Re: Opinions of radials on late 30's and 40's Packards

Posted by Tim Cole On 2016/9/12 18:36:19

I think the main advantage of the radial tire (in the absence of a race track) is tread life. However, the old Martin Custom tires would give radials a challenge in that regard.

The advantage of sticking with bias ply on those old cars is using the specified tire pressures which are soft. These radial tire companies are specifying 50% higher and at least one 80% higher tire pressures. That puts significantly increased shock loading on the frame and suspension.

I was running 10% lower tire pressures on my modern car because the roads in Michigan are so abominable. I developed a low speed shimmy which was reduced 90% by raising to the specified pressure on the door card. Now I hear new rattles I didn't have before. This state is destroying my car. It's like having a $2000 annual sucker's tax. I attribute the shimmy to the tires being almost five years old, so I don't see any advantage in longer tread life if the car doesn't get driven high annual mileage. Supposedly modern tire rubber deteriorates faster than in the old days to reduce pollution.

Thus, for Packards I would use bias ply tires.