Thread: Radial or Bias trailer tire?

Radial...no contest.

Originally Posted by Baketech

Radial...no contest.

thought so but why I am open to advice but would like to learn also.

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....

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

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

Radial all the way....

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

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

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).

Great follow up Sheep...

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

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.

Bringing this back up...Sheep, what brand tire did you get?

My trailer came with the Goodyear Marathon radials when we purchased it in 2002. From a safety standpoint, how many years old can they be? This year is year #7 with them. They look ok, plenty of tread, no sidewall dryrot cracks? Should I replace them before our Grattan trek just due to the age?
No idea on the total number of miles, but it's made several trips to Grattan, a trip each to Jennings, VIR, and Road Atlanta, with numerous more local trips (between 2 and 6 hours one way)....

Mine say Hi Run on them.

Checking on tires myself for the trailer. The trailer tires in ST205/75D15 are $90.00 each, but can get a radial car tire for alot cheaper. I do not travel much in the trailer and usually a light load (1 bike and all the gear) maybe 3,000lbs.

These have great tread on them but they are starting to crack, it looks as if one is coming apart at the center of the tread.

Any reservations to going with a car tire here?