Author Topic: can they be mixed?  (Read 1120 times)

Offline hooD

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can they be mixed?
« on: October 02, 2013 - 05:51:58 AM »
I have bias ply tires front and rear.  Steering is awful with the tires following the wear pattern in the road.
 
-Can I put radials on the front and keep the bias plys on the rear?
-Would new radials on the front improve the steering vs the bias ply tires I am currently using?

I'd like to keep the L-60's on the rear.

-What would be a decent radial tire?  F-70 would equal what size radial?
thanks.
 
The front tires are F-70's
The rear tires are L-60's
My rims are 14" X 7"
-Larry
member since AUG 2007
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southeastern michigan usa
             
 
            
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Offline Bullitt-

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Re: can they be mixed?
« Reply #1 on: October 02, 2013 - 09:01:34 AM »
I've heard mixing can be a problem so I did a search to see what's being said on the interweb these days.

"Mixing two bias with two radial tires is acceptable, as long as they are mated two to the front, and two to the rear. It is also preferable to mount the radial tires on the front.

Read more: http://www.ehow.com/how_7479699_mix-bias-radial-tires.html#ixzz2gZJk37yK"


On this forum their all over the place, everyone has an opinion. LOL... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-3.html

According to the chart the F70-14 equivalent is 200/70-14(I think 205/70-14 is more realistic to find)
http://www.turbinecar.com/tires.htm
I've always gone wider, 225/70-14 works well. Last time I went 235/60-14 & they look/drive great but are technically to wide for the rim causing the middle to bulge a bit (that's on my stock 5.5" wide Road Wheels, your wheels being 7" wide this would not be an issue)
I see Radial T/A's listed in 225/60-14, may be good option for you.
Here's a chart that shows the relative differences in tire size & diameter  You can measure and put in the exact size of what you have or use a standard tire, I entered 205/70-14 to compare.
http://ejelta.com/tiresize. /index.html?tiresize=205%2F70-14&minwidth=&maxwidth=&minratio=&maxratio=&minwheel=&maxwheel=&maxdelta=2
« Last Edit: October 02, 2013 - 10:13:19 AM by Bullitt- »
Wade  73 Rallye 340..'77 Millennium Falcon...13 R/T Classic   Huntsville, AL
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Offline HP2

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Re: can they be mixed?
« Reply #2 on: October 02, 2013 - 09:26:33 AM »
Most places will recommend against mixing tire types. The difference in construction between the two means they do not react consistently compared against each other in differing conditions. In a panic situation, this mis-match could create a situation where one end of the car behaves differently than the other and the differences between the two, if  you are unprepared for it, could cause panic in the driver.

The tracking issue would continue with the rear tires despite the radials in front, even though the front would be more compliant to road irregularities. They also will feel slightly different at speed and will react, and wear, differently. The bias-plys will run hotter and will not tolerate as wide a range of adjustment for alignment purposes. You are old enough you probably remember the "radial tuned suspension" offered on Pontiacs in the late 70s. There was nothing different with it than the earlier suspension, it just had more aggressive alignment specs, which produced a more confident feel for the driver. Compared to a bias ply alignment, radials will allow more caster and camber range before they wear odd. These changes in angle will significantly change the way the car feels to you as the driver.

Have people mixed them, yes. Can it be done, yes. Since you've had your car since new, you likely are very familiar with how it behaves and probably could compensate for the slight difference in feel. Would I recommend it, no.

14" rims....you might be slave to whatever is offered out there that won't be of ideal size. 205/70 up front and 245/60 in the back may be all you can get for them.

Alpha-numeric to metric conversion chart is here:http://www.turbinecar.com/tires.htm

Offline Super Blue 72

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Re: can they be mixed?
« Reply #3 on: October 02, 2013 - 09:56:59 AM »
 :iagree:   Ummm....yeah, what they said....  :roflsmiley:

I remember a long time ago in auto mechanic school it was said not to mix front and rear due to the bad handling characteristics mentioned by the guys above.

Not much getting around poor handling 14" tires.  I have I 215/70-14 up front and 225/70-14 out back.  My car is not on the road but I did take it around the block and boy did it wallow around the corners.  The tire pressures were correct from what I remember, it's just that all that sidewall makes for lots of flexing and bias ply tires I believe have even more of an issue.

If you must stick with 14" tires I would check out the internet tire sites like tirerack.com and look at their ratings as far as handling and sidewall strength.

I too like the 14" look but have a set of 17" rims I'm making fit just because 40 year old suspension needs all the help it can get.  :2cents:
1972 Dodge Challenger Rallye 340, AT, Code TB3=Super Blue, SBD=8/17/1971.  Yes, a Rallye without the fender louvers from the factory because of the body side molding option.

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