Bias vs Radial
Bias Ply vs. Radial: Which Is Better?
Though tire advertising in today’s world would have you believe that the bias ply vs. radial debate delivers an easy answer, namely radial, in the real-world environment, the “best” choice is not so clear. Both designs have their advantages in specific situations, and both have their disadvantages.
Radial Tires vs. Bias Ply Tires: What’s the Difference?
The difference between bias ply and radial starts with the way each tire is constructed. Bias ply tires are manufactured with alternating diagonal plies of rubberized nylon or polyester, with fiberglass belts that strengthen both the tread and sidewall areas to enhance the overall load-carrying capacity and provide resistance to breaks. Even at low inflation, bias ply tires won’t have much sidewall bulge. Radial tires are constructed with overlapping polyester, then strengthened with steel mesh belts to stiffen, stabilize and fortify the tread.
Bias Ply vs. Radial: Which Is Best for Me?
Radial tires are likely a superior choice if your vehicle spends most of its time on paved roads, but bias ply tires will likely serve you better for off-road applications because they generally have an advantage when it comes to hauling and supporting heavy loads thanks to a uniform number of belt plies supporting both the tread and the sidewalls. Their construction also makes them superior in sidewall puncture-resistance, though some radial tires have reinforced sidewalls. A puncture in a bias ply tire will often remain small, while there is a stronger chance that a puncture in a radial tire will result in a tear, either in the sidewall or the tread.
Radial tires are often superior at higher speeds because their construction makes them better at dissipating heat caused by tire pressure, weight and speed. Radial tires provide superior handling on paved roads since they tend to skip over the ruts and road irregularities that bias tires tend to follow. Radial tires are also superior at cornering, though there is little difference in straight-line use. Finally, with radial tires, the sidewall and tread work independently of each other so rather than sidewall flex affecting the tread, it only lessens the footprint, transferring more power to the ground.
Conclusions
In a nutshell, the strength of bias ply tires makes them a better choice for low-speed, off-road applications, which is why they’re the most popular choices for agriculture tires, forklift tires, skid steer tires, and low speed tires.
When it comes to choosing radial ATV tires or bias ply ATV tires, you’ll likely be better served by bias construction if you’ll be doing most of your driving on off-road trails, and if your priorities are strong sidewalls, good traction and grip, and an ability to self-clean. If you’re more interested in easier steering control at higher speeds, radial construction will likely give you a smoother ride.
When it comes to the bias ply vs. radial trailer tires debate, bias ply tires have long been viewed as holding a load-carrying advantage, but today’s ST radial tires are built specifically for heavy loads. Bias trailer tires tend to be less expensive, and are dependable when going in a straight line. Radial trailer tires are better at cornering, tend to bounce and sway less for a smoother, quieter ride and offer less rolling resistance for better fuel economy.
