Anyone running bias ply tires?

[DeadheadNM]

Curious who has bias ply tires. Share pics if you have ‘em.

[davischevy]

NOS Goodyears for my 72 C10 Super. I still have them mounted and the spare is still in place. I used to put them on for shows. They drive terrible.

[FirstOwner69]

I do not currently run them other than on my '58 Vette. However, when I started my truck restoration in 2010, I was still running the bias combination in the first picture below. The rear wheels and 12X16.5 tires are still in the garage. I may even have the 8.75X16.5 fronts. I'll have to look when I get back to Wisconsin. I also found that the original spare (second picture) was still under the bed. Good thing I hadn't driven the truck in 20 years and had a flat. The original tires on the truck were absolutely the worst tires I ever drove on. They'd hydroplane in a heavy mist.

I would never again run bias tires other than on a show car.

EDIT: Added zoomed picture of one of the wide rears.

[chewychevy67]

I have some mounted on my original rims with nos hubcaps for when I will go to a show but I have vette rallys for when I can drive it. Love the way bias tires make a truck look completely original.

[Killer Bee]

I'm not opposed to bias plies depending on application..

older trucks used for chores where high speeds or long distances from home aren't an issue they should be fine..

I pulled these >30yo bias tires and rusty snap ring wheels off out of concern for road safety but the tubes still holding show me state air





I've been contemplating these but in the meantime I found a set of 16.5 firestones on clean white steelies..

older prices:
LA4B5-$148
LA4C5-$156
LB4B5-$158
LB4C5-$161

transport fronts http://www.stausaonline.com/tires/sta-super-transport/
8.75-16.5LT A D/8 LA4B5 HWY 16/32 29.80 6.75X16.5 9.00 2070 60 2350 60 37
9.50-16.5LT A D/8 LA4C5 HWY 17/32 30.60 6.75X16.5 9.30 2445 60 2780 60 41

traxxion rears http://www.stausaonline.com/tires/sta-super-traxion/
8.75-16.5LT A D/8 LB4B5 M&S 18/32 29.90 6.75X16.5 8.80 60 2070 60 2350 37
9.50-16.5LT A D/8 LB4C5 M&S 18/32 31.10 6.75X16.5 9.50 60 2445 60 2780 41



these superlugs came with the k20 burb but they're due for replacement..

I'm leaning towards 10.5x35r16 interco tsl radials but not totally decided yet..





these bias intercos are dry rotted badly and need replacements but haven't decided on it either LoL

[Killer Bee]

LoL almost forgot, been running around locally on these old 16.5 bias plies over a year now but I've got some fresh 16 white steelies and several radial tire options on hand so likely go with them or my default bfg atko working tires..

[57taskforce]

This is a ‘71 K10 my dad had. 38.5 bias ply groundhawgs. I was a kid then, and I Remember how much they used to shake when you first drove it after it sat for a few days, and I’ll always remember the loud hum they had on the highway.
This particular truck started my love affair with old GM trucks specifically 67-72’s at a very young age.
Circa 1994...

[special-K]

Long after radials had come on and taken over the market, off road tires remained bias ply. I started running radials on cars when I started owning and driving in '71. I got my first set of BFG Radial All Terrains in the late-'80s (35/12.50-16.5).

[Dieselwrencher]

Pete, I was looking into trying to find some 16.5 tires to put on my wheels on my Longhorn and I haven't had any luck finding any power kings or traction kings. I didn't want bias ply but the 16.5 market is shrinking badly.

Interco Trxus MT radials are about the only thing available from what I was finding for a 33-12.5-16.5.

I used to run the Goodyear military 36s and just like Tyler said, those tires would shake for a good bit until they became round again.

[DeadheadNM]

The tire on my spare wheel above is one I recently purchased from Coker Tire but made by Specialty Tires of America (STA) - US made. STA still lists quite a selection of bias ply tires (one style example below). The STA sales rep I spoke with was helpful. https://www.stausaonline.com/product...t-truck-tires/

If/when the time comes to replace the 16.5” tires on my K20 I was contemplating a set of bias ply. Since it’s stored over winter I’m guessing it’s best to place axles on jack stands to avoid serious flat spots from months remaining stationary? I’ve never driven a passenger car or light truck with bias plys that I recall.

[my04]

Count me in.
Other than the flat spots after sitting for days and not being very practical for a summertime boulevard cruiser,
I love the look but they ride like, well, a truck.

[Dieselwrencher]

Pete, thanks for the link. I am going to call them and price some. Driving wise you will notice some different characteristics compared to radials. More wander(y) feel compared to a radial tire. On my corvette before I put the drag radials on it, you had to watch changing lanes because the big tires in the rear were bias ply and it would feel like you were fish tailing but it was just the tires flexing. You just learned to not correct for it. I haven't really had that problem with all 4 bias ply tires on a truck. It just feels more free floating compared to a radial IMO.

[toms68cst]

When did radials start coming factory-mounted on Chevy trucks? Were they available on the 67-72's?

I remember an early eighty's Pontiac full-size that my dad had. It had a "Radial-Tuned Suspension" emblem on it.

My spare is a bias ply. It's very old so I'd never run it. I love the looks of them though!

[1970cstblazer]

I too have the STA Traxion 10-16.5 tires on my Blazer. They closely resemble the factory Goodyear Custom Xtra Grips.

[70cst]

Originally Posted by davischevy

NOS Goodyears for my 72 C10 Super. I still have them mounted and the spare is still in place. I used to put them on for shows. They drive terrible.

That is cool ...

[davischevy]

I have BFG's and these reproduction bias ply's for the Corvette.

It drives awful with the bias ply's.

[old51sedan]

Originally Posted by toms68cst

When did radials start coming factory-mounted on Chevy trucks? Were they available on the 67-72's?

I remember an early eighty's Pontiac full-size that my dad had. It had a "Radial-Tuned Suspension" emblem on it.

My spare is a bias ply. It's very old so I'd never run it. I love the looks of them though!

I traded my 1969 C/10 in on a new El-camino I ordered in 72. It came with bias ply tires, with that big block I needed new tires after 8,000 miles. Went to Sears and they put me on a new set of radials, couldn't believe the difference from bias to radials. When I traded that in 1976 on my new SB 4 wheeler I ordered it with the rally wheels and white wall radials. That's the way it came.
I have a 51 Chevrolet that when I restored it I installed a set of Coker wide white radials on it.

[Joesjunk]

I have a new set of 7.50-16’s on this old 72, they were inexpensive. They are Deestone brand. They are ok for no more than I really drive it.

[Killer Bee]

bead screwed M&H Racemasters lifted the left front off the ground many times

wobbled a little around 115mph but got there under 12 seconds

[special-K]

Originally Posted by toms68cst

When did radials start coming factory-mounted on Chevy trucks? Were they available on the 67-72's?

Only bias ply on these trucks. I'm not sure how many more years until trucks came with radials. I want to say closer to 1980. In '82 I had a '78 SWB with custom wheels and wide radials installed by previous owner. I believe those were P-series. Michelin made the first radials, I believe. Radials took off in Europe first. Then in the '60s Michelin did a deal with Sears who offered them branded as Sears tires for a specified length of time. Then you saw multiple brands of radials and bias plies go away. I know in the late-60s UPS trucks (Chevys) ran 7.50-16 Michelin Xs and that was the first truck radial I knew of. My dad got a set in '69 For his '62 Land Rover 109. Big rig didn't start using radials till many years later. And once they did come out, many trucks continued to run bias.

[71blksuper4x4]

I really like this look with the deep wheels. The tires though are around the same or higher than radials though. Has that period look though.

[Canadian694x4]

Originally Posted by 71blksuper4x4

I really like this look with the deep wheels. The tires though are around the same or higher than radials though. Has that period look though.

I agree. Great look!

[davischevy]

I bought a 1976 K10 SWB new and it had Firestone radials.

[toms68cst]

My wife still freaks out when she sees the little bulges at the bottom of our radial tires when parked. I am forever checking them to reassure her.