Radial vs. Bias ply trailer tires.

[CampingN_C_]

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 pros-cons about them.

Trailer will be a tandem 7x14-16 loaded lightly. Is a trailer like this OK to run a bias tire? I can upgrade to a cheap radial for 30/tire.

[CampingN_C_]

It'll be long interstate runs all the time. I'll have them swap them for the radials. I know they'll be cheap but I'm sure they'll get me by for a while.

[coolbreeze01]

Take a look at U-Haul trailer tires. You may be surprised.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

Hannibal wrote:
If bias ply tires have one advantage, it is that they don't sling a steel belt and tear up everything within reach if they blow out on the interstate. They just fly apart. Radials can do some serious damage to a trailer if they blow. If they only had one disadvantage, I would say it's the flat spot after they sit a while. Causes vibration like a tire out of balance until they warm up and smooth out.
I have bias ply tires on my boat trailer. Cousin went to bias ply on his 26' TT after a radial took out the side of his trailer including wiring and plumbing. Steel belt strands even wrapped around the hub and took out his inner bearing. Tangled up in the brake too. We had an interesting camping trip that week working to get it in shape to use for the week and make it back home.

^^^^ this is very true. I've only blew one tire in my life on my TT and when it came apart it was exactly like you said. "They just fly apart." With no steel belts they don't beat the hell out of your trailer.
Very good post Hannnibal!

[mike-s]

If it's mostly for short hauls (< 100 miles), get bias. If you will mostly haul stuff for longer distances, get radials.

Bias will do better for heavy, short hauls. Radials do better for long hauls.

("better" = longer life)

But, since you said "lightly loaded," the difference doesn't much matter, so go with bias, which is cheaper. You'll likely end up replacing either due to age rather than wear.

[ScottG]

I've run both and radials have a lot more grip and will stop rather than skid. The effect is even more pronounced in the rain.

[Hannibal]

If bias ply tires have one advantage, it is that they don't sling a steel belt and tear up everything within reach if they blow out on the interstate. They just fly apart. Radials can do some serious damage to a trailer if they blow. If they only had one disadvantage, I would say it's the flat spot after they sit a while. Causes vibration like a tire out of balance until they warm up and smooth out.
I have bias ply tires on my boat trailer. Cousin went to bias ply on his 26' TT after a radial took out the side of his trailer including wiring and plumbing. Steel belt strands even wrapped around the hub and took out his inner bearing. Tangled up in the brake too. We had an interesting camping trip that week working to get it in shape to use for the week and make it back home.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

I ran bias up to 3 years ago. I like them for a few reasons. The biggest was the sidewall stiffness. They wallow around slightly less than radials. They are also WAY heaver than a radial. (If you really want to see the difference go down to a tire store and tell them you want to lift a radial and a bias tire of the same size. You will be shocked at the difference.)

Radials do have slightly less rolling resistance.

At the risk of making this too simple:
They both are black, they both are round and they will both do the job.
I would get the radial upgrade if I were you, but only if you can pick the "upgrade" you get. If not, just get the bias and upgrade to a radial tire that you choose.

About the only reason I went with bias when my tires wore out was because bias were getting really hard to find for me and they wore like butter.

[BenK]

Two are very different by design and construction


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

[JIMNLIN]

At one time tire makers advertised they didn't recommend bias ply on a trailer with radials on the tow vehicle.
I don't see those warnings anymore....probably because very few trailer makers use a bias ply tire anymore.

I would opt for the radials especially on a bumper pull rig. Cooler running and better straight line tracking.

[Grit_dog]

In general, radial tires are preferable or the technology wouldn't have progressed to radials from bias for nearly every application.
The one advantage to bias used to be, may still be, stiffer sidewalls for a given tire load rating.
Haven't had a bias light duty trailer tire in 20+ years save for a trailer I bought to go to AK a few years ago. Loaded the snot out of it, hauled it 2400mi to AK. Wore 1/2 the tread off but no flats. Also cool weather and lower speeds in general than running down the interstate.
Lots of miles, go radial. Going off road, hard on tires, go bias. Hot weather towing, go radial.

The question to upgrade for $120? I'd do it, IF, the upgrade wasn't just a no name China bomb radial.
Oh and friends don't let friends buy Marathons! Seriously.

[MFL]

Not being a tire engineer, I can only relate to what I've read.

Radial tires roll easier, saving fuel, run cooler for longevity, and track truer when on a trailer.

I have a 7x23 enclosed that came with GY marathon radials. They have served me well.

Jerry