Bias-Look Radials – Are American Classic Tires the Best Option?
When it comes time to install new tires on your hot rod, custom, or classic truck, you may be faced with the decision of bias ply or radial. Both construction styles have pros and cons regarding authenticity and ride quality, but there is now an option that bridges the gap. These tires are called bias-look radials, a name that is self-explanatory but won’t be found in any official tire terminology listings. This name is something that Coker Tire came up with when it began manufacturing radial tires that look like bias ply tires. Coker Tire is known for its whitewall tires, and the company opened a new chapter in its 60-plus-year legacy when it debuted this revolutionary tire at the SEMA Show in 2013.
The American Classic bias-look radial tire features a narrow tread pattern, tall sidewall, and piecrust shoulder, giving it the appearance of a vintage bias ply tire. Instead of crisscrossed layers of ply cord on a 45-degree angle, these tires feature modern radial construction with steel belting for a smooth ride. Since its debut, the American Classic bias-look radial tire has been refined, and the product line has been expanded to include black sidewalls and narrow whitewalls, which are great 60s tires.
Mounting radial tires to classic vehicle rims can present some challenges, but radial tire conversion is typically a straightforward process that provides instant results. Radial tires apply pressure to the rim in a different manner, which can sometimes affect vintage wheels that have been weakened by rust, corrosion, or many years of abuse. Luckily, many authentic wheel options are out there if you’re looking to upgrade the rolling stock on your vehicle. In this article, we’ll cover many common questions and concerns related to converting your classic car to radial tires, specifically bias-look radial tires.
What are the Best Classic Car Tires?
As car enthusiasts, we tend to romanticize the classic car era, especially the two decades after World War II ended. In our minds, every car on the road had wide whitewall tires, two-tone paint jobs, and fender skirts. Even though that notion isn’t exactly true to history, the need for nostalgia makes wide whitewall tires a very popular option for classic cars, and they’re also very popular hot rod tire options. Whitewall tires come in several configurations, but for many years they were only available in bias ply construction. In the mid-90s, Coker Tire developed the world’s first wide whitewall radial tire, the Coker Classic, and it remains an extremely popular tire choice.
Other brands have come onto the classic car and hot rod scene, giving you plenty of choices for sizes, whitewall widths, and tread patterns. Even with the development of wide whitewall radial tires, some purists choose bias ply tires to maintain the car or truck’s authenticity. For the enthusiast who wants to get out and drive their vehicle, bias look radials are one of the best tires for classic cars. Bias look radial tire options include the Coker Classic 16-inch radial, the Excelsior Stahl Sport Radial (available in 16- to 21-inch fitments for Pre-WWII applications), and the American Classic bias look radial, available in 13-, 14- and 15-inch fitments, as well as 19- and 21-inch fitments for Ford Model A.
What are the Best Whitewall Tires?
The best whitewall tires are those that are manufactured with the sidewall built into the tire from day one. Back in the day, you could get port-a-walls, which fastened to the bead and would give you the look of wide whitewalls. The modern-day version of imitation whitewalls is a little more sophisticated, but it involves grinding the sidewalls to an existing tire and applying white rubber. Building the sidewall into the tire requires specific steps in the manufacturing process, which adds labor and cost, but creates a good-looking tire that is safe and dependable. Regarding 50s tires, Firestone Deluxe Champion is a popular choice because of the famous piecrust shoulder and zigzag tread pattern. More modern options are available, including radial tires that look like bias ply.
Are Whitewall Tires Still Available?
Whitewall tires are still available in a wide variety of sizes and styles. Even though the tires look vintage, they are being produced with modern materials to provide you with the best ride quality possible. You can get bias-ply whitewall tires in iconic brands such as Firestone, BFGoodrich, US Royal, and Goodyear, available in popular sizes like 600-16, 670-15, 820-15, and many more. High-quality radial whitewalls include Coker Classic and BFGoodrich Silvertown, available in modern P-metric sizes, such as 165R15, 205/75R14, 235/75R15, and dozens more. American Classic whitewall tires are available in both P-metric sizing, as well as bias look radials, with vintage style sizings, such as 560R15, 670R15, and 820R15.
Who Manufactures American Classic Tires?
Coker Tire Company manufactures American Classic tires. The Chattanooga, Tennessee-based tire company uses a third-party tire factory but retains ownership of the molds, licensing agreements, and rubber compound formulas. Coker Tire invented the wide whitewall radial, as well as the American Classic bias look radial. American Classic whitewall tires are manufactured in the USA.
Are American Classic Tires Any Good?
The American Classic tire product line has been tested and refined for over a decade. All American Classic tires, including American Classic bias-look radial tires, are built in the USA and are held to a high build standard for cosmetic appearance and ride quality. You can expect an immediate difference in ride quality if you replace bias ply tires with American Classic bias look radials. The tires will track straight and provide better tread wear but still give you a vintage look. Regarding vintage-style tires, the American Classic is one of the most popular 1950s tires. If you’re looking for the best tires for classic muscle cars, American Classic also offers redline radial options. Still, the most popular option in the muscle car segment is the Firestone Wide Oval, which is available in bias ply construction, as well as modern radial.
Review of American Classic Tire Features
-Narrow tread profile and piecrust shoulder
-Vintage bias ply style sizing (ex. 670R15)
-Modern steel belted radial construction
-Available in 9 sizes to fit 13, 14 and 15-inch wheels
-Sidewall options: Wide Whitewall, Black Sidewall and Narrow Whitewall
-Modern tubeless tire (some vintage wheels require tubes)
Should I Get a Set of White Wall Tires?
If you want to achieve a period-correct appearance for the 1930s through early 1960’s classic car or hot rod, then whitewall tires are a great option, but traditional hot rodders tend to lean more toward blackwall tires, like the famous Firestone Deluxe Champion. But for the most part, whitewalls are appropriate for any build that falls in the 1930s through early 1960s range. Research shows that bias-ply tires and radial tires react differently, so it’s up to you to choose between ultimate authenticity and the comfort of a modern radial. Thankfully, you can bridge the gap with bias-look radial tires, available in dozens of sizes to fit a 30-year span of vehicles, from restored classics to wild hot rods and everything in between.