Radial or Bias trailer tire?

SheepOfBlue · 02-10-2008, 02:37 PM

So the sheep hauler is in desperate need of tires and I am pricing and deciding which. Any advantages on towing mileage from radials? Any other comments for or against

Baketech · 02-10-2008, 02:46 PM

Radial...no contest.

SheepOfBlue · 02-10-2008, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baketech

Radial...no contest.

thought so but why

I am open to advice but would like to learn also.

Baketech · 02-10-2008, 03:48 PM

I don't know much about tires, so I can't offer much insight there, just anecdotal info from pulling car trailers, boats and bike trailers.

The radials get better fuel mileage and longer treadwear...especially in the summer, or longer pulls where tire temp is an issue.

So, the short of it is, the cost of ownership is less. (Slightly higher initial purchase, but longer life and reduced fuel costs.)

One added benefit is that your trailer will be easier to jockey around in the drive by hand....

seamus · 02-10-2008, 05:51 PM

From my experience bias ply tires wear quicker (and uneven if even slightly out of spec or alignment), they develop flat spots quickly, overnight in many cases especially at cooler temps, which suck at highway speeds until the tire heats up and rounds out again. My recommendation is go with the radials.

Michelin site says: Michelin AG - Advantages - Bias vs Radial

More info: Coker Tire

SheepOfBlue · 02-10-2008, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seamus

From my experience bias ply tires wear quicker (and uneven if even slightly out of spec or alignment), they develop flat spots quickly, overnight in many cases especially at cooler temps, which suck at highway speeds until the tire heats up and rounds out again. My recommendation is go with the radials.

Michelin site says: Michelin AG - Advantages - Bias vs Radial

More info: Coker Tire

So do you got four laying around

On a different topic you better beware. Sheepup '08 is going OK with 3 week 3 weekend to go I can fit my new hard armor under the leathers

DEPO · 02-10-2008, 10:05 PM

Radial all the way....

When Bias-Ply let go they can shred the crap out of your trailer.....

SheepOfBlue · 02-13-2008, 05:45 PM

Speed

All "ST" tires have a maximum speed rating of 65 mph.
As heat builds up, the tire's structure starts to disintegrate and weaken.
The load carrying capacity gradually decreases as the heat and stresses generated by higher speed increases.

If that is correct I think the hours of 75MPH going to Miller "may" have been the issue

figment · 02-19-2008, 05:26 PM

TRAILER TIRE ARTICLE

SheepOfBlue · 03-14-2008, 11:21 AM

So I went with "D" load radials. First impressions on a tow to Baa-rber. It doesn't get more tail whip but once started it is harder to stop and continues longer. I plan on adding a sway damper. Mileage seems to have increased 1MPG but I will need more data before I am sure. Towing seems a bit smoother. Overall I would recommend the radials but add a sway damper (and maybe go to the higher load rating for stiffer tires).

Baketech · 03-14-2008, 11:28 AM

Great follow up Sheep...

G-ForceJunkie · 03-14-2008, 03:12 PM

Working in the marine industry, we see alot of trailers and trailer wheels. Honestly, most trailer tires wear out from age and sun exposure. Unless your towing 10k miles a year, in the long run a $40 bias ply ST tire replaced every 5-7 years will probaly be cheaper in the long run than that $100+ Goodyear Marathon radial. Hell, I just bought wheels for a trailer project I am building, $49.95 got me standard 15x5 white trailer rim with a ST205-75R15 tire mounted. For $120 with shipping, I can replace them the entire wheel assymbly and throw away the old ones every 5-7 years and be money ahead and have nice, new wheels. that said, if your towing at near rated capacity, or alot of miles, the radials are probaly the better tire.

Mike

SheepOfBlue · 03-14-2008, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G-ForceJunkie

Working in the marine industry, we see alot of trailers and trailer wheels. Honestly, most trailer tires wear out from age and sun exposure. Unless your towing 10k miles a year, in the long run a $40 bias ply ST tire replaced every 5-7 years will probaly be cheaper in the long run than that $100+ Goodyear Marathon radial. Hell, I just bought wheels for a trailer project I am building, $49.95 got me standard 15x5 white trailer rim with a ST205-75R15 tire mounted. For $120 with shipping, I can replace them the entire wheel assymbly and throw away the old ones every 5-7 years and be money ahead and have nice, new wheels. that said, if your towing at near rated capacity, or alot of miles, the radials are probaly the better tire.

Mike

A few thousand a year and one trip to Grattan. Fair weight (not capacity) and the minimum trip is 2 hours each way. Also those $50 tires are not as easy to find, seems like things went up. Also I got 4 tires

SheepOfBlue · 04-16-2008, 09:17 PM

So after one more trip I need to recant on the 1MPG increase. With the damper installed I was exercising the lead hoof early in the morning through the hills north of B'ham. The mileage was low but I was flying. With the damper on it the towing is perfect though. Now maybe I will just have to figure out how to keep top end at 65MPH

It will be interesting to see how these hold up compared to the bias ply.

02-10-2008, 02:37 PM	#1
SheepOfBlue SRA President Join Date: 12-18-2006 Location: Huntsville, AL Age: 46 Bike(s): CBR1000RR, RC51, VT500FT Posts: 6,367	Radial or Bias trailer tire? So the sheep hauler is in desperate need of tires and I am pricing and deciding which. Any advantages on towing mileage from radials? Any other comments for or against __________________ A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way

02-10-2008, 02:46 PM	#2
Baketech "Able was I ere I saw Elba..." Join Date: 12-14-2006 Bike(s): VFR800 - CBR929 - VFR800 Posts: 1,728	Radial...no contest. __________________ "Ten times more charming than that Arnold on Green Acres..."

02-10-2008, 03:48 PM	#4
Baketech "Able was I ere I saw Elba..." Join Date: 12-14-2006 Bike(s): VFR800 - CBR929 - VFR800 Posts: 1,728	I don't know much about tires, so I can't offer much insight there, just anecdotal info from pulling car trailers, boats and bike trailers. The radials get better fuel mileage and longer treadwear...especially in the summer, or longer pulls where tire temp is an issue. So, the short of it is, the cost of ownership is less. (Slightly higher initial purchase, but longer life and reduced fuel costs.) One added benefit is that your trailer will be easier to jockey around in the drive by hand.... __________________ "Ten times more charming than that Arnold on Green Acres..."

02-10-2008, 05:51 PM	#5
seamus is feelin alright Join Date: 12-13-2006 Location: Rocket City Age: 34 Bike(s): 1KRR; VFR; FMX650 Posts: 5,451	From my experience bias ply tires wear quicker (and uneven if even slightly out of spec or alignment), they develop flat spots quickly, overnight in many cases especially at cooler temps, which suck at highway speeds until the tire heats up and rounds out again. My recommendation is go with the radials. Michelin site says: Michelin AG - Advantages - Bias vs Radial More info: Coker Tire __________________ Ducit Amor Patriae Richard Herald, The Gentle Giant The nation that makes a great distinction between its scholars and its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting done by fools. --- Thucydides

02-10-2008, 10:05 PM	#7
DEPO Godspeed, #20 Join Date: 12-18-2006 Age: 33 Bike(s): Track 954 and Uly Bagger Posts: 701	Radial all the way.... When Bias-Ply let go they can shred the crap out of your trailer..... __________________ Welcome to the Dance!

02-13-2008, 05:45 PM	#8
SheepOfBlue SRA President Join Date: 12-18-2006 Location: Huntsville, AL Age: 46 Bike(s): CBR1000RR, RC51, VT500FT Posts: 6,367	Speed All "ST" tires have a maximum speed rating of 65 mph. As heat builds up, the tire's structure starts to disintegrate and weaken. The load carrying capacity gradually decreases as the heat and stresses generated by higher speed increases. If that is correct I think the hours of 75MPH going to Miller "may" have been the issue __________________ A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way

02-19-2008, 05:26 PM	#9
figment riki-tik! Join Date: 02-03-2007 Location: St. Paul, Texas Age: 50 Bike(s): Yamaha WR250X Posts: 849	heres an alternative view TRAILER TIRE ARTICLE

03-14-2008, 11:21 AM	#10
SheepOfBlue SRA President Join Date: 12-18-2006 Location: Huntsville, AL Age: 46 Bike(s): CBR1000RR, RC51, VT500FT Posts: 6,367	So I went with "D" load radials. First impressions on a tow to Baa-rber. It doesn't get more tail whip but once started it is harder to stop and continues longer. I plan on adding a sway damper. Mileage seems to have increased 1MPG but I will need more data before I am sure. Towing seems a bit smoother. Overall I would recommend the radials but add a sway damper (and maybe go to the higher load rating for stiffer tires). __________________ A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way

03-14-2008, 11:28 AM	#11
Baketech "Able was I ere I saw Elba..." Join Date: 12-14-2006 Bike(s): VFR800 - CBR929 - VFR800 Posts: 1,728	Great follow up Sheep... __________________ "Ten times more charming than that Arnold on Green Acres..."

03-14-2008, 03:12 PM	#12
G-ForceJunkie Who's driving? Join Date: 12-15-2006 Location: Valencia, CA Bike(s): BMW GS1150 ADV, DRZ400 Posts: 624	Working in the marine industry, we see alot of trailers and trailer wheels. Honestly, most trailer tires wear out from age and sun exposure. Unless your towing 10k miles a year, in the long run a $40 bias ply ST tire replaced every 5-7 years will probaly be cheaper in the long run than that $100+ Goodyear Marathon radial. Hell, I just bought wheels for a trailer project I am building, $49.95 got me standard 15x5 white trailer rim with a ST205-75R15 tire mounted. For $120 with shipping, I can replace them the entire wheel assymbly and throw away the old ones every 5-7 years and be money ahead and have nice, new wheels. that said, if your towing at near rated capacity, or alot of miles, the radials are probaly the better tire. Mike

04-16-2008, 09:17 PM	#14
SheepOfBlue SRA President Join Date: 12-18-2006 Location: Huntsville, AL Age: 46 Bike(s): CBR1000RR, RC51, VT500FT Posts: 6,367	So after one more trip I need to recant on the 1MPG increase. With the damper installed I was exercising the lead hoof early in the morning through the hills north of B'ham. The mileage was low but I was flying. With the damper on it the towing is perfect though. Now maybe I will just have to figure out how to keep top end at 65MPH It will be interesting to see how these hold up compared to the bias ply. __________________ A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
McCain news bias?	SheepOfBlue	Politics	39	02-07-2008 03:43 PM
My new trailer	NorthernRR	Tow 'n Go	13	10-26-2007 05:48 PM
Sportbike Trailer	Shenders1	Tow 'n Go	6	07-16-2007 05:27 PM
Updated: New MotoGP Tire Rules Reduce Tire Consumption, Reduce Rider Workload But Inc	ND4SPD	Roadracingworld	0	05-09-2007 10:50 AM
My new trailer!	Rosco	Tow 'n Go	11	04-10-2007 12:38 PM