Tire questions - bias/radial

[JSGOLD]

I have a bit of problem. I bought a boat last year that supposedly had failry new tires on the trailor. They certainly LOOKED good, but there was no spare so I bought a new rim/bias tire to match and then later on we find that the tires he bought were el cheapos and cracking on the sidewalls...not from age, from shoddy mfrg. So far I have called around and either I buy bias tires with rims for 85 bucks or radial tires that I can have mounted on old rims for 52-60 dollars each.....problem is, I have a brand new bias spare. We drive 35 miles one way each weekend when weather permits for fish, 16' Starcraft deep V. I might be able to locate some new bias tires only, have only called a few places so far but the questions I have are if I buy radials and have a bias spare, how well will that combination tow if I have to use the spare with a radial? I would prefer not to buy three new tires unless there is a real large difference in quality , bias vs radial. Any thoughts?

 

[jfadool]

Re: Tire questions - bias/radial

I would go for the radials on your old rims. That is assuming that the radials are true trailer tires with the proper load rating.

Under normal circumstances you should not mix radials and bias ply tires. You may end up with some odd handling characteristics. But as just a spare I would do it.

But see if you can't order some bias ply tires and have them mounted or even mount them your self. Bias tires tend to be cheaper than radials, and your spare would then match if you needed it.

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: Tire questions - bias/radial

Ive always heard u dont want radials on a trailer. Sidewalls are too flexable and contribute to sway. Compare an unmountad bias ply trailer tire side by side to a radial and you will see what i mean. But there are radials designed for trailers IDK Maybe you just gotta make sure they arent car tires [radials]

 

[gozierdt]

Re: Tire questions - bias/radial

I've got radial tires on my trailer, and like them a lot. They are "Trailer Service" rated tires, so they do have a stiffer sidewall than car radials. I'd put new trailer service radials on your trailer, and keep the bias ply as a spare. Given the lower speed and summer weather that most trailer towing goes on in, if you had to tow the rig for a day with mixed tires, I don't think you'd have any problems.

 

[JSGOLD]

Re: Tire questions - bias/radial

Thanks to all of you for your replies....I was leaning on the radials as the place I always buy my car tires from also sells trailor tires and they are the correct types. Eventually we will be going to the larger lakes, apx. 100 miles one way and I did not care for the bias tires on the trailor when I bought it. The frustrating thing for me is all of these tires are imports...names I never heard of. So at least the tire seller I deal with on my car tires seems the safer choice, at least for me. Will just have to slow down if I have to switch them.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Tire questions - bias/radial

I gave up on "fred flintstone" ,rock hard tires 10 years ago. Nothing but radials for me.

What is the difference between the two designs and how can this impact you?

The difference is the way the tires are constructed as well as the materials used. Bias ply tires have the plies (layers of rubberized nylon or polyester mesh) laid in at a 30 ? 45 degree angle to the centerline of the tire and in alternating directions. There are usually fiberglass belts added for strength.

In the Radial design, Polyester cords are laid in and overlapped at 90 degrees to the centerline of the tire and then steel mesh belts are added. The Radial design prevents the point of contact (where the rubber meets the road) from deforming, unlike the Bias Ply, which does deform under load.

There are a number of benefits to the Radial design for the trailer operator.
1) Softer, smoother, quieter ride
2) Improved fuel economy
3) Flat, wider footprint for better tire wear
4) Runs cooler than a bias ply, minimizing risk of a blowout on the highway
5) Longer tire life
6) Better tracking ? Improved sway control

The main benefit for the Bias-Ply design is that the sidewall is more rugged and bruise resistant, plus Bias-Ply tires are usually less expensive.

 

[Pelletmonster]

Re: Tire questions - bias/radial

RADIALS ALL THE WAY !!! a bias spare t/w will be fine to milk it home or to the next garage..

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Tire questions - bias/radial

RADIALS ALL THE WAY !!! a bias spare t/w will be fine to milk it home or to the next garage..

+1 for that.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Tire questions - bias/radial

Thanks to all of you for your replies....I was leaning on the radials as the place I always buy my car tires from also sells trailor tires and they are the correct types. Eventually we will be going to the larger lakes, apx. 100 miles one way and I did not care for the bias tires on the trailor when I bought it. The frustrating thing for me is all of these tires are imports...names I never heard of. So at least the tire seller I deal with on my car tires seems the safer choice, at least for me. Will just have to slow down if I have to switch them.

My trailer radials are Goodyear Marathons.......

 

[3rdtimesthecharm]

Re: Tire questions - bias/radial

Thanks to all of you for your replies....I was leaning on the radials as the place I always buy my car tires from also sells trailor tires and they are the correct types. Eventually we will be going to the larger lakes, apx. 100 miles one way and I did not care for the bias tires on the trailor when I bought it. The frustrating thing for me is all of these tires are imports...names I never heard of. So at least the tire seller I deal with on my car tires seems the safer choice, at least for me. Will just have to slow down if I have to switch them.

Get a name-brand tire.Goodyear or Michelin.If you`re on the road and have a warranty issue with a import tire,good luck finding a dealer for that brand.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Tire questions - bias/radial

My trailer radials are Goodyear Marathons.......

I liked the Marathons I've had in the past, they were made in New Zealand and/or Canada. Then,,, GY got the crazy notion of making then in CHINA. I'm not buying a China Marathon! Not worth the price premium. GY is making some sizes outside of China again, I would buy those sizes.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Tire questions - bias/radial

I would go with Radials but my personal opinion is to go with a common brand and the reason is simple, this year I drove from Denver to Lake Powell and lost three of the four tires on my boat trailer. Understand I believe in drive it like you stole it so I drove 500 miles in under 8 hours for an average of about 65 miles per hour and I had to stop once for gas and twice for tire changes so needless to say I hit 80 mph more then a few times. Having a common brand just makes it easy to replace them without a miss match of tire brands. FYI this was the first time I drove to Powell during the day(Dang Wife) and I can honestly say I can change any tire on the truck/trailer in 9 minutes and change, wife verified!! Also I will never put another Goodyear on my truck or trailer.......ever. They can keep their cheap chinese made marathon's.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Tire questions - bias/radial

I drove 500 miles in under 8 hours for an average of about 65 miles per hour and I had to stop once for gas and twice for tire changes so needless to say I hit 80 mph more then a few times.

We should put this in the stupid human tricks section.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Tire questions - bias/radial

I was badly out numbered, one wife three teenage daughters, if I had afterburners I would have used them, the next time I make that trip during the day I will buy a case of duct tape, sleeping pills and a tazer gun.

 

[freeisforme]

Re: Tire questions - bias/radial

I was badly out numbered, one wife three teenage daughters, if I had afterburners I would have used them, the next time I make that trip during the day I will buy a case of duct tape, sleeping pills and a tazer gun.

You could have just made them ride in the boat.

 

[N3UP]

Re: Tire questions - bias/radial

Go with the radials. Just make sure you get the ST Trailer radials.

I would get a radial spare and sell the bias tire you have on craigs list or ebay.....

I have Marathons in my camper (they're about 10 years old so I don't think they're chinese) and I never had any sway problems.

Tandem axle trailers tend to be more stable than single axle trailers in my experience.....

 

['96 Charger]

Re: Tire questions - bias/radial

When I bought my boat it had a Nankang and then a totally unbadged trailer tire on the axle, then a Nankang as the spare. After putting A LOT of miles on it through pulling it home then going on vacation to hit six lakes in six days I noticed the Nankang on the trailer starting to crack on the way around. The nankang spare had already started cracking as well. Pulled all the tires off and put the noname tire on the spare carrier since it was still in good shape. The nankang that was on the ground was OVAL!!!!!!!! No wonder my trailer wouldn't hardly track a straight line. Put a brand new pair of Carlisle sport trails on it and not five trips later in an area where it gets narrow I slammed it against the curb. At least the bent spindle is giving me a good reason to put an axle with electric brakes under it. Also will try to upgrade to a wider tire to help hold up my boat that SHOULD be on a tandam axle trailer but someone decided to cheap out. Oh well, you live and learn. When the boat gets to where it's not safe to use I'm converting the trailer into a nice utility trailer.

 

[JSGOLD]

Re: Tire questions - bias/radial

Thanks for all of the input! Will continue looking for popular brand tires....although around here that is hard....so far everyone I have called has imported no names

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Tire questions - bias/radial

They're all going to be imports with few exceptions. Maxxis is a top rated radial out there, they've actually been around for quite some time. Even though they're Taiwanese, they get very good reviews. Love mine.

 

[N3UP]

Re: Tire questions - bias/radial

I don't know that I would avoid all import tires, but I would stay away from Nankang for sure though. All the bad stuff I've heard about trailer tires have all been Nankang.