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Bias ply tires [cross ply tyres]- more for less?

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I am 43 years old and didn't start driving until 1985. Therefore, I have <span style="font-weight: bold">never</span> driven <span style="font-weight: bold">any</span> car with bias ply tires. I'm sure I will get smacked down and/or flamed by one or more "old timers" for posting here but maybe I can give an alternative perspective.

If your financial situation allows you to spend an extra $600 or so just to "try something out for fun"...good for you. Then if is stinks and you don't like it, to change it you'll end up being out a good $1200-$1400 (unless used RS5's have any value). Once again, if you can brush that off...good for you.

If the traffic situation where you drive your Healey allows you to <span style="font-style: italic">safely and enjoyably</span> decrease the handling capabilities and increase the stopping distance...GREAT FOR YOU! Around here, drivers have become so aggressive one couldn't even consider doing this (qualify this, a SANE one wouldn't...). Semi drivers throw them around like they are Honda Civics while sailing along at 80+ on the freeway and your average soccer-mom-mini-van driver would just assume <span style="font-weight: bold">kill you</span> as get to Starbucks 10 seconds later.

I realize one can take this to the extremes and add tube shocks and front disk brakes, etc but assuming the original systems are operating properly those are at best fractional increases. Adding seat belts and modern capability tires seem like necessities (again, around here anyway).

There's my 2 cents, feel free to FLAME ON!

Later,
Wally
 
WaltCasten said:
...I'm sure I will get smacked down and/or flamed by one or more "old timers" for posting here but maybe I can give an alternative perspective...

...There's my 2 cents, feel free to FLAME ON!...
Click to expand...

Wally, we don't do smack downs or flames here. The sheriff wouldn't allow it, and the good citizens wouldn't do it in the first place anyway. Please don't worry about it or let it prevent you from posting.

There's also a Notify button that you can use to alert us of anything inappropriate, and we'll handle it.

See my post above titled, How to "Notify Moderator" - PLEASE READ !
 
Yep 0 replies------KEOkE----- :laugh:
 
Sometimes it pays to fellow BN2 owner "big brother" as a moderator :yesnod:

Reid, I didn't mean to indicate I got flamed here a lot. It just seemed like I teed that one up pretty high for someone to get out the 1 wood and drive it 400 yards or so. This is one of the more enjoyable forums to participate in from that front. Great work!

I'm tuned into this thread because I thought about forking out the dough for the RS5s then decided against it for a variety of reasons, most of which mentioned above. The resto shop painted my car last Friday so it looks like it will hit the road some time this summer. The tires that are on there (Continental radials) look new but are over 15 years old so I really need to do something.

Thanks,
Wally
 
:savewave:

The tires that are on there (Continental radials) look new but are over 15 years old so I really need to do something.

:iagree:

Yep Replace them ASAP with a good set of Verdestiens---Keoke-- :yesnod:
 
This is an interesting topic. I think you would all agree there is a law of diminishing returns on risk aversion actions or we would all live in homes in the ground and seldom venture out exposing us to a myriad of potential dangers.

This group is probably not overly risk averse or they wouldn't own, drive and crawl under 50 year old small open roadsters.

But for some, riding on bias ply tires is too much of a risk, for some it is not.

Radials generally perform better than bias plies again probably no argument there.

Yet if the goal was ultimate performance we could certainly get more bang for the buck with many other more modern cars than Healeys.

What I am trying to say is that our hobby is not ruled by logic (once again probably not much to argue about there) so much as personal preference and taste, and we all go through different mental calculations or gut feelings on what is an acceptable risk, and also what is the most desirable old sports car driving experience.

Actually, despite my defense of bias plies, I think a skinny, tall (80 series) radial is usually the best "compromise tire" for a 50s/early 60s LBC, judging by the comments I have read over the years many if not most agree, but some like a wider, lower profile tire, and some like the feel and or look of an original tire. I could discuss the advantages/disadvantages of each, but that has all been pretty well covered already.

So go with what you like, and use the forum to ask for other opinions and experiences if you have to choose and don't know which way to go, that is what it is here for.
 
Here's a different perspective from a racer.
In the 80's and well into the 90's I raced my Healey 3000 on 185-70 series racing radial tires - BF Goodrich R-1's. They stick, stick, stick and then break loose - no warning. You need quick reflexes.
At some point I decided to try bias-ply tires --- Goodyear Blue Streaks, 5.50 x 15 (these racing tires are a lot bigger than the 5.50 x 15 dimension tires of the 50's). I love them!! They don't stick like crazy and then snap like the radials. They start to slip a bit more gradually and let you know it so there are no big surprises. Racing on these tires is definitely more fun then using radials. Also, fewer spin outs.
These days I have been using the bias-ply 5.50 x 15 Hoosier Vintage TD's. Pretty much the same as the Blue Streaks, about the same price, $190.00 per tire.
Last point, these tires are not DOT approved. It's racing rubber.
 
Well yes Glemon: but when your tyres get to be 15 years old it is time to get new regardless of bias ply or radial
 
Keoke, Yes I agree, when I said original tire I meant original type tire, wasn't suggesting you keep your old tires forever. Had an old Michelin X disintegrate, literally fall apart, on me once, wasn't much fun, but luckily not going too fast, no damage other than a dead tire.
 
------------ :thumbsup:
 
Keoke said:
:savewave:

The tires that are on there (Continental radials) look new but are over 15 years old so I really need to do something.

:iagree:

Yep Replace them ASAP with a good set of Verdestiens---Keoke-- :yesnod:
Click to expand...

So then here's the next question (and I realize this is way off topic) should I also replace the wheels? The wheels were purchased from Moss a couple years earlier, so about 17 years ago (1994 or 1995). I seem to remember hearing later about issues with their wire wheels, but it might have not been in that time frame. There were QA issues with the India source or something?

Of course, these all might be moot points anyway. I'm taking the day off work today to go look at my car, which the restoration shop just finished painting last week. I have this feeling it's going to be so nice I will be afraid to drive it anymore :frown:
 
At one time, Dunlop wheels were made in India, and reportedly there were quality issues, since resolved (supposedly). Have not heard of any particular issues with Dayton wires.

Wire wheels don't 'age out;' if you aren't having any problems with yours--like rust, worn splines or breaking spokes--they should be OK. If your wires are painted and have always had good paint on them they should be OK, and chrome/stainless theoretically should last forever. What does wear out eventually are the splines in the inner hubs. Check the splines on the wheel hubs and the splines on the on the rotor and drum hubs--replace either or both as required.

Theoretically, you could have the wheel hubs and spokes replaced, but the cost would probably exceed that of new wheels (if you could even find someone that could/would do it).

OTOH ... you have a freshly restored car, you may want new wheels to go with it.
 
I can understand someone wanting OE tires for shows and club meets,but I cant imagine using non radial tires in real world driving. Last summer I was driving my car and a Ford Transit van didnt see me and if I would have been on bias ply OE tires it would have been off to the crusher then. All it takes is one bad decision (yours or someone elses)and all the time I (we) spend on restoring these old cars is gone. It was a lucky break for me that the highway I was on had a good paved shoulder or it would have been over. Tire construction has come lightyears since these cars were new and I want every benefit of modern tires that I can get for real world driving.
 
Do I dare wade back in to this post? Other than racing tires (as described in my previous post), is there any manufacturer that actually makes new DOT bias ply tires in sizes for our cars?
 
Jedi Knight

Registered: 02/25/07
Posts: 839
Loc: California USA At one time, Dunlop wheels were made in India, and reportedly there were quality issues, since resolved (supposedly). Have not heard of any particular issues with Dayton .

Well Bob, somplace I heard that these wheels now all come with SS spokes which cures their otiginal tendency to break spokes.--Fwiw--Keoke
 
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