C1 RADIALS OR BIAS?

[Joe D.]

Just got my 61 on the road. I have radials on it. It steers like a beast. It is not bad on the open road. Parking is a problem. Just wondering if I should have gone with bias tires? Thanks for your thoughts. Joe

[Verle R.]

Re: C1 RADIALS OR BIAS?

Joe,

Yes, the C1's steer hard without power steering. It doesn't make any difference what tires you have.

I have both biased ply and radials for my 57. I always drive the radials. They ride, handle, turn and stop much better than biased ply.

Verle

[Joe D.]

Re: C1 RADIALS OR BIAS?

Verle, I thought there might be more tire on the road surface with radials. Making it harder to steer. Thanks for the help, Joe

[Tom P.]

Re: C1 RADIALS OR BIAS?

First of all, be absolutely sure you have a good alignment. There are not a lot of "old timers" left around anymore who really know how to align these frontends or understand their idiosyncrasies.
Second, I have found that keeping 32-33psi in the front tires also helps. All these things, and more, are particularly helpful for me because I have the fast steering adapter on my 56 which stiffens the steering even more!

[Ray C.]

Re: C1 RADIALS OR BIAS?

Hi! Joe

Congratulations on completing your restoration on your 61!

What width tires are you running? The previous owner had wider tires on my 61 and it steered very hard. I installed the correct tire (bias) and it steers much easier.

Ray

[Joe D.]

Re: C1 RADIALS OR BIAS?

Ray, I cain't remember off hand the exact size of the tires. My car is at my brother-in-law's gagare. He is fixing a few things for me. I also have the fast steering adapter on. I just thought with the bias tires on it might steer easier. The car rides great on the open road. Its just parking that is a problem. I really struggle parking it. Thanks, Joe

[Dennis C.]

The radials and fast steering adaptor...

...are the perfect recipe for very, very hard (parallel parking type) steering in a C1. Everything is working against you. Add a smaller diameter steering wheel and it would take a serious weight lifter to get the job done.

[Joe D.]

Re: The radials and fast steering adaptor...

Should I lose the fast steering adapter? Thanks, Joe

[Dennis C.]

I believe I would...

... unless you have a HD Brake & Steer car and want it to be totally correct. The fast steering adaptor, for a street driven car, is only good for bragging rights, not much else. A good place for it is in the trunk. Best, Dennis

[Tracy C.]

The way you drive Dennis....if you had

had a fast steering adapter in your trunk, it would likely bounce around like a super ball until it eventually broke through one of the body panels.

Suggest sending this piece to Mikie where is will be safe in his "farm use" 61. My grandma can out drive that pokey home boy...

tc

[Terry D.]

YES... *NM*

[mike mccagh]

Re: The way you drive Dennis....if you had

there ya go bad-mouthing ole farm use and young mikie, the combo of with got within .033 sec of the dispicable $200+K Porsche at this weekends autox. your gammy drive a Porsche, TC? mikie

[Tracy C.]

Well...guess i should take back THAT comment

I'll make it up by bottling up some of my raw methane fuel and ship it out your way. It's good for at least a 3 second gain on those pesky Porsches.

That should get you well into the "black"... hmm.. er, at least the "brown" anyway

tc