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Another tire question; bias or radial?

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miranda

miranda

Senior Member
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I am still looking for the right tires for my bn4. I have two options:
I either go with bias tires with innertubes wich don't provide all the driving comfort and provide less braking and steering quality.
Or I choose for radial tires with innertubes wich might tear because radials are not supposed to be used with innertubes and the steel can puncture the innertube when driving over a bump in the road.

Both don't sound really atractive to me. What is the best way to go here?

I have heard that firestone makes a special radial innertube, but that it is not advised to use it with radial...

I already contacted several specialists and they tell me completely different things... help!

I am not going to drive the car as a daily driver and it's is going to sit in the garage for an extended period of time every now and then because of weather conditions. So I need a good tire that doesn't rot when not used for a year or so.
 
I have been running tubes with radials on Sprites for years.
I also have tubes and radials on my BJ8, and on a spirited drive last October, I do believe I was airborn for a brief second. When I hit the road, I couldn't believe nothing broke.
Not even a tire.
 
I would only suggest bias tires if you are looking for concours points. Bias ply tires will get flat spots if not moved often and it sounds like you don't plan to move your car once a week.

Most of us are using radial tires. Steel belts puncturing the inner tube is not a problem that I've heard of. A far bigger problem is the rubber getting old and hard before the tread wears out leading people to think they can safely drive on old tires. You do want to get inner tubes that are rated for radials. Moss, Hendrix, Dayton have the right kind of radial tubes.

Cheers,
John
 
IOr I choose for radial tires with innertubes wich might tear because radials are not supposed to be used with innertubes and the steel can puncture the innertube when driving over a bump in the road.
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I think you've got some bogus information--I'm working on my third set of tubeless radials running with inner tubes and have had no problems. I know that some folks treat their tubeless tires as tubeless and have sealed around the spokes but all it takes is a small break in the seal in any one of 48/60/72 places and you've got a flat. A well-respected tire/wire expert has told me categorically that he only does that if someone insists on it and much prefers to install tubes, and I don't think it's because of the few bucks extra profit.
 
If tubes are installed without talcum powder, I hear they chan chafe and fail from the chafing. Loose wies in a radial is a sign of a failed radial! Get the radials (like 99% of us) and quit worrying.
 
Miranda

I have been running inner tubes with radials on my BN4 for 7 years without any problems at all. Never even had to remove a tyre in that time. My car runs 165 Cooper Sport tyres. I prefer the look of the original width tyres.

I strongly advise inner tubes

Derek
www.healeysix.net
 
Thanks for the information guys, I think we will stick with the radials. Any suggestion on what brand? Right now I am thinking about the Gillett. Anybody experience with those?
 
Hi Miranda. only vaguely heard of gillett. What size tire are you going to buy??---Keoke
 
Miranda, I have never heard of the problem you describe, but I have had problems with stickers or labels left on the inside of the tire chafing a hole in the tube.
Make sure all labels are removed, put in a little powdered talc to allow movement of the inner tube. i have had no problems in 9 yaers, 30,000 miles.
Simon.
 
Hi, Miranda,
I have used radials for years with wire wheels. I did have one problem with tubes and radials, but it turned out the tire shop installed incorrect type and size tubes. The tube on one wheel was too large and the resultant overlaps resulted in chaffing that built up heat and caused the tube/tire to overheat. I was able to stop the car before it actually caught fire but it ruined the tire. Therefore, my advise is the same as a previous post: purchase the right type and CORRECT SIZE tube and don't worry.
Regarding tires: I recently purchased Kumho 165R80 - 15 tires and am very pleased with them. They are not an expensive tire (I paid $41 apiece) but they drive very well and so far I am very pleased. A plus is that the overall diameter is pretty close to the original tire outside diameter. Most of the radials available are smaller in diameter. As low as our cars are to the pavement a half inch counts in my opinion. Take care and good luck.
 
John, The Power Star is what I just put on my Healey a bit ago. I also put them on my daughter's car and was really very pleased with the way the Corolla handled etc with them. So when I discovered the size was available for my Healey I thought I would give them a try. Vast improvement over the Michelin-made tires that were on the car. Those tires had excellent tread but had been on the car a few years. Price at "Discount Tire" was $41 apiece but that included all the mounting, balancing, valve stems, etc. I don't know how these tires compare with a modern expensive tire but I am happy with them.
 
Again, be carefull of the mounting and truing with any brand. Proper equipment and aknowledge is more important than price. Wire wheels cannot be balanced with most equipment.
 
The cheaper Kumo tyre will not compete with the more expensive turing type tyres.However if the vehicle is not being run at speed, for long distances or is infrquently used the lower priced tire will prove to be the most economical and quite satisfactory. This is because you can afford to dicard them after say three years use and replace with new.Tire failure with age is reported to initiate inside the tire rather than out side.But I prefer more meat on the ground and good performance in the wet so I use upscale tires with a 185x70x15 size,which are not readily available in the low priced tyre classes.__FWIW--Keoke /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
I don't know how these tires compare with a modern expensive tire but I am happy with them.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, they have modern tire construction without the expense. I also had a set of Michelin's which had a lot of tread but were getting old and hard. I bought the Kumho 771's which I think is just the old name. Anyway, I found the Kumho's to have much softer side walls which make the ride more comfortable (than Dunlop's or Michelins anyway). The softness may or may not help with performance .. there are just so many variables that come into play but safety, comfort and affordability were high on my list at the time. I bought mine through the local Goodyear dealer but then had them mounted and balanced by a wire wheel specialist in L.A. (Valley Wire Wheel). I'm surprised you were able to get yours mounted correctly at a big retail tire store unless you are running disc or mag wheels.

Cheers,
John
 
John, My tires and wheels are trued, Mounted and Ballanced by the expert at Borrani wire wheel. I will have to find a new expert in the future as that shop has closed and Jim the expert passed last year.---Keoke /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif ---OH for Mirandas benfit I run steel belted radials with rim bands and Caleico tubes on 72 spoke 5.5" rims /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif

Yes you are correct John performance tires are not soft /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nonod.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
I will have to find a new expert in the future

[/ QUOTE ]

Keoke, Here's the contact info for Valley Wire Wheel. Highly experienced and nice guy too!

Valley Wire Wheel Service
Mike Rizeman
14731 Lull St.
Van Nuys, CA
818 785 7237

Cheers,
John
 
Thanks John, I will check them out next time I am out that way.---Keoke /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
 
Thanks everybody for the advice. We just ordered some Vredestein 165x15 tires. We have a service center here in Savannah that works a lot with old cars and have lots of experience with wire wheels so they are going to put them on. So radial after all...
 
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