Firestone tires

BigGeorge · Full Member Joined: Apr 13, 2008 Posts: 267

I found the Firestone tires I want at Universal Vintage Tire but they seem to be of old school technology being made of 4ply nylon... I love the look but now have concerns about handling on the vintage tires... Before I order them is anyone here runnng them or similar 4 ply nylon skins and if so how do you like them? Thanks.......BG

jimmythetrucker · Full Member Joined: Mar 12, 2008 Posts: 1283

There is no substitute for radial tires. Nothing else even compares. I spent the first 16 years of my driving life on bias-ply tires. Didn't get up on my first set of radials until I was 32 years old. I wouldn't go back to bias plies for any reason whatever.

The benefits of bias-ply tires:

1) lots of flat tires to change
2) blowouts at all speeds
3) cupping and uneven tread wear
4) poor balance
5) poor traction
6) poor handling
7) noise
Cool

reduced tire life
9) lots of practice using a jack and a lug wrench alongside the road in mudholes at night in the rain when ambient temperature is 34 degrees and you're all dressed for your dinner date.

yamaman · Posted: April 13, 2009, 10:58 am Post subject: Re: Firestone tires

I always run bias & bias belt tyres with no such problems at all!

Dunlop TT 100gp - bias tyre, excellent long wearing (for a sports tyre), great traction, never had a blow out, even tread wear, handles fantastic, well balanced. Noise? Open rev cone megas take care of that!

Dunlop TT 900gp - Front - bias ply, as above
Rear - bias belt, see above

Never mix bias with radials!
XS's were designed for bias tyres, not radials!

BigGeorge · Full Member Joined: Apr 13, 2008 Posts: 267

Ok I got two different opinions both of which I respect... Anyone else pro or con?.............BG

woodman · Full Member Joined: Oct 12, 2008 Posts: 256

Arent those square shouldered vintage looking tires, may be Ok for a chopper but it wont handle very good. Yamaha wheels arent made for radial tires and they dont make them in the right sizes anyway. Only bike I ever rode that had radials was a Honda Blackbird, didnt handle any different to me

jimmythetrucker · Full Member Joined: Mar 12, 2008 Posts: 1283

Yamaman is probably right. The rest of the world changed over to radial tires for no good reason at all.

FWIW, I was talking about 4-wheeled vehicles. I forgot that motorcycle tires are different. Running bias plies on cars and trucks is pure misery compared to radials.

bluebikerblan · Posted: April 14, 2009, 11:29 am Post subject: Re: Firestone tires

BigGeorge wrote:

..... Before I order them is anyone here runnng them or similar 4 ply nylon skins and if so how do you like them? Thanks.......BG

FWIW....I think you're being wise to reconsider and evaluate your desires re these tires though not necessarily because of the bias ply versus radial question. Frankly, bias ply is what most all of us 650 riders have been and still are riding on and tube type at that. Moreover, most of the best options for our bikes still are of that sort. In fact, it's pretty tough to get proper radial ply's for these old beauties. Espeically that 16" rear. Otherwise I'd be on Avon Distanza's

Curiosity Question.....When were these "Old School Look Firestones tires actually manufactured? I've got a hunch that they might be pretty aged even though "new" in the sense of not previously sold or used. Best, Blue

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