Radials on a 37. Yes or No??

Tom in SW VA

Tom in SW VA

Well-known member
I am considering putting radials on my stock 37 Ford. What is your
opinion? Any problems?

Thanking you in advance.

Tom
 
Tom in SW VA said:
I am considering putting radials on my stock 37 Ford. What is your
opinion? Any problems?

Thanking you in advance.

Tom
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In my experience the radials are a good option. A better driving experience in my opinion and thats what its all about. Have changed all to radials.
Phil NZ
 
Do it. Be sure though, to never run both. A mix of radial steer followed by bias on the rear will lead to trouble.

Radial tires are wonderful compared to bias. They last longer. The have superior grip on wet surfaces.

I would never consider driving on bias ply tires again. They may look good for show, leave them in the museum.;)
 
Replaced the bias ply on my '37 with radials and the difference was impressive. Be sure to use tubes though....
 
I'm going the same route tom with the 39 . i'm sick of all the thumping the next day after driving it for a couple hundred miles and then parking it to let the square spots grow over night. what size were you thinking ?
 
I agree; if you drive your car on a semi-regular basis, get radials; you'll be glad you did. BTW, I put them on the stock wheels on my '51, and have experienced no leaks. Ford built quality parts back then.
 
I started using radials on my early Fords over 15 years ago. They improved ride and handling so much that I would never consider going back to bias ply tires.
 
Have them on my avatar, my nearly completed 5-window and the 40 pickup I am building for the wife. I do have some bias plies I could mount for local shows (have ww’s for the wife’s pickup), long distance and drive frequency really denote bias or radial. In 1990 I drove my 40 coupe across country on bias ply tires and a nearly stock suspension for the 40 Ford Is 50 tour organized by the late Art Barnum. They were polyglass ww’s - never again!
 
Bias tires for judging only. My 40 wagon does not need to be point judged anymore (only a walk around) so I ditched the bias tires and now enjoy driving the car. I think the EFV8 club should allow radial tires in the same way they do not deduct for seat belts or turn signals, it is a safety issue.
 
I have diamondback radials on my '47 and it does drive nicer than my '40 with bias plys, but they don't look as good as the bias plys. The diamondbacks don't turn yellow either though.
 
Pfft! whats wrong with you guys I drive on cross plys everyday! I guess it depends on your roads , ours aren't too bad here I dont have issues. Don't think I'd like to drive on them on some of your U.S. freeways with those expansion strips .. but harsh.
 
I like them too. 6 ply mil tires on my 38 truck, no drift. NDT tires though and a completely redone front suspension.

36 drifts a "little" or finds a groove when highway driving, but It doesn't concern me and I'm critical on safety. I have not done the kingpins and rod ends on the 36. Still nothing that I get weirded out about. It's a old car experience and I'm not texting when I drive.

I know newer radials made by some look just like old bias plys. Which is great. My only concern would be the wheels and seals (rivets). Noticed someone said to run tubes with radials???








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Marvin/TN said:
Just asking, why run tubes in a tubless tire? But if you do make sure they are Radial tubes
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The wheels/rims on our old fords were not made to accommodate tubeless tires - especially radial tubeless tires. Also, peace of mind with the tubes inside....
 
Sorry, I hate the look of radials in classic cars , but I have ones in my ´50 Conv. They are American Classic Bias Look Radials, drives excellent , looks great but expensive and are not available 16 inch. I have had them 3 years now and around 10000 miles on them. Next tires will be the same.
My ´50 was equipped with radials on stock steel wheels when I bought it and left front tire popped off from the wheel lip when I was driving in the middle of LA traffic.
At the tire shop later that day I changed all the wheels for tubeless type where is that bead
which keeps tire against wheel lip. So I strongly recommend using tubes with original wheels.
 
I put bias ply Firestone re-pops on my '51 when I restored it in '87. I ran them until about 6 years ago when they started to show considerable wear. I replaced them with Coker Classic radials, and it became a completely different automobile. It drove much better and the best part is that it didn't "hunt" on older highways. I'll never go back to bias plies because I like to drive my cars.

I mounted the fronts on the stock wheels tubeless and never gave it another thought (the rears are later Ford that are a bit wider). It's about the only vehicle I own that when I remove it from winter storage, all of the tires are still up. Just lucky, I guess.
 
vilanar said:
My ´50 was equipped with radials on stock steel wheels when I bought it and left front tire popped off from the wheel lip when I was driving in the middle of LA traffic.
At the tire shop later that day I changed all the wheels for tubeless type where is that bead
which keeps tire against wheel lip. So I strongly recommend using tubes with original wheels.
Click to expand...


The safety bead was introduced in 1940, long before tubeless or radial tires, and will help keep the tire on the wheel, by design. Tubes, however, hold air, nothing more, and will not help the tire stay on the wheel. The only reasons to use tubes are tube-type tires, or wheels that are leak prone, like some wires.
Upgrading to newer wheels is a good idea, but tubeless radials can run very well and safe on older wheels that are in good shape. :)
 
Tubes in tubeless tires can be troublesome, friction between the tube and tire casing.
I have found throughout the years that many people run their tires under-inflated which can cause side wall flex with radials and excessive wear on the outer edges of the front tires. Contrary to common beliefs radials are high pressure tires, 28-30 lbs is to low, 32-34 lbs on the average car is just right..
In 1956 I put tubeless tires on my '53 Olds 88, my insurance man was going to cancel my insurance because he felt the tires would roll of of the rims, causing a sudden loss of air.
Got a letter from Kelley-Springfield Tire Co. that disproved his theory.
 
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