Just spoke to a friend of mine who says that when you install radial tires on a car originally designed for bias tires, you have to set the camber to a positive value. I have a 1962 Hawk has anyone had any experience with this?
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Laisez le bon temps roulez avec un Studebaker -
Alignment
Ideally,yes. But your Hawk is a king pin set up that won't adjust to to any noticeable positive amount.
I'm sure a bunch of members will jump in and assure you the alignment won't be a problem. You do need to get proper wheels to handle the stress forces created by radial tires. Good luck. -
More importantly with radials, is to set the toe-in down to 1/8". You can even set it to less if your front end is very tight.64 GT Hawk (K7)
1970 Avanti (R3)Comment
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I set my 53 on 1/2 neg camber and 1 pos caster. The toe in is 1/8 in. Drives good and no tire wear. Have about 2000 miles on it since setting. Tires are radial with 5.5 dodge steel wheels.Last edited by Flashback; 05-31-2012, 05:53 AM.Comment
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No...NOT required....but radial OR bias...I always put at least a coupla degrees + in the caster angle.when you install radial tires on a car originally designed for bias tires, you have to set the camber to a positive value.
All this does is allow the top, "back" angle of the king pin angle to help self center and give a better "feeling" of the road at the steering wheel.
Also, as mentioned above either "0" or 1/2 degree negitive for the camber .
This would be for a street going car. The values get larger/same direction for a more race oriented car.
This may be difficult to do with the limitations in the Stude suspension parts.
MikeComment
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My -63 Hawk has same specs as "Flashback" has - would have added another degree of caster but the adjustment was at max at 1 degree.
Paul TKComment
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