Bias vs Radial Tires

I thought this would be good info for everyone......

Bias vs Radial Tires


Radial Versus Bias Performance

In order to choose the best tire for your application, we have summarized two common tire construction types that are commonly sold for off-road tires.

For the most part, the tire industry has dumped the bias tire for on-highway use, but bias type tires are still offered in the ATV and 4x4 off-road industry.

BIAS Constructed Tires:

For enthusiasts looking for ultimate in off-road performance (we are talking serious off-roading and deep mud), bias tires are still the best choice. For these applications, ride and wear characteristics on pavement are not a concern. Bias tires offer better cleaning characteristics for those extreme off-road situations. An application which has a high risk of sidewall damage would also greatly benefit from bias tire construction. Their rubber compounds are typically softer which help grip rough and rocky terrain.

Bias tires typically have the ply cords that extend diagonally from bead to bead at a range of 30 to 40 degree angles. Each successive ply is laid at an opposing angle, forming a criss-cross pattern. The end result is a design that allows the entire tire body to flex, as the tread and sidewalls share the same casing plies. The flex allows for better gripping, better clean out, and better conformity to terrain which allows for a smoother ride on rough surfaces.

This tire flex in the bias constructed tire is also its major disadvantage, depending upon the application. Bias tires tend to wear out quicker and form flat spots compared to their counterparts. The flexing also means increased rolling resistance, and less control and traction at higher speeds. If you jump in a vehicle after a long cold night that has bias tires, you'll notice a "bounce" down the road accompanied by an obnoxious hum. Typically the off-road bias tires will get 20-30K miles on them compared to the off-road radial tires that can achieve 40-50K miles.

Radial Tires:

It is advantageous to place a radial tire in an application where good traction is required on vehicles driven at high speeds, such as daily drivers and those that see both on and off-highway applications. They offer much better road handling and characteristics, than the bias tires. If you want to drive your truck on a daily basis, or more than 40 miles on the highway in order to reach the trailhead, then it's pretty hard to beat the versatility of the radial tires.

Radial constructed tires utilize ply cords that extend from bead to bead at approximately right angles to the centerline of the tire. They are parallel to each other, and are combined with stabilizer belts. The result is a much stiffer carcass, longer tread life, better steering control and lower rolling resistance.

Summary:

Advantages
Disadvantages

Bias
Strong sidewalls, tough casing
Better sidewall puncture resistance
Good lateral stability (hill side work)
Good in rough terrain and off-road
Self-Cleaning
Easily repaired
Lower purchase price


Poor life expectancy (50% of radial)
Lack of flexibility in casing reduces foot print and traction
Tread flexes more, generating more heat and rolling resistance.
Profile of tire increases soil compaction and reduces traction

Radial
Good high speed capacity
Longer lasting (Up to 50% longer)
Wear resistant
Low heat build-up
Lower rolling resistance
Better Fuel Economy
Better floatation and larger contact area
Less soil compaction
Better stability and machine handling
Smoother, more quiet ride
Proliferation of tires in the last 10 years has mostly been in radial

More prone to puncturing
More difficult to repair
Higher purchase price

good post

This is funny. I was comparing the two this morning due to my ordering a rear Bighorn that is Bias Ply....

I cut the side of a Bighorn on my Rhino last weekend. Still holds air fine after only 2 plugs . I ordered another Bighorn off ebay for $50 shipped brand new. Seemed like a Super Deal! Said Bias Ply in the auction -- I thought it was an error. Anyway it arrived and looks the same as my other Bighorns but is a bias ply. Tire is new and looks perfect but does not say radial. Bighorns were available in Bias and Radial up til 2008. Tire still has the blue coating on the white letters and has never been mounted. Must have been stored in a closet since it is not even dusty.

What's your thoughts?
So should I:
1. Use the Bias Ply Bighorn? It would be on the rear axle drivers side.
2. Order another Bighorn radial for the rear and just get rid of the Bias Ply Bighorn?
3. Just run the plugged existing Bighorn since it's not leaking?

I can argue either way. In reality my rear tires never have the exact same air pressure or quantity of mud. I know the rolling resistance is somewhat different due to this. My main concern is a Bias Ply on one side and a radial on the other side placing abnormal pressure on the axle/diff. Not sure if this would be an issue since the Rhino is 99% used off road. I searched the web and the Bias Ply Bighorns were preferred by mudders since they were harder to cut.

I have a plug in a rear XTR. The hole happened on the very first ride. I now have 1400 miles on it. It started leaking air after 800ish miles. The plug was dry so I replaced it with I new plug and I was good to go. So hell, I would just keep riding the old one.

B.T.W. I thought Bighorns did not get holes......

roamerr wrote:

What's your thoughts?
So should I:
1. Use the Bias Ply Bighorn? It would be on the rear axle drivers side.
2. Order another Bighorn radial for the rear and just get rid of the Bias Ply Bighorn?
3. Just run the plugged existing Bighorn since it's not leaking?

I can argue either way. In reality my rear tires never have the exact same air pressure or quantity of mud. I know the rolling resistance is somewhat different due to this. My main concern is a Bias Ply on one side and a radial on the other side placing abnormal pressure on the axle/diff. Not sure if this would be an issue since the Rhino is 99% used off road. I searched the web and the Bias Ply Bighorns were preferred by mudders since they were harder to cut.

Yep -- Bighorns can be cut. I did make it 37 rides (weekends -- some were 2 days of riding and some were 3 but all were 100+ miles each) without a flat. Most were on my Can-am since it runs the same size Bighorns. For me that is a record! I cut 9 tires in a year before I went to Bighorns.

I am looking for someone to Vulcanize my Bighorn with the small sidewall tear. The plugs in it has held up for 4+ days fine. I'll probably mount the bias ply Bighorn anyway. It "supposedly" is tougher. If it tracks straight on the road then it'll be fine for the hills of WV and wherever I ride.

Great post BigR

B.T.W. I thought Bighorns did not get holes......

4 Bighorns 1000 miles +or- 5 flats. I can get a flat in ANY tire.

Not sure if it will do good or not, on cars they say to not mix bias and radials but probably wont matter on a sxs.
There should be a stamped in code on the tire which shows date of manufacture.
The last 4 numbers stamped into the sidewall should represent the 2 digit week and 2 digit year of manufacture.
example, 5107 would be 51st week of 2007.

The tire is 2007 at newest. I don't really care about the age since it looks new and is in new condition. Funny thing to me was I thought the BigHorn was always a radial...

roamerr wrote:

The tire is 2007 at newest. I don't really care about the age since it looks new and is in new condition. Funny thing to me was I thought the BigHorn was always a radial...

Yeah I had no idea they ever made them in bias......

How many have bias tires?

How many of you think you need a radial tire?

Big Horn-------RADIAL
For our type trails i will always go radial, the bighorns make a big difference in the ride. This type of post is great when i joined i did not have a glue who to ask, Keep up the great work!
D

If you guys want to learn about tires, this is the article you need to read.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/PR-TSLs/

I searched the internet pretty extensively for info on the Bighorn Bias Ply. Funny thing to me is that when the Bighorn bias ply was discontinued there was people ordering the tires from Canada due to the USA warehouses being out of stock. Most were mudders and some were rock crawlers. They claimed the durability to be better. If that is true I would be surprised...

roamerr wrote:

I searched the internet pretty extensively for info on the Bighorn Bias Ply. Funny thing to me is that when the Bighorn bias ply was discontinued there was people ordering the tires from Canada due to the USA warehouses being out of stock. Most were mudders and some were rock crawlers. They claimed the durability to be better. If that is true I would be surprised...

You need to read some of the article I posted. I think we are basing are decision on info for road tires. After reading that article I might go with a bias ply tire.

I always had better luck with bias ply tires on my trucks. They did not ride that good on the road, but with huge lugs you would not get a good ride. Never realy thought about it for my side X side. I would think the bias would be better for airing down and for the thicker side walls.

The GBC dirt tamer is a copy of a bighorn but is a bias tire.

GunRunner wrote:

The GBC dirt tamer is a copy of a bighorn but is a bias tire.

Those tires suck I had them they dont hold up at all. You may as well drive them flat because it wont be long before you have a flat. Did I say they SUCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK.

great info. Thanks for posting it Big R

The Colonel,

My problem with bias tires is that they much more prone to be be out of round... also has more of a footprint on the ground. I will be staying with the radial. I've ran big horns since 2003. I had a set on a 03 Rincon, I honestly can't remember though if they were bias or radial. Personally the only punctures or holes I have seen or experienced with a Big Horn have been in the sidewalls from not running enough air pressure. I have one right now with 14 plugs in it and it's still holding air. Very good post/topic.