Red line radial versus bias ply

[CDNL-78]

Wanna give my nova the original look with the steel wheels and dog dish caps. Having a hard time deciding what to get though. Radial are good for drivablity around town, but I still would like the "original" look of the E70-14 red line bias. But I have been told there really only good for trailer queens, and show cars. I will not be trailering my car at all, just local cruising and shows within a hour of home, with mostly city/town driving, and minimal highway miles. Thanks in advance for ALL your opions or suggestions on my delema. Darcy

[67 Nova Boy]

I have the F-70 Red Lines on my 67 SS and they have their moments!! LOL They tend to get into ridges in the road and follow them so you must be alert! They are ok on the highway. Mine are the bias ones. Driven every where...

Dave
67 Nova Boy

[quik9r]

I can tell you the bias ply hooks alot better at the track. Very good 60 ft times on a pure stock LS6 chevelle.
Kevin

[larry_csa]

I have Coker red line Bias plys on my 67. When they wear out I will go with, Red Line Radials. The red line Bias ply tires I have are the hardest things to drive i have ever had. They follow every groove in the road and will dart left or right with the least little bump. A friend of mine put a set of the red line radial on his 66 vett. they looked good a drove good. I THINK "black diamond tire"
Larry

[grantprix]

I like the BF Goodrich Silvertown Radials, same tire & tread as the T/A with a nice redline look.

Grant

[XXXGoldL34M20]

i have had bias ply tires since 1984 on many of my cars.
nice soft ride and they sound great when you burn out.
they hook good too.
just keep your hand on the wheel when your on the highway as the ridges on the road wants to shift the steering sometimes but no big deal.
IMO nothing looks as nice on a vintage car than original style tires

[camarojoe]

I personally hate radials on old cars. I think the negative comments of bias ply tires must have something to do with the proper alignment and condition of the suspension bushings and hardware, because I always hear horror stories about using them on older cars for street driving. I do it all summer (remember summer?) and haven't really had any problems. Last year I put over 5000 miles on a '32 highboy with skinny bias plys and it always tracked down the road straight as an arrow and smooth as silk.

A few years ago I had G70-14 redline Firestones on a '69 El Camino and experienced a little of the "tracking/wandering" issues mentioned above, but never enough that I'd have swapped to radials. I drove it alot too.

I've actually found that driving in heavy rain at highway speeds to be the only time bias ply tires ever make me a little nervous. The drive home from Columbus last year was in the rain the entire way, and my bias plies did seem to like to hydroplane a bit easier than my buddies' radials...but if you're aware of this and don't drive like an idiot, it's not really a big deal.

[Mr. Chevy]

Radials do ride nice and handle better, but there is nothing like the look of a bias ply tire on these old cars.. I guess you kind of sacrifice the look and style for the ride..

My buddy drove his 66 Chevelle on the Hot Rod Power Tour a couple of years back from Cleveland, Oh. to Kalamazoo, Michigan on bias plys and he said the drive was fine except for driving in the rain like Joe stated above. He said the car got a little "squirrely" on the road and he had to really take it slow...

Rich

[427TJ]

Okay, I was going to buy a set of Diamondback radials (white pinstripe) for the 15x6 original Torq Thrust "sport wheels" for my Camaro but now you guys have convinced me to go with belted F70s. Thanks for the technique for getting the wax mold-release (or ?) agent out of the tires and I'll throw-away my remaining bottle of A-All.

Question: For an F70x15 pinstripe whitewall, Coker or Universal Vintage Tire? I have Cokers now but are the UVT tires easier to clean or better/worse in any way than Cokers? My only complaint with my Cokers is the cleaning hassle but I'll heat-gun the waxy stuff out of them and that should do it.