The aim of this study is to establish correlations between mechanical properties of Pb-Ag and Pb-Bi alloys and parametric features of their as-cast microstructures, as well as to develop a comparative analysis with the corresponding properties of Pb-Sn alloys considering applications of these alloys in the manufacture of Pb-acid battery components. A wide range of microstructures are obtained using an upward water-cooled directional solidification system. Ultimate (UTS) and yield tensile strengths (YS) and elongation are experimentally determined as a function of cellular and dendritic spacings, and Hall-Petch type experimental equations are proposed relating UTS to these microstructure parameters. Despite the higher specific strengths of Pb-Ag alloys, as compared with those of Pb-Bi and Pb-Sn alloys, their corresponding relative costs are the highest of all Pb-based alloys examined. It is found that the Pb-Bi and Pb-Sn alloys examined have similar specific strengths and relative costs. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.