I figured since some of you guys are the experts on old tires and wheels, I'd ask here. Does anyone make a radial old style traction tire like this in a 16.5 or 16? I've got an idea floating around my head and it involves running something like that.

John

 

Your in luck with needing a 16" samson tire makes one like that, i think its a radial? im sure there are others as well.

Google nebraska tire ans samson there is a few

 

PM Tiredood.

 

STA superlug.

 

The tires pictured look to me like Firestone Super All Traction bias ply. Some 16" bias ply traction tires are being reproduced that look just like the old originals and are available from a variety of sources. But you said radial. To me the most original looking radial traction tire is the Goodyear G171 which is available in 235/85R16" size. That's about a 32" tire. Stu

 

I guess I should ask this too then, what are the the downsides to running a bias ply tire? Is it pretty much just ride quality or what?

 

Bias ply tire won't last nearly as long as a radial, and the ride quality is much worse. Also, there are not many bias ply tires available any more.

 

The original question was asking about old style looking traction tires. Clearly you can find 16" straight tread radials at every strip mall (avoid 16.5s), both US made and imported. For aggressive traction tread I'd suggest there are more varieties available in reproduced bias ply. I agree that you'd have to go to Coker, Universal, M. E. Miller, Lucas, or one of the others mentioned above to get them.

There's another thread running now where guys describe their driving experiences radial vs bias ply. Stu

 

I'm going to bump this in case someone else is looking for this down the road, and so I don't have to write it elsewhere lol

I have also found Yokohama y742s as a viable option, currently available in 700-15 and 235/85/16