VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1949-1954 Radial or Bias ply for my 50 Fleetline Deluxe

Hello Everybody, I need help trying to decide on tires for my 1950 Fleetline Deluxe, the car has been sitting for approx. 30 years. and has Bias ply "Bedford" tires now 6.50x15, but now that its running I plan on driving the car till the wheels fall off! every weekend. I guess what I really want to know is how are the radials on old cars?? is there a big difference?? ALSO how wide should a whitewall be on a 50 Chevy?
Thanks
Al # 49427

I found the cost of the WWW tires, be they radial or bias ply, definitley out of my price range. I went with a set of Cooper radials on my '51 Deluxe and it made a HUGE difference over the old bias ply tires. The white walls may be incorrect as far as width, but I don't care, I am not giving up the kind of money they want for for those wide whites. It drives like a new car with the Coopers on it.

IMHO, radials VS bias is like daylight VS dark. Radials make a dramatic improvement. Borrow a mounted set of radials and see for yourself.

To each his own - - -

Radil tires will cover up for worn front end parts. If the steering, etc. is tight the car will track well with bias ply tires unless they are wornout.
I put a set of radials on my '50. Went on a 3000 mle trip to Vermont. When I got back I bought a new set of Firestone bias.
The radials had little afffect on the steering other than making parking a chore. The radials made more road noise and a harsher ride. Also just didn't look right.
The correct white width is about 3 1/2 "

I have wide whitewall bias tires on my '51 Chevy and the car drives great....even with the steering a little lose. And, the bias tires have a much better appearance on the car than the radials.

I have to agree 100% on the look of the bias, they just look right when you see the car with them on there. Ride is a little harsher and yes they track every groove in the road sometimes, but radials are a pain to park w/out power steering as Gene mentioned and they just look funny (just my .02).

Today's bias repros aren't bad except for the cost. Sometimes you can snag a set on eBay or Craigslist cheaper than new. You may notice a huge difference just getting into a newer set than you have if they're really 20 years old.

These are all great answers, first of all I am trying to keep the car all original! but I also want it to be a driver.. the one thing that stands out the most to me is the fact, I really think that it changes the overall appearance of the car and it seems to me that it changes the height of the car??
I was parked next to a 46 Chevy w/Radials and even with my 30+ year old tires, I liked my old Bias tires better!
now that you guys have me leaning towards Bias Ply the only thing left is BF Goodrich, Firestone, Corker, ???
Thanks Al #49427

I think that you are making the right decision about sticking with the bias tires. Good luck!

I have both Firestone and Goodrich radials on my cars. Both brands have nice looking white walls that stay white.
I have Firestones on my 1950 (the second set). The Firestone runs large for its size which I think is an advantage. The first set of Firestones on the '50 still looked god after over 25,000 miles and 20 years but I didn't trust them at high speeds any more. Radial tires tend to have a tread peel off problem that why they do not advise radials to be run more than six years.

I have Firestone wide whitewall tires on my '51 and they look great.

O.K. Guys I have been doing a little shopping, and depending on what size tire you are looking for they give you a "recommended
rim width" I have no idea what a stock rim width is for a 50 Fleetline Deluxe?? the tire is 6.70 x 15 does anybody know the answer to this riddle??

Thanks AL # 49427

5 '

Al, for sure it is your Chevy and you can do as you please. However, for your own benefit, before you buy tires borrow a set of mounted radials and try 'em on your car. Only then will you believe the dramatic improvement redials afford on an ol' vintage car.

I've tried both types of tires on many vintage cars for years. I'll never stake my car or my life on bias tires. This '41 came with wide wsw bias tires. The first thing I did was to put radials on it. At least try 'em before you spend your money.

A bit harder to park? Sure they are because they have a much larger contact patch - which alone makes more traction (safer to drive). Just rock the car with the clutch as you turn the wheel while parking.

I admit bias belong on high point show cars. Even if I did that (and I don't) I would have a set of wheels with radials for running around.

Again, to each his own.

My 1950 4 door sedan has bias ply 6.70 x 15 tires and the convertible has 3 1/4 inch radial white walls. The radials are harder to park, no question. Other than that I don't feel much difference.