tire question 66

[Fred R.]

I am looking to purchase and install a set of bias-ply tires mounted on orig steel wheels for judging. My car currently has 205/70 R15 radials - do i need to do a re-alignment? I read a lot of complaints on bias vs radial - are they really that bad?

[Tom H.]

Re: tire question 66

I am looking to purchase and install a set of bias-ply tires mounted on orig steel wheels for judging. My car currently has 205/70 R15 radials - do i need to do a re-alignment? I read a lot of complaints on bias vs radial - are they really that bad?

They are not really that bad........................ unless you've driven on radials !!! Someone else might chime in, but I would not think you should have to do an alignment for this switch.

[Fred R.]

Re: tire question 66

thanks - this whole driving vs flight judging issue is really a challenge - I know you get mileage points for driving to events, but those don't always cover the dirt, oil, road grime that comes along with driving.

[Stephen C.]

Re: tire question 66

thanks - this whole driving vs flight judging issue is really a challenge - I know you get mileage points for driving to events, but those don't always cover the dirt, oil, road grime that comes along with driving.

I had to have mine re-aligned when I went from bias to radial. I am not sure if it was due to the original alignment being incorrect or if it was due to the characteristics of radials. Seems to me it was due to the new radials but the difference in alignment wasn't that great, so I would think you could go between the two sets of tires and just keep the alignment for the tires you drive on most of the time. If you drive with the radials and just use the bias for judging and show, you may experience a little twitchiness when driving on the bias tires.

[Fred R.]

Re: tire question 66

Thanks! any recommendations on brands? Are the ones sold thru zip and mid america the same as the coker or kelsey?

[Duke W.]

Re: tire question 66

Toe settings are different, however, if you do some archive searching you will find somewhat different member-recommended camber settings regardless of tire type.

For bias ply use the toe specs in your CSM. For radials, set toe to 1/32" toe-in per wheel.

Radials work best with minimum toe because they generate a lot more self-aligning torque than bias-ply.

Duke