thought but a good friend does want to buy it. He just came into a lot of money and says its aside for my truck. Told him didn't want all the inheritance but would take $40K!
Here is a question for all of you experts. Is the cab (especially leg room) in a task force better than an AD cab? Reason I ask is I have been offered a 58 half ton long box.

Quite a bit more leg room in a Task Force.

Your '49 is a real nice truck, but I don't think I'd give
someone a chance to change his mind if he offered me $40k
for an AD. That's the kind of money that will buy trophy winners.
DG.

I must have written that without thinking. He said he had inherited $50K and I said I didn't want it all but would take just $40K. Honestly I think my truck is worth more than that to me. Had a garage full of trophies from my 53 but all they did was gather dust!!