Topic: Suspension Alignment

[Building 3]

I recently had my suspension aligned.  The car was equipped with bias ply tires when it was done.  I am now switching over to radial tires for the fall driving season.  Would the switch in tires make a difference to the caster, camber and toe-in settings on the front suspension? Thanks.

[suskeenwiske]

I had a 1975 Camaro with Bias Ply Tires. Switching to radials didn't require a new alignment but that was a different make and had 10 years of updated engineering. Probably best to discuss with the Service or Tire Shop.

Ray

[jwc66k]

Both my 65 GT Fastback and 66 "A" code Hardtop have radials without any changes to alignment. They both ride great.
Jim

[67gtasanjose]

As a owner of a Tire Alignment Shop and having been aligning cars since about 1980 professionally, I can agree with the previous responses.

Fine-Tuning of wheel alignments is usually based upon driving habits and road conditions, detectable by reading the tire's wear pattern, not usually because of tire design.
(enter the usage of a tread depth gage here)

NASCAR settings will be different than yours, for example

[dave6768]

Changing wheels and tires will not change the alignment.  However, my understanding is that may want slightly different values for radials.  For example a bit more caster.

[WT8095]

Changing wheels and tires will not change the alignment.  However, my understanding is that may want slightly different values for radials.  For example a bit more caster.

The '68 shop maual lists a single set of alignment values for all Mustangs for that year - no distinction by tire type or size. Inflation pressures, on the other hand, are listed as varying based on a number of factors.

[dave6768]

The '68 shop maual lists a single set of alignment values for all Mustangs for that year - no distinction by tire type or size. Inflation pressures, on the other hand, are listed as varying based on a number of factors.

I don't believe Ford put radial tires on a 68 Mustang.  All the alignment specs were for bias ply.

"In 1970, Ford Motor Company produced the first American-made vehicle with radial tires as standard equipment, the Lincoln Continental Mark III."

[WT8095]

I don't believe Ford put radial tires on a 68 Mustang.  All the alignment specs were for bias ply.

"In 1970, Ford Motor Company produced the first American-made vehicle with radial tires as standard equipment, the Lincoln Continental Mark III."

The tire inflation chart ('68 shop manual again) lists optional radial tires for all five car models it covers - Cougar, Fairlane, Falcon, Montego, Mustang.

[WT8095]

This is from the '67 Mustang brochure. First year for radials on Mustangs.

[CharlesTurner]

This is from the '67 Mustang brochure. First year for radials on Mustangs.

Believe there is some documentation that shows late '66 model year cars could be ordered with radials also. 

[dave6768]

I guess I should quit while I'm behind.  LOL.

[WT8095]

I guess I should quit while I'm behind.  LOL.

Don't feel bad - I didn't know these details myself until I started looking based on your question. Now we've created a resource that others can turn to for these answers. It would be cool to locate a source for the late '66 application that Jeff mentioned and add that to the topic too.

[Toploader]

Don't feel bad - I didn't know these details myself until I started looking based on your question. Now we've created a resource that others can turn to for these answers. It would be cool to locate a source for the late '66 application that Jeff mentioned and add that to the topic too.

>>> Charles.

[WT8095]

>>> Charles.

Oops, yes, shouldn't have gone from memory on that one...     My apologies Charles!