MaverickDan posted a thread about alignments and rear suspension and it got me thinking. Were Mavericks and Comets originally equipped with bias or radial tires? If they were bias then more caster(than factory) would improve the handling when radial tires are installed.(because of the contact patch difference in relation to the centerline of the axle)
Were Mavericks and Comets originally equipped with bias or radial tires. They came w/ bias tires. Radial tires were'nt even on the seen - that Im aware of.
invented in 1915 and made by Michelin in 1946 for most non US cars, they were on the scene. My Comet had a bias ply spare(original d70 firestone) but, considering I was born in 74, I've never seen a Maverick/Comet with bias ply tires. Did they all come with bias ply? even 77 models?
Bias ply was std till 74...Radials became an option on most american cars then(an expensive option) By 1976/77 most american cars had radials as standard equipement.
My '72 still has 5 bias ply tires. They're cracked so bad two don't hold air for long. We did tow it slowly for a couple of miles to my house on them. But that's the last miles they'll see.
Bias or Radial The first car I can remember that had radial tires was a new 77 Olds Cutlass we bought in 77. I do stress the word remember. I bought a new 73 Ford LTD Broughm but I don't recall whether it had radial tires. I believe it did as it was a top of the line Ford. I don't think all the LTD'S that year came w/ radials. Like u guys have stated I guess mid seventies brought radials to some american iron.
I would say it does mainly because I did an alignment on an old nissan pick up that the computor asked if it had bias ply or radials. Probably mostly has to do with caster as radials have less rolling resistance than bais plies.
mainly the caster. the contact pact with the road is in different spots. upper ball joint moved toward the rear of car(positive caster) can increase handling(as well as high speed straight line stability but too much can make it hard to steer) if it was a bias ply car and now has radials. Camber angle on some cars can go a little more negative with radials. Toe should stay the same.
