I am looking for opinions (I know there will be a lot) on what tires I should buy. 68 road runner, all stock. I don't like the look of the red line radials, and I am told I won't like driving with bias ply tires. The car is a toy, I drive it when I want, but not daily. Mostly to shows and just cruising. What do you say?? Thanks!!

Bias Ply or Radial Tires single choice
	Bias Ply
	Who Cares??
	Radial
Votes accepted starting: 08/04/14 12:32 AM
View Results

If you care about the asthetics of it go with the bias tires. People act like they're so bad you'd think that they were square.

The bias ply are much taller than the radials and look original. The radials do ride better and seem to be a little more forgiving about minor wear in the suspension.

If the original look is important to you then get the bias tires. The car will still be a pleasure to drive as long as the suspension is in good shape. For what you intend to do with the car it is not that big of a deal IMHO.

With it being a toy/not driven much and being all stock if you had some original type tires available I would go with them. An original/untouched/unmodified/time capsule car is a sight to behold. I did vote the other way but I've changed my mind

They're not square, but usually not perfectly round either.
And if you don't mind the flat spots from the car being parked a while then go for it.

I would say if you plan to drive it alot you will like the radials better. I use radials and it handles like a different car on them. I know the bias have the more original look but I drive my 63 alot and use radials up front and a radial slick in the rear. Ron

Having two cars done and driving them both I get your dilemma. My Satellite gets driven anywhere and everywhere. Its no where near stock and I have radials on it.
The Dart gets driven locally to a show here and there but not near the miles as the Satellite. I have bias on it. You do have to pay a little more attention to the road with the bias as occasionally it will find a seam in the road it wants to follow.
I like the nostalgia look the bias ply tires add to the Dart, but I'm not sure I would give up my radials for all around driving.
In the end its yours...

One big difference between the two is that the radials will tolerate a wider range of alignment specs. This means you can put a more modern spec alignment on them, which will tend to improve the driving experience by creating a car the handles better and feels smoother to drive. If your normal driver is newer, using radials on the classic with the new alignment specs will make the road feel between the two eras of cars feel closer rather than further apart.

It is not uncommon to see members post on here about how they love their muscle car, but the driving experience is less than stellar compared to their modern econo-box and its no fun anymore and they suddenly feel they need to drop major coin on a coil over system to make it feel "modern."

So, I vote radials with a new alignment. Get 4-5* positive caster, 0-1* negative camber, .125" of total toe in. This with radials will make it feel like a much newer car.

Anyone remember the Pontiac Radial Tuned Suspension system of the mid '70s? The components weren't much different for the early '70s, they did have bigger sway bars, but the alignment specs were significantly different.

That isn't to say its all hellfire and damnation if you chose bias plys. Just stick with the factory recommended suspension alignment and be prepared for a significantly different driving feel compared to your commuter. They do hunt grooves a bit more, flat spot easier, and take a while to warm up and smooth out on cooler mornings. They also will "broadcast" their grip level much more clearly if you are pushing the traction limits and you may be able to recover traction faster when you do exceed their grip.

I'm with TC here. A set of decent radials and alignment like he said (very usable specs for any rear wheel drive car, if you can get to them with the adjustability built into the car) will make a very driveable and enjoyable car.

I'm old enough to remember the last half of the '60s and the '70s well. Back in the day we couldn't wait to get to a belted tire. That's where the big difference was. Bias ply tires don't keep the tread on the road like a belted tire. The tread twists and lifts in cornering. Belts help keeo it even with the road.

Polyglas tires were factory stock on many performance cars, they had two fiberglass belts on top of some bias plies.

True radials have a more flexible sidewall so the belt works even better than bias/belted tires.

The tire's appearance is due to its ASPECT RATIO which has nothing to do with the tire's construction. The radial does have a little larger sidewall bulge due to the more flexible sidewall, but otherwise it's all aspect ratio.

Keep the antique tires on the trailer queens.

R.

I pulled the radials off my 71 Charger and swapped on some G60x15 Polyglas GT's. It went from a beautiful driving and handling car to something that didn't handle as well and would follow grooves on the highway. I won't run belted or bias ever again. They're okay for rolling the car in and out of the trailer though.

Sheldon

If your goal is to get as many show points (and trophies) as you can, then go with stock bias ply. If having a "stock-like" appearance and also making the car more fun to drive....get the radials. Everytime I ran bias plys on my cars to get show points, they would eventually get to me and the radials would go on for good. I think I bought 3 sets of red line bias plys and always ended up switching them over.

Coker and Diamond Back are marketing radials that look like bias ply tires.

I had MT bias on the 65.Drove with them for about 2 weeks.Then my kid put them on his 62.He drove one day and put the radials back on.Rocky

I voted radials as you do drive it some and they make a big difference. As mentioned above, radials and a custom alignment and a decent set of gas shocks will make a huge difference in how it drives.

Had radials, put on E70 and G60's Polyglas. Our Michigan roads suck and they almost caused a headon Sunday with my Demon....but I like the look. Goodyear not making a radial with white letters that look like the old Polyglas, is really missing the boat.

Why cant they make a radial tire that looks like a bias.I mean most radials are M/S tread design.I dont plan on driving in the mud or snow so a tread pattern that looks like the old bias plys would be just as good right?