Radials / Bias-ply myth?

866 Views 5 Replies 4 Participants Last post by escogold, Jul 28, 2009

Jim and Lee

Discussion Starter · Jul 27, 2009

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OK.

So whats the scoop.

Alot of people here say you cant use radials on bikes originally equipped with bias-ply tires.

The folks at the tire shop say that is BS.

Others here have reported using the radials with good results.

I personally know of a guy who has put them on his 85 and loves them.

I have NOT on the other hand heard of anyone using them with bad results.

So whats the truth??

And I have read several reviews at two different popular tire web sites of guys that had the Elite II's and are now running the Elite III's and are very happy.

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DaveO430

· #2 · Jul 27, 2009

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You most likely can use radials and possibly with good results. From what I have learned experimenting with tires is the radials ride rougher then the bias ply tires. I don't know if there are any radials to fit your bike though.

Yes the E3s seem to be preferred over the E2s, I liked them better on my 83.
Just so you know, there are both radial and bias E3s.

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FenderHead

· #3 · Jul 28, 2009

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Jim and Lee wrote:

Alot of people here say you cant use radials on bikes originally equipped with bias-ply tires.

The folks at the tire shop say that is BS.

Others here have reported using the radials with good results.

I personally know of a guy who has put them on his 85 and loves them.

I have NOT on the other hand heard of anyone using them with bad results.

So whats the truth??

And I have read several reviews at two different popular tire web sites of guys that had the Elite II's and are now running the Elite III's and are very happy.

Here is a link to a thread started here in 2006, didn't seem to get settled then, and prolly won't get settled now either.

http://www.goldwingfacts.com/forums/forum1/16803-1.html

It is agreed to not use tubeless tires on spoke (or other leaky) wheels, and to not mix radial tires with bias-ply on the same bike...beyond that, it seems we are free to experiment for ourselves.

It seems that some consensus exists that radials tend to have a wider profile, and clearance issues may arise, but I get the feeling that if someone posted a direct quote from a bloody Michelin/Dunlop/Bridgestone/etc. engineer landing firmly for either the pro or con position...someone from the "other" side would disagree... :cheeky1:

I've decided that I would like to try a pair of radials, after studying many responses, if I can be sure there will be room in the swingarm...:waving:

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