<VV> Bias vs. radial

[Mark Corbin]

Pardon me for being skeptical. Sure, I drove Corvairs on bias plies for
years. But after going to radials, my buddy and I have many a time remarked
to each other "how'd we ever drive on those things?" The answer is that we
just didn't know any better. I think that if the Corvair had had radials
from the start, some Corvair accidents would have never happened, and maybe
the Corvair wouldn't have attracted such ambulance chasers as Ralphie.

Bias plies may not be inherently "dangerous," but the improvement in safety
to ANY car is immesurable. I'd compare it to adding safety glass to
pre-safety glass cars, or seat belts to non-belt cars. None of that stuff
may be inherently dangerous (if an accident doesn't happen), but the
improvement to safety (should an accident happen) is worth changing it.

That is why I question the idea of ANY car running bias plies. Certainly if
I had a car that came with bias plies (like a friend's '56 Buick) I'd
investigate putting radials on it. Like the Corvair statement I made above,
how do people drive on those things? YUCK!

-Mark


> [Original Message]
> Subject: <VV> Bias vs. radial
>
> This is ridiculous.  Bias ply tires are safe; for example many vintage
race 
> cars race on them - like early Trans AM Camaros and Mustangs turning
times 
> far better than they did when they were new.  Certainly radial tires are
a 
> far better tire choice in most cases. The bias vs. radial for safety
isn't 
> the issue; the driver is.  90% of the drivers wouldn't know the
difference. 
> H*ll, most of them can't/don't /won't keep the air pressure correct in
their 
> tires.
>
> Chuck S
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Mark Corbin" <airvair at earthlink.net>
>
> >
> > I may like the stock look, but I'm not against improving things that
can't 
> > be seen. Especially on something that impacts safety, and radials do,
to a 
> > large degree. So large, that IMHO non-radials (specifically bias ply 
> > tires) ought to be banned from being sold in the US. THAT would really
get 
> > those snobby AACA folks. LOL
> >
> > -Mark