Vintage Rubber or Radials on a 69 Z28 ???

[Survivor 69/Z28]

Hello to everyone!
This is my first posting on this forum. Great site!
I was wondering if anyone is driving on vintage style tires? I have a 69 Z28 that is all original including the original spare tire in the trunk. Its a Firestone E70-15 Sport Car 200. I love the way they look and would like to have them on all 4 corners. But how do they drive? Are the vintage tires really as bad as some folks say? I do understand that they will not drive like modern radials. I just want to make sure I am not making a bad choice by going with these. I do like to take the car out and drive it some on the weekends....

Thanks for the help!

[MosportGreen66]

They drive like crap. Bottom line. Steering feels loose and braking is tough. However, they look like a million bucks. For show, no question bias plys. But for driving, radials take the cake.

Many people here dislike radials and will only drive on bias plys. I use them both and enjoy them both when the time is right, and most importantly safe.

here some bias plys...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/mosportgreen66/CarFiles050.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/mosportgreen66/VetteinCanada1.jpg

[Survivor 69/Z28]

Great looking Z!
Yea, that is what I have heard. But, dang they look good!
Are they so bad that it makes the car dangerous to drive?
The last thing I would want is run my car into a pole just because I thought the tires looked cool....

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

I don't think they are bad at all, I love driving on the repro bias plys, http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

They aren't dangerous, Rob & Pete are running 110-120mph on them, and the tires stay together.

[Survivor 69/Z28]

Marlin,

Which tires are you running?

Thanks,

[Survivor 69/Z28]

Does anyone know how the Sport Car 200's drive? Or are they all about the same?

Coker told me that these tires look exactly like they did in 69, BUT they were built a little bit better today. For whatever that's worth....

[Don_Lightfoot]

I have run the original style bias ply tires on all my previous musclecars in the past fifteen years with the exception of one. I am no different than you in as much I go for the odd weekend rip or cruise spot. Normally I put on just a few hundred miles a year.

My Chevelle has no power steering (seems like fifty turns lock to lock) and stiff suspension. On anything but the smoothest road you require two hands on the wheel to avoid the wandering. If I drove it more, or drove it for longer distances, radials would be the way to go.

Yes, bias tires are not the most comfortable way to get around, but that's part of the Musclecar mystique in my opinion - strong armed, pedal to the metal, gear slamming - all with a smile on the face. I also prefer the looks.

Just my two pennies worth.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h68/aacorp/SCR7-0041.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h68/aacorp/MyClassicCarPic1.jpg

Coker produced Firestone Wide Oval white pinstripes!

[x Baldwin Motion]

old stock hard as a rock show tire
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q101/65z13/TiresNOShardasarock.jpg

time to drive tires
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q101/65z13/TirenewBFGrta.jpg

[olredalert]

-------Bought Coker radials for my Grand Prix, and took them off this summer as I didnt like the way the car drove WITH the radials,,,go figure. I think its two reasons. 1. Im old and remember how cars drove back in the day. 2. The car is old and set up for bias-plys. Now that I have the Goodyear bias-plys back on Im actually back to liking to drive the car again.......Bill S

[70elcaminoLS6]

Any Questions?

[169indy]

I would suggest TWO sets. Get the REPOP vintage tires and mount them on your date coded matching original born with rims. Then mount your radial shoes on the spare set of rims of your choice (DAY 2 maybe?).
Have both sets avail for their appropriate jobs.

Others have mentioned the pros and cons of Bias ply tires.
If you can swing it build two sets.
http://www.yenko.net/photos/data/500/medium/tire.jpg

I think the proper tires will look VERY nice on your Blue Car, regardless of how cruddy they handle, just keep that in mind when driving on them.
These cars just LOOK right with the skinny's on em!

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif
Jim

[hvychev]

Anthony, don't listen to all the usual stories about Bias Ply tires. I have driven about 20,000 miles on them in the last few years and I have NEVER had a problem and they handle fine. I have raced, street raced, burned out, Chicago expressway driven, you name it on them! Muscle cars were designed and built with these tires. They look cool and are made for the cars. Drive on them and enjoy a authentic ride and feel! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[Survivor 69/Z28]

Thanks for the responses! This really helps me.
It seems that either folks are against driving on them or its no big deal. I am not too keen on having another set of tires just to drive the car around town. Its not like I am driving this thing across country any time soon. But I guess that would be pretty fun....

Do the guys that are racing in FAST use the style tires?

Thanks,

Anthony

[DarrenX33]

For the first time I ran with a set of redline wide ovals on my Z over the summer. I heard the negative comments and expected the worst. After a number of hours on the road I don't think they are that bad. Obviously not as good as a radial but unless you want a ride like a Cadillac then I think you will be ok with them. I'm gonna leave mine on for a while. And I do have a set of rallys with BFGs on them for back up. But I like the redline look better..

[SmallHurst]

To answer your question, ALL of the guys in FAST are running the repop bias plys. It is actually in the rules for their races. As for the Pure Stockers, I would say 75% are using the bias plys. Add me to that list this year. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif

[lzdick]

[ QUOTE ]
Any Questions?

[/ QUOTE ]

Randy,
Why Polyglas tires on a '69 car? Weren't they introduced in 1970? Wide Tread GT was the tire in 1969.
Rich

[Salvatore]

I agree with Dan. I love my L60/15 Goodyears and my polyglas tire look but comfort, handling and less annoying I like my BFG's. I have the radials mounted on TTO's. They handle and ride much nicer. I drove on those hard a$$ tires back in the day for years. Don't need a refresher course. Now I can give my arthritis a rest. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif

[Chevy454]

[ QUOTE ]
Do the guys that are racing in FAST use the style tires?

[/ QUOTE ]
While not a FAST car, in Pure Stock we're running right at 116mph on them, without a hitch...we haven't ran radials on any of our older cars since the day we brought home our Y-Camaro...some of the guys in the the FAST class are running 130mph or better on them.

[Survivor 69/Z28]

Rusty,
It sure is nice to see someone running a Olds down the track. Those are strong #'s in your post. How stock is your Hurst Olds?

[@wot]

I had radials on my Nova for a couple of years, then switched to bias ply. I love the bias ply, although you need to re acquaint yourself with the strange wandering feeling we all lived with 30 years ago.

[Mr70]

If you drive your car constantly and want to find four 38 year old bia belted tires,then I would understand your hesitation for many reasons,but todays reproduction tires are much more used friendly and just make more sense to me.
No one seems to realize that todays reproduction tires are not the same chemical compounds or follow the same assembly safety guidelines/requirements that they used to make tires with 38 years ago.
Reproductions are much more forgiving today and easier to get used to along with an authentic appearance.They can also withstand more punishment,give better performance & safety and last longer the their ancestors.
Taking all that into consideration,as well as the overall cosmetic appearance and inexpensive cost of authentic looking reproduction tires,I wouldn't even consider putting a set of radial tires on a properly restored MuscleCar today. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif

[68l30]

I had BFG radials on my Camaro at one time.....Felt they were good for holding air and little else....Switched to Wide-Treds and never looked back.It hooks a lot harder with the Wide-Treds.....http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif


Steve http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[SmallHurst]

[ QUOTE ]
Rusty,
It sure is nice to see someone running a Olds down the track. Those are strong #'s in your post. How stock is your Hurst Olds?

[/ QUOTE ]

I can tell you it is stock! All 4200# of lovable Olds-mo-bubble! The A/C still works great, it has 48K on the clock (it had 24K on it when I purchased it in '95). I ran with my stock 3.23 gearing in it until this past summer when I had another 'O' axle done with 3.91 gears and a locker. Looking to try and get into the 12's! See you at SCR X! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

http://usera.imagecave.com/smallhurst/tulsaside.jpg

[70elcaminoLS6]

Maybe you should do a little more research, If you can't find it... I might be willing to show it to you http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[70elcaminoLS6]

Could it depend on when the car was produced??????????? http://www.tudelft.nl/live/binaries/c36dcf0a-335f-4642-81d0-f7fcbe96faf6/doc/straatsburg.pdf
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif??????:(
Play time is over for me right now: Have Fun Stir-in

[x Baldwin Motion]

that was more than I ever thought I wanted to know about tires but was afraid to ask. who ever wrote that paper must've gotten an "A+". I recommend reading it for general knowledge if you have any space left on your hard drive.

[Survivor 69/Z28]

Rusty,
Great pricture!
Man, that is one of my favorite musclecars of all time. I am a huge Olds fan. Was looking for a W30 or a nice camaro a few months back. Ended up with the Z instead.

Anthony

[camarojoe]

http://members.aol.com/joeybsyc/radials.jpg

'nuff said.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif Love that ad, so true http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

(Ya reading this Sammy http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif )

[69RSZ]

[ QUOTE ]
Great looking Z!
Yea, that is what I have heard. But, dang they look good!
Are they so bad that it makes the car dangerous to drive?
The last thing I would want is run my car into a pole just because I thought the tires looked cool....

[/ QUOTE ]
They look good BUT DONT GO OVER 70MPH!!
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l188/Budbrewer1/PC200008.jpg

[usa1z28]

Hi, I'm new here. I wanted to say something about the discussion on vintage vs radials. I was fortunate enough to find an excellent resource in Don Lightfoot who helped me select the correct vintage tires for my '69. I am extremely happy with the look and performance I have with the bias plys. I am also thankfull for the excellent support I got from Don. http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r87/usa1z28/car2.jpg

[Keith Tedford]

On the www.chevelles.com (http://www.chevelles.com) web site there is quite a bit of info on alignment specs for radial and belted tires. Not quite the same numbers. Your car will like the appropriate specs. The scariest ride I ever had was in a '79 Chev with radials on the front and belted on the back. The ruts in the highway would just about throw us off the road. Mixing these tires could be deadly. My memory must be going because I don't remember our Firebird or Chevelle wandering all over the road. The bird at 130 mph was as stable as a rock. It must have been. I'm still here. I had the old original Uniroyal Tiger Paws on our Chevelle for some pictures and a little driving. Seemed fine to me. I then had an old timer set up the steering for radials. With standard steering I could drive down the highway with one finger. Parking still required two hands. I've never had a problem with T/As. They look good and the lettering is similar in size to what they used in '69.

[Salvatore]

[ QUOTE ]
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif Love that ad, so true http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

(Ya reading this Sammy http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif )

[/ QUOTE ] Well, I fit right into that mode.....OLD haha:

[WILMASBOYL78]

Jerry, that red Chevelle looks awesome with those tires...as for 'the old man" from PA....do you wear orthtotic shoes and socks when you drive that Z...???....inquiring minds want to know http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif


wilma

[Salvatore]

Yes I wear orthotics in my shoes. My feet are so flat they look webed. Kept me out of Viet Nam. My draft number was 2, but I flunked the physical. I was packed and ready to go http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif but..... it was a no go. Hey Charlie, http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/Can-I-Have-It.gif that gold Z/28 from Jersey?

[Xplantdad]

[ QUOTE ]
Yes I wear orthotics in my shoes. My feet are so flat they look webed. Kept me out of Viet Nam. My draft number was 2, but I flunked the physical. I was packed and ready to go http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif but..... it was a no go. Hey Charlie, http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/Can-I-Have-It.gif that gold Z/28 from Jersey?

[/ QUOTE ]

Sam...that's okay...you and your family have given enough... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[usa1z28]

[ QUOTE ]
Jerry, that red Chevelle looks awesome with those tires...as for 'the old man" from PA....do you wear orthtotic shoes and socks when you drive that Z...???....inquiring minds want to know http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif


wilma

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks!.. I think they make a big improvement in appearance over the Firestone radials. You may recognise where the pic was taken, just across the street from Matt's in Salt Point.
Thanks again for the compliment.