VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1933-1936 Tires-radial or bias ply

Any opinions out there on the use of radial tires on 30's Chevy wire wheels?

Does it matter if the bias ply tires are replaced with radial? Can the 35 rims take a radial or are the bias ply necessary for safety?

Both the bias ply and the radial are replica/reproduction tires.

Thanks

I have bias ply on my truck which is a 1936 GMC 1/2 ton. I have had no issue in handling, but I also never exceed 45 mph. My front end parts are all very tight and the alignment has been done to specs so that may make a difference in the steering. I rotate my tires every year even though I usually only do about 1500 miles a year.
Hope that this is of some help.

I don't think I would put radials on the skinny 3" rims.

Thank you for responding.

My thinking, and it may be very wrong, is that radials have a more rigid/stiffer side wall than bias ply. This would make a better tire for a "skinny 3 inch" rim.

Is this a misunderstanding on the comparison of bias ply vs radial?

Thanks

I think your assumption is backwards in Re: sidewall stiffness.

yes

I think that the harder steering with radials would off-set any advantage in driveability. Most of us have found that a few more pounds in the bias ply tires makes a big difference in wander for those tall narrow tires.

I do have radials on my '51 and that helps on those shorter, wider tires.

I use bias ply tires on my '36 truck and car. They cut down through mud to the "good" dirt on these dirt roads here in Mississippi. They hold better on gravel road turns than radial. Radial float on top of mud and gravel and cause sliding during a 30 M. P. H. turn. You don't want that to happen on a muddy road especially during this time of the year.

You might want to consult with the COKER TIRE COMPANY as they offer both types and can advise you on the suitability of a radial tire on a 3" wide rim.

mike

A radial tire mounted on a 3" rim, in my opinion, would pinch that radial tire in too far, not permitting a good "footprint" from the radial tire.

Back when radials first came on the scene in 1968-69. General motors actually made a very specific RALLEY WHEEL specifically for radials.. I think they were 15" x 4" .

I also believe they were intended for use on 69 station wagons only.

Yes running a 60--65--70 series the tire would crown out by being sucked inwards on the rim. The tire of choice would be a 75 series tire and in a 29" -- 30 " tall tire size. If memory serves me correctly. ?????

mike

I'm going to stay with bias ply.

Anybody have a source for BF Goodrich or Goodyear labeled 525/550x17 bias ply in blackwall?

I can't find them on Coker or Universal.

Thanks

Good luck with that one. I've been looking for 2 years now. I need Goodrich, 5 for the 33 & 6 for the 34...Joe

I have heard that there is a rubber shortage. I know that Coker has bought some of the molds for tires. They may have that one. Have you checked with Universal Tire? 877.231.9926

"I also believe they were intended for use on 69 station wagons only".

To clarify, 1969 wagons used a 14 x 6 wheel (rim) as standard equipment.

The std. 1969 pass. car used a 14 x 5 rim, as std. equipment.

An optional 15 x 6 wheel was offered in 1969.

According to GM Heritage, that size wheel was std. on 1969 taxis and police vehicles.

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Okay, so what was a 15 x 4 rally wheel used on as optional or OEM equipment ???????????????


mike

How about Nova?

Hello Mr. 1935
I sent you an email.

just posted the question in the 1961--65 section.

I asked WHEEL VINTIQUES the producer of the repo wheel a couple of years ago about the origin of the 15 x 4. The person who answered had no answer to their origin.

mike

A ChevyII - Nova never even had 15" wheels as an option.

From 1968 and up a 14X5 wheel was standard with a 14x6 and 14X7 optional

If I remember correctly we did have Yellow cabs in Milwaukee in 1962 and they had 4 cyl. Chevy II's with 15" rims and rquired special front fender with larger wheel openings.