Radial vs. Bias ply trailer tires.
NOT FOR A CAMPER!! I'm shopping for a TA enclosed trailer and most of what I'm looking at come with bias tires with a radial upgrade. I've never ran a bias on any of my trailers, so I don't know the...
Forum Discussion
Two are very different by design and construction
Radial:
Bias-ply:
'Most' ST (speciality trailer) tires are bias-ply and am seeing a few nowadays
with radial
As stated....DO NOT mix radial and bias-ply tires on the same axle is the normal
recommendation and add to not mix them on any vehicle
Radial:
- Has lower rolling resistance
- Higher usage mileage
- Runs cooler
- Contact patch to pavement is more consistent throughout its duties(does NOT pull off the pavement as easily)
- Current standard for most all vehicles
- Sidewall plys have the woven threads 90* to the pavement (radial to the axis of rotation)
- Higher slip angle to a bias-ply (on higher aspect ratio...as the aspect ratio lowers...the slip angle is reduced
Bias-ply:
- The old standard tire
- Higher capacity, all things equal
- Stiffer sidewall
- Sidewall Plys are at an angle to the pavement and axis of rotation
- Generates more heat than radial
- Higher rolling resistance
- At higher cornering speeds, pulls tread contact patch off pavement during it's duties
'Most' ST (speciality trailer) tires are bias-ply and am seeing a few nowadays
with radial
As stated....DO NOT mix radial and bias-ply tires on the same axle is the normal
recommendation and add to not mix them on any vehicle
