In my search for tall skinny tires to go on the wheels I'm going to be getting soon, everything that is made now is bias ply and not radial. Being that I've only been driving since 2012, I've never had the joy of bias ply tires.

So, like the title says, are they really that bad? The ones I've been eyeing for a while are the Power King premium traction 90-16 tires. People always are saying I'm crazy for wanting bias ply

My truck rides like iron already, so I'm not too concerned about that part of it. If I had wanted a soft ride, I wouldn't have sold my caddy (though I am still kicking myself for that one).

 

Power kings are in my opinion the best in mud, more pounds per square inch and cleats!

However they are not a very good hiway tire. They will wander around a little more and have a stiffer sideway usually.

 

Suppose that's something I should keep in mind, since my truck is my DD. Short trips, 10 miles each direction from school.

-Jameson

 

Also after sitting, bias plies get a flat spot that takes a few miles to smooth out. Until then they shake a bit.

 

To me they are just like driving an old truck. It will have some quirks unique to an older design. Flat spots after sitting for a while is one of them. Reduced tread life is another. However, they look great on an older truck and allow for a very aggressive lug pattern.

 

Oh god yes how could I ever forget the flat spotting.....

 

How long is a while? I drive it everyday, and I can't imagine they'd develop a flat spot overnight.

How do they do in wet weather? Cold/snow?


-Jameson

 

how tall and narrow are you looking for?

what rim size?

 

16 inch rim. 900-16 is the preferred size, equals roughly 34.5x10.50

For some reason I can't find the supplier I had before for those power kings.

I may just get a flotation size tire. I had been avoiding it for the looks and I didn't want the extra width with manual steering. The 10.50's are fun as it is

 

Flat spots go away after they heat up....but in the 10 mile DD you might not have the best ride and feel that the tires are out of round, but them again its only 10 miles.

Have you tried Les Schwab? FYI I read that Power King is made by the same company that makes Multi Mile tires.

 

Yes they will do it overnight. At least the bias plies that were on the ******* would.

I had a set of STA bias plies split in between treads on the front two tires ahwile back. That's the only other issue I've had with bias plies.

 

last truck I had with bias plys was my 67 f-600 around 10 years ago, from what I remember it didn't take more than a mile for them to smooth out. And in the warm weather less than that.

radials have better grip and last longer, but I never had any complaints with any of the cars or trucks I had with bias plys.

IF you took off the radials today and put on the bias, you might notice the diference for a day, but then you wouldn't even know you changed.

PS. let me know if you find a source for the old snow tires, I've been hoping to find a set for winter on my 65.

 

I personally like bias hummer tires, and don't consider bias tires to be that bad. They usually warm up in 2-3 miles and then drive similar to radials. It does seem like they have more rolling resistance

 

On my last three trucks, I have run R85-16 Buckshot Mudders. Yes they flat spot, more so in colder weather, but I really like them. I have a set of wider (radial) tires for summer.

R85-16 Buckshot Mudders studded an siped for winter.
37x12.50R16.5 Goodyear MT's for summer.

 

I have a set of 33x12.50 16.5 bias plies on my plow truck, they're ok but I'm gonna put 4 new radials On it. The tires I have lack traction