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Apaulsalerno's avatar
Apaulsalerno
Explorer
Nov 15, 2025
Solved

Bias ply vs. radial tires

I have an older (1980) lazydaze on a 20' Chevy Van chassis with 8.00  16.5 inch tires, and the choices I have are either Powerking 8.00 x 16.5 bias ply tires or Firestone 8.75 r16.5 radials. Does anyone know if the 8.75 radial tires will be ok, or should I stick with the 8.00 inch bias ply's? Do the bias ply tires beat you up on an older RV? Or is it possible to run the 8.75 radials and is it worth the extra money and will they even fit without kissing in the rear? 

  • Apaulsalerno's avatar
    Apaulsalerno
    Nov 21, 2025

    I have decided to stay with the 8.00 in. bias ply's, just because of cost. I know I should go ahead with 16 in. wheels, and I will asap, but for now I can get by with 4 new instead of all 6, which is what I will do when I can afford the new wheels. Just not in the budget yet. Overall it's a no brainer. I just need something right now to get it on the road.

7 Replies

  • Grit_dog's avatar
    Grit_dog
    Navigator III
    Nov 18, 2025

    On second thought since you’re not participating, you should get the antiquated bias tires on antiquated rims.   

    • Apaulsalerno's avatar
      Apaulsalerno
      Explorer
      Nov 21, 2025

      I have decided to stay with the 8.00 in. bias ply's, just because of cost. I know I should go ahead with 16 in. wheels, and I will asap, but for now I can get by with 4 new instead of all 6, which is what I will do when I can afford the new wheels. Just not in the budget yet. Overall it's a no brainer. I just need something right now to get it on the road.

      • Grit_dog's avatar
        Grit_dog
        Navigator III
        Nov 22, 2025

        I’m glad you made an informed decision. Even if it was ill informed. 
        Im surmising that you’re not knocking off 100s or 1000s of miles on the regular, or at all. But I digress. 
        Your van, now that we know it’s a dually, will be more expensive, except for the fact that unless you’re in a huge hurry, you could buy a set of takeoff wheels complete for basically any other dually truck with 8x6.5 lugs. 
        And you could probably buy a set that is relatively fresh, complete with tires for not much more than 4 new 16.5s. 
        If you’re buying new tires and rims, yes I agree it will be 2-3x more $ than 4 tires. 

  • Grit_dog's avatar
    Grit_dog
    Navigator III
    Nov 16, 2025

    There’s not even a real decision here to make bias vs radial. 
    Get 16” rims and then run whatever size and style of radials you want. 
    This rig is going to be a challenge for you if you don’t even know or haven’t even that 16.5” rims haven’t been offered for about 40 years. And with good reason. 
    Id suggest the multitude of questions you’ll have about the chassis side of this rig be directed to a squarebody GM truck site or forum. You’ll get a lot of useful info the easy way. 

  • blt2ski's avatar
    blt2ski
    Moderator
    Nov 16, 2025

    I would go with the radials myself. 

    With that said, I am assuming these are single tires, rear is not a dual? If so, finding some 16" rims, you can go to a 225-75 or 235-75 or 245-75-16 and find ALL kinds of tire brands and options for your van. Of these, I would go with the 245's in a 10ply/LR-E option personally.

    Marty

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