Quote: Another thought on it. Look at all cars running on bias ply race tires out there. Drag and circle.
Right, there's nothing inherently wrong or unsafe about bias construction. But note there's a huge variance in tire characterics even within the broad groupings of 'bias' and 'radial'. For example with road race tires, Hoosier Street TDs provide great adhesion and slow breakway but not much directional feel at the steering wheel. While the Bluestreaks are generally considered 'slower' but have better directional feel. There's many factors at play - angle of the cross-plies, sidewall, compounds and tread (if any). Grassroots Motorsports did a back to back test of vintage legal race tires a few years back, but I can confirm the Street TDs characteristics from my own experience (note: this is not a steet tire in spite of the name. do not even think of using it on the street.)
Bottom line is that yes the development of radial ply tires were a technological breakthrough, but not doesn't mean a bias construction tire is inhernently unsafe. IIRC one of the advantages of radial plies is they're slightly more efficient (if all other things were equal).
