Radials versus bias ply tires

[Bullwinkle]

Comments please on the information below regarding ride quality as it disagrees with my experiences. Blake ************************ colin stafford, Michigan, USA, INTX@prodigy.net Although those urethane bushings are great for longevity they are in most cases of too high a durometer and have little compliance to absorb road shock. Also those radial tyres do not help with obtaining a smooth ride as the side wall are less compliant to vertical distortion. (bumps) In a recent conversation with one of our T-Club members who happens to be a tyre designer by profession, he noted that the worst thing you can do to a T Car suspension components is to change to radial tyres. Everyone who changes to radials, expound the attributes of, "a better ride", when in fact the radial tyre just tracks and corners better than a bias tyre, but loads up the suspension more. Give me the good old bias ply tyre and have fun doing 4 wheel drifts.

[Sam Suklis]

Blake: It's my understanding that the urethane bushes tend to harden and crack in a relatively short time. I've been told the same holds particularly true of nylon bushes, by one of the really old established front-end experts in our area, who says they don't stand up well to changes in heat and cold, and vibration . As to the radials on "T" cars.....does this apply to TD's as well? Sam

----- Original Message ----- From: "Bullwinkle" yd3@nvc.net> To: "mgs" mgs@autox.team.net>; "mgt" mg-t@autox.team.net>; "mgtabc" mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Wednesday, July 31, 2002 12:10 PM Subject: [mg-tabc] Radials versus bias ply tires > Comments please on the information below regarding ride quality as it > disagrees with my experiences. > > Blake > > ************************ > > colin stafford, Michigan, USA, INTX@prodigy.net > > Although those urethane bushings are great for longevity they are in > most cases of too high a durometer and have little compliance to absorb > road shock. Also those radial tyres do not help with obtaining a smooth > ride as the side wall are less compliant to vertical distortion. (bumps) > In a recent conversation with one of our T-Club members who happens to > be a tyre designer by profession, he noted that the worst thing you can > do to a T Car suspension components is to change to radial tyres. > Everyone who changes to radials, expound the attributes of, "a better > ride", when in fact the radial tyre just tracks and corners better than > a bias tyre, but loads up the suspension more. > Give me the good old bias ply tyre and have fun doing 4 wheel drifts. > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > >

[joecurto@aol.com]

I would believe that old Saw about Radials verses Bias ply but as an owner of a TD for 34 years and very familiar with MGA and MGB front suspensions which are virtually the same even down to the fact that the spring pans and lower "A" frame arms are interchangeable, and the factory went to radials in the late 60's!!! As for poly bushes I have installed the Moss rear spring bushes and love them, they firmed up the rear and last a lot longer than the stock rubber ones, as for the front I use the "V8" bushes which in reproduction are not as nicely made as the "Original" factory ones but they still firm up the front nicely and last a zillion times longer than the stock rubber ones, and you still have your fillings in your teeth I installed Radials on the TD in 1973 and feel that it was one of the singular best thing I did to the car. Joe Curto [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Chip Hellie]

Bullwinkle, MG TD's and TF's and MGA's are transformed into wonderful driving machines by installing radial tyres. There is little difference in the suspensions of these cars as to the newer MGB's which the factory fits with radials. The stock rubber bushings are great, as long as they are in good shape. Don't install nylon bushes in a Lotus Eleven. You will soon sit on your kidneys or drive off the track. Some cars require a small amount of "slop" to be comfortable drivers. I don't think radials would help TA-TC's. Besides, I don't even know if anyone has ever made one to fit. If you worry that radials will make you loose that 4-wheel drift ability, just make sure you get a low profile tire and put air in it. My 72 year old Dad has 275-35-18 tires on his Mercedes 500SL and it drifts! Thats whats on front. In the rear they're even bigger! Anybody who says radials will screw up handling on a non-radial car hasn't tried them. I have. They always work better for me. Chip --- Bullwinkle yd3@nvc.net> wrote:

> Comments please on the information below regarding > ride quality as it > disagrees with my experiences. > > Blake > > ************************ > > colin stafford, Michigan, USA, INTX@prodigy.net > > Although those urethane bushings are great for > longevity they are in > most cases of too high a durometer and have little > compliance to absorb > road shock. Also those radial tyres do not help with > obtaining a smooth > ride as the side wall are less compliant to vertical > distortion. (bumps) > In a recent conversation with one of our T-Club > members who happens to > be a tyre designer by profession, he noted that the > worst thing you can > do to a T Car suspension components is to change to > radial tyres. > Everyone who changes to radials, expound the > attributes of, "a better > ride", when in fact the radial tyre just tracks and > corners better than > a bias tyre, but loads up the suspension more. > Give me the good old bias ply tyre and have fun > doing 4 wheel drifts. > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > >

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