Stock Tires on Clamshells from 71-76; Bias Ply or Radial?

There was some minor spring constant adjustments and toe\camber setting differences between the "RTS" and bias ply tire suspensions, most of which have been already taken into account in all of the replacement parts on the market. But for the most part, yeah it really doesn't make much difference these days. The early '73 mid-size cars had a redesigned suspension that already handled better and when they put the radials on it it handled even better. Perfect marketing selling point...

 

So by now it literally doesn't matter what year of Clamshell I'd get because they'd all (after replacing handling items) work just as well? Good to know, thanks.

 

None of my old Fords or Chevys have "radial tuned suspension" but they have radial tires and all handle much better.
Possibly alignment was different and maybe shocks and springs? Since radials came out all vehicles have had new shocks, possibly springs, and front end replacement and alignments.
I'd say most are tuned.

 

My dad purchased my 1974 Caprice Estate in 1974 with bias ply tires from the factory. In 1994 i put Michelin radials on my wagon and i have never looked back. These large heavy vehicles are so much more safe to drive with radials. Cheers.

 

Criminy, even the lightest vehicles with bias-plies were a funhouse ride.

 

I haven't experienced Bias Ply Tires. With that said, I've heard it said that Bias Ply Tires "handled like a pig on stilts."

 

Bias-plies like rolling in a straight line. That's why when steering parts start to wear out, changing over to bias-plies makes the wear less noticable

 

If you think rolling radials down 'wagon ruts' in a road surface is fun, try it with bias tires. You'll strain your arms after a while of the wheel whipping to and fro.

 

Bias ply is only good for one thing............. nothing.

 

Some old school drag racers swear by them and how they hook differently than radials. But yeah, other than museum pieces bias plies are a non-starter for me.

 

My 1971 Chevrolet townsman came with bias ply tires. I have a lot of the brochures from the 70s and I believe that radial tires were optional from about 73 through 74. I believe 75 radial tires became standard on most of the cars except for the smallest ones. I do know our 1978 Chevette came with bias ply tires when we bought it new in 1978. Adding radial tires to a car that previously came with bias ply tires did not seem to be a problem as many people did this throughout the 70s and 80s. I think I read somewhere that radio tune suspension really the only difference was in the shock valving

 

Just going through the Chevy brochures on-line, obtained following info:

1971: Bias-ply tires standard, no mention of radials being optional
1972: Bias-BELTED tires standard, no mention of radials being optional
1973: (Same as 1972)
1974: Bias-belted tires standard, Radial tires optional
1975: Steel-belted radial tires standard

 

Yeah, I seem to recall something in third or fourth grade of a car manufacturer stating that radial tires became the standard. I also remember Sears and Standard/Chevron selling bias tires for dirt cheap (relatively speaking) after that, presumably to run stocks out.

 

I didn’t do too bad! I was going off of sheer memory and the only year I got wrong was 73! They were still not optional on 73 yet