The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Tires? Radials verses Bias

What are the best tire to run on these old trucks. I have a stock 53 Chevrolet 3600 3/4 ton. I talked to a guy that had an old truck and he runs Bias tires on his. Were these trucks meant to have Bias instead of radials. Then again that's all they hardback then. Right?

Elmo

Our trucks originally came with bias ply tires. Although available in Europe and Asia, radial tires were not produced here in the US until the late sixties. Ford being the first to put radials on there cars in 1970. In 1968, Consumer Reports, acknowledged the superiority of the radial tire design, documenting its longer tread life, better steering characteristics, and less rolling resistance, which increases gas mileage. This article really helped to push the radial tire here in America.

Most ‘bolters agree, that if you want a 100% original, show winning truck, you go with bias ply. If you want to drive it allot, radials will make a more comfortable ride.

Just to add another related question.
Can you run radials on three piece rims with a tube?
I would think with the radial flexing, it would wear out the tube inside.

Don

There are radial tubes made to use with radial tires. I have Coker radial tires on my truck. They are made with a profile that looks like a bias ply tire. They require the use of radial tubes.

Radial tubes may not be appropriate for use in all radial tires.

elmo I put badials on my split rims,like yours oh 20 years ago road good still up has been-well waiting for me to finish it off. anyway they worked,would be ok to have a flap in there however mine don't have it.

I drive my 1-ton pickup 100's of miles a year (not thousands ) on bias plys. Given a choice, I would naturally prefer radials (who wouldn't?) but so far, I have no complaint with my bias ply 17's. And with my 261 and 4.10 gearing, I am comfortable running 65-70 MPH all day long.

In my experience, radials are preferred, but bias plays get the job done, too, if you know how to drive a truck ...

If you only are familiar with little euro/asian car sedans with 4-wheel disc brakes and automatic transmissions, then by all means, stick to the radials.

Guess I'll go with bias tires for the three piece rims. The only place I can get 7.00-18 is thru Coker.
Just relax and it won't hurt so bad.

Don

I had bias ply tires at first, they were okay. It tended to wander just a bit. When I planned my trip to Kansas City (1000+ miles each way) I put on radials. I didn't go back to the bias plies, eventually was able to sell them.

Just this afternoon. On bias plys... with Huck brakes ... no power steering .... gas tank still in the cab ... Notice how I am holding the steering wheel ...

Chris Sweet took the photo. And we're both .... gasp ... still alive!!

I'll bet that 261 sounds really good at that speed- - - - -4.10 gears, direct drive transmission, and wound up where it was designed to run!
Jerry

I don't think anyone will dispute the virtues of radials, but bias aren't as bad as many people seem to think they are. I switched my fleet of trucks to radials in the late 70's. We got better fuel mileage, better tread wear and fewer blats. But we had a lot more blow outs. And when a radial blows out, it does a lot of damage. We still have more blowouts with radials than we ever had with bias. And radials don't stand age near as well as nylon bias. I have a bunch of storage trailers with radials. Tires blow out when tires are any where from 5 to 20 years. When they start humping up in the middle of the tread the radial plies are coming loose from the bead and the tire is about to blow out. I commuted to college 90 miles one way back in the 60's. I drove a Y-Block with a BW OD and 4.11 gears. I still have a ticket to prove it went 120. I wore out a set of 8.25x14 Firestone 500s every 6 months, but I never worried about blowouts. And of course no power brakes or power steering. We ran 7.50x17 tires on the back of our 3/4 ton GMCs 60 to 70 years ago to haul heavier loads. In 1981 I was still using one of these to haul building materials when I remodeled my house. Shortly after that I made a trailer out of the bed. I could kick myself for doing it, but I thought it made sense at the time. I still have the trailer and the tires dated 1962 are still usable. I still prefer bias on a vehicle that I hardly ever drive or only drive a couple of hundred miles a year. My wife has an SL Mercedes that she hardly ever drives. The tires look like new, but they are 7 years old and I am going to put new tires on it before she gets out on the highway. She drives just as fast as I do.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/KjVTndHkArwZY7s97

Before ordering your tires at Coker check out this site. They are also in California and sell the same tires as Coker. The tires cost the same as at Coker but if you buy 4 shipping is free. That can be a big savings.

performanceplustire.com

I have two sets of tires and wheels for my 37 Buick; one radials and one bias. Some nit picker shows deduct for radials. Both types drive and ride in a way that one can relax at the wheel with the one big difference being on grooved pavement. The radials track straight and the bias follow the grooves.

I bought my set of 7.50x17 BPs for my 1-ton from Universal Vintage Tire Co. in Hershey, PA. Our local tire shop (big trucks, ag, as well as 4-wheelers) mounted and balanced them on my original multi-piece wheels no problem. Easily have more than 1,000 miles on them now -- no issues!

Good stories, Ken!

Jerry -- that engine is running great! Sounds awesome at the top end, although a little hard to hear it over the road and wind noise I am wondering if the 216 valve cover was such a great idea, after all, though ...

Back to the question about running radials on sectional wheels- - - -I ran a late 1980's Ford 350 flatbed with a late 1960's Chevy rear axle under it- - - -my doofus nephew thought that running the original rear end with a leaky pinion seal and not checking the lube was a good idea! WRONG! The Chevy 1-ton back behind the barn made a good donor. One little problem- - - -those big brake drums kept the Ford 16" drop center tubeless wheels from fitting, so I had to run tube type wheels with removable bead rings as inside duals. Other than a few flats caused by nails and such, the tubes and flaps inside the radial tires gave no problems. I did use radial-rated tubes, however.
Jerry

Speaking of, and now that you mention it, I had tubed Michelin radials on my M-37B-1 (W/W), mounted to the original multi-piece wheels. Radial tubes and flaps. Worked great

I ran Michelin radials with tubes on my MGA for 45 years, BTW same tires and tubes.

On my previous truck I mounted a full set of bias plies and was SHOCKED at how good they handled! Those stiff sidewalls really prevent lean!

Hey two ton ive 2 7:00×18 bias ply tires i dont need if interested please text to:1-719_205-2203 thanks Karl