Re: ihc-digest V5 #125 radial vs bias ply tires

[Steve Stegmann <stegmann@domain.elided>]

Jeff,

Your uncle is right.  

The tendency of a tire to follow the small ruts in the highway, or the
joint down the center, etc. is called "nibble."  One of the features of
radial tires is that nibble is greatly reduced vs bias ply tires.  Also
radial tires develop more cornering force at lower slip angles.  Slip
angle is the difference between where a tire is pointed and the direction
it is actually moving.  There must be some slip angle to produce sideways
force, hence the only time the tires are going where they are pointed is
when rolling straight ahead. 

We used to call radial tires, when they first became popular, a "rubber 
quick steering kit"

I don't know about the alignment specs on your truck but if it 0 deg 
caster like most other IH products, it's never going to handle like a 
sports car, but the radials should help on the highway.

Steve
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Steven A. Stegmann
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