Carlisle Sport Trail LH Bias Trailer Tire

The only time that I put bias ply tires on a trailer I lost all 4 tires prematurely to either bulges or a blowout. I went back to a ST tire and no more unexpected problems.

So let me tell you about my experiences with bias tires. Ran them form the 70's up until about 2012 or so.

Never had any problems with them at all. Never. I ran all makes and models. Early I ran Goodyears but then I went to cheap China stuff. Never really found a difference for wear. I ran them hard. I usually tow 70 to 75 MPH. Weight, not so much, but I did run them fast.

I also liked them because they had nylon cords in them instead of steel belts like modern radials. The one time I did run a tire low because of a nail the tire disintegrated with no problems. If that happened with a steel belt radial it would not have ended so well.

Also, Bias tow "better" IMHO. Why? Just go to a local tire store and tell them you want to look at a bias and a radial side by side. The radial sidewall will flop around like a limp.....er... it's just weak. Now look at the bias sidewall. See the difference? Huge difference in sidewall construction.

This super stiff sidewall makes for a good towing experience as far as wind buffet goes.

So after 2012 or so I got my first set of radials. Maxis tires. They wore great and seemed to tow pretty good. No problems with them at all. They for sure wore a LOT better than the China tires I used to get. But they were also a LOT more expensive!

A few years back I got a new trailer that is heavy. I also needed new tires on it so I bought Carlisle radials for it. I have about 15K on them now and they look like brand new still. Also good tires and they tow good too but not as good as the old bias I use to run. The radials have a bit more side movement than the old radials. Not a bunch but some.

All in all they are both good tires and it just depends on what you want out of them.

Like I said, I didn't have any problems with either of them.

The one advantage to bias ply is that when the tire fails it will shred softly and do less damage to the vehicle than a steel belted radial.

US Made GY ENDURANCE, not a single non road hazard failure in over 3 years on the market. Discount tire will have fresh date codes and good pricing.

LITEPHIL wrote:
My last 2 trailers,and one was brand new,I replaced all the trailer tires with LTs and never had a problem. I would like to find a 215 75 15 LT with a highway tread but they just aren't available, that I can find. Is there really a problem with bias ply tires? I would rather have a little truck tire than a trailer tire if possible.

Get over it. Get the highest load capacity ST tire your tight wallet will allow you to buy and get on with life.

Idk why bias ply tires still exist. They do have the advantage of stiffer sidewalls, apples to apples, but that’s about where it ends.

On a good note, I bought a trailer to tow to AK that was near new and had bias tires.
Made it all the way to Anchorage with no issues and the trailer was definitely loaded to capacity maybe more. But I’ve never seen treadwear that great.
That 1700 mile drive (cut off some on the ferry) used up about half the tread. No real basis for comparison though since the only other bias ply tire I’ve seen in at least 25 years is a spare tire hanging on the back of my ‘74 Jeep and that tire is likely within a few years of being as old as I am! It’s actually holding air still!

Cummins12V98 wrote:
US Made GY ENDURANCE, not a single non road hazard failure in over 3 years on the market. Discount tire will have fresh date codes and good pricing.

I just ordered set yesterday. I figured that4 years on my OEM Maypops was enough! Local tire store told me it is the ONLY American made trailertire they can get. Marathons are made in China, fyi.

manley wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
US Made GY ENDURANCE, not a single non road hazard failure in over 3 years on the market. Discount tire will have fresh date codes and good pricing.

I just ordered set yesterday. I figured that4 years on my OEM Maypops was enough! Local tire store told me it is the ONLY American made trailertire they can get. Marathons are made in China, fyi.

Good call! You will be happy.

LITEPHIL wrote:
My last 2 trailers,and one was brand new,I replaced all the trailer tires with LTs and never had a problem. I would like to find a 215 75 15 LT with a highway tread but they just aren't available, that I can find. Is there really a problem with bias ply tires? I would rather have a little truck tire than a trailer tire if possible.

Years back we had 14" LT and lots of 15" LT tires for 1/2 ton trucks and S10 size trucks. Truck mfg don't use those sizes anymore so tire mfg dropped them.

We have several usa tire mfg still producing a LT235/75-15 C load range at 1980 lbs capacity and around 28.8" diameter.
Goodyear markets a LT215/85-15 load range D (65 psi) at 2095 lbs capacity and around 27-7" diameter. Check out USA tire mfg websites for current 15" LT tire size and load ranges.

Just for info.....ST tires come in old tech bias ply and radial tires....just like a P and LT tires.