BIAS or Radial Tires???

[02baylinercapri-NM]

I have a 2002 single axle escort trailer under my 02 bayliner 175 capri. Right now I have the stock bias ply tires, and I happen to have a goodyear marathon radial for a spare. I was thinking of buying another GY marathon, and run the radials, and move over one bias ply for a spare. Now I keep getting mixed reviews about this. Right now I get some sway at the trailer tires. Has nothing to do with my rig, I have a full size chevy with a class 5 receiver, so I know it shouldn't be the towing rig. Would the radials sway worse??? Some people say it will. I was hoping to better the situation, but if there's possiblity of getting worse, then what for waste the $$. Thanks in advance.

 

[JB]

Re: BIAS or Radial Tires???

Sway could be a wheel alignment problem, Capri.<br /><br />As for the tires, as long as they are both ST tires I think you will get better tracking and longer life from the radials.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[surplusman]

Re: BIAS or Radial Tires???

If the tires are deflecting, check the air pressure. I know that sounds stupid, but I have been there. I have owned and driven lots of different trilers, single and tandems, and have always found the radials to deflect a little bit. Bias have much stiffer sidewalls than radials. Nothing wrong with radials, as long as they are marked for trailer use. More often than not, any problem I ever had was due to air pressure. Second would be the way the load on the trailer was ditributed. I tend to prefer bias ply for trailers cause they cost much less, and perform well. Make sure you balance tires on trailers also.

 

[John McFarlane]

Re: BIAS or Radial Tires???

Radials give better ride and handling on vehicles due to in part to softer and more flexible sidewalls. On a towed vehicle this will also translate to a softer ride, but at the expense of increased sideways movement due to that soft sidewall. A trade off is running the tyre pressure at the maximum recommended. You end up somewhere in the middle.

 

[rwidman]

Re: BIAS or Radial Tires???

You should always inflate trailer tires to the maximum rating on the sidewall.<br /><br />If you have sway problem, check the tongue weight. it should be between five and seven percent of the weight of the trailer fully loaded. Also, make sure the trailer is level with the pavement. <br /><br />"Experts" don't seem to agree on radial vs bias ply tires, but most agree that Goodyear Marathons are the best trailer tires and Carlisle bias ply tires are the worst. Mixing bias and radial tires on the same trailer is not a good idea.

 

[Lou C]

Re: BIAS or Radial Tires???

You could try contacting the manufacturer of the trailer and see what they recommend. I have a Load Rite, I called their cust service and found out that they recommend bias ply over radials, and it is also noted on their website. So I went with the Load Star bias plys. So far so good.

 

[Realgun]

Re: BIAS or Radial Tires???

If it sway you need to balance the load. Take it to the truckstop on Menual and Carlisle across from the Circle K and he will weight it for you. Then make sure you have 8 to 10% of you weight on the tongue. Put you batroom scale on the bumper with a small piece of 2x4. Put the tounge on the 2x4 and then look at the weight. If your light then move stuff back for less forward for more. <br /><br />You have to be in Albuquerque nobody else in New Mexico has enough money for a Boat.

 

[rwidman]

Re: BIAS or Radial Tires???

Pull onto the scale with the trailer on the scale and the tow vehicle's rear wheels just forward of the scale platform. Record that weight. Put your trailer jack down (on the scale) and disconnect the coupler from the tow vehicle. Raise the trailer jack until the coupler clears the ball. Record that weight.<br /><br />The second reading (highest) is the weight of the trailer, boat, etc. The first (lower weight) is the weight carried by the trailer tires.<br /><br />Subtract the first (lower) weight from the second. This is the tongue weight, the weight that is being carried by the tow vehicle.<br /><br />Most bathroom scales don't go beyond 300lb and you would have to measure at the point on the coupler that sits on the ball if you choose this method.

 

[rottenray6402]

Re: BIAS or Radial Tires???

You can't go wrong with a good set of 6 ply trailer tires. The 6 ply rating gives you a stiffer sidewall and more load carrying capacity. They require a lot more pressure (usually around 50 to 60 lbs)so that tends to keep the tires cooler at high way speeds.

 

[02baylinercapri-NM]

Re: BIAS or Radial Tires???

"You have to be in Albuquerque nobody else in New Mexico has enough money for a Boat."<br /><br />Realgun, Sorry to burst your bubble, but I live north of Santa Fe, and actually people have more money in these areas than in the high crime city of Albuquerque. I don't,-but most people work for LANL, and make boatloads of money. The reasons for people not having boats hear too much is for one, the poor conditions of our lakes, and most people have homes full of kids. <br />I am 32, have 2 homes, 5 acres, a 2002 boat, 2 classic cars, a 2005 top end atv, a brand new crew cab truck, and a Tahoe Z71. Straighten your knowledge out before you start talking trash about people in rural areas bud. Oh, and I'm set to retire in 12 years at which point I'll buy a brand new 24'+ V8 powered boat.<br />Being that you have so much money, why are you restoring a 17 year old boat??

 

[02baylinercapri-NM]

Re: BIAS or Radial Tires???

As far as the tires, my bias plys are near new. The only reason I brought up the thought was because my spare happens to be a brand new Goodyear marathon, and I just wanted to match it, and use a bias ply for a spare. I might just give it a shot, it's only 50 bucks for a GY marathon on tirerack. I'm not even sure what brand of bias tires I have on there now, I'll check with the trailer co. Thanks.

 

[beniam]

Re: BIAS or Radial Tires???

Realgun<br />Lived in La Villa Real De la Santa Fe De Los Touristos (you capitol city) for five years. Reason I did not have a boat was waterskiing on the Santa Fe River was limited. Now keep boat about a mile from Lake Powell. Water dropping but still more than Abique Reservoir. Batavier

 

[kesso]

Re: BIAS or Radial Tires???

Wow!...you be rich master zero-two-bayliner Sir. I have a classic car too, not by choice though.

 

[BillP]

Re: BIAS or Radial Tires???

mine is bigger than yours...oops. Anyway, no matter how you compare bias vs radial the bias will be more stable and give less sway. I've switched back and forth between the two and prefer bias tires. Radials sway more and won't tolerate uneven or overloading as well. If your trailer is loaded near max definitely go bias.

 

[02baylinercapri-NM]

Re: BIAS or Radial Tires???

Right now I'm up in the air about this, I might just wait and see. I'll see if some of this snow can melt so I can get into my garage to check what brand of bias plys are on there for starters. I think I need a new stereo and speakers more than I do tires. <br />I already had plans to do some maintenance on my rig this weekend, but we just got record snowfall here (1.5ft) a couple days ago so that puts a damper on things for like a month. <br />Batavier, Yes water skiing on the SF river can be challenging , I've explored the thought of moving closer to water when I retire, and trade my dingy in for a more luxurious model, but I'm stuck here for another decade or so. Looking at the bright side, we have gotten a wicked winter, so abiquiu has half a chance of getting closer to capacity.

 

[NMplayer]

Re: BIAS or Radial Tires???

You know that rig is lite enough that I'm not real sure your tires are gonna matter too much as long as they are in good shape. I'd look at weight distribution.<br /><br />By the way, I live in Alamogordo. Caballo is 2 1/2 hours away and Elephant Butte is 3 hours out. Man I hope we get enough rain to do some good.

 

[02baylinercapri-NM]

Re: BIAS or Radial Tires???

Yeah, I think I'll check the weight ratio first. I would wish for the butte to get up to at least 40-50% which is doubtful. Believe it or not, I took my boat down to the butte, and to caballo the first year I had it 3 years ago. It was great down there. Man it's been in horrible shape the last 2 years. <br />Too bad our worthless governor doesn't fight to keep more water in there. I'm about 3 hours from the butte.<br />I'm planning to go up to Navajo this summer, and to my usual Abiquiu and El Vado. You never go out as much as you'd like with the darn summer going so fast.

 

[NMplayer]

Re: BIAS or Radial Tires???

Nah, he gives our water away<br /><br />You oughta try Conchas Lake. Its down some too but it was deep to begin with.

 

[02baylinercapri-NM]

Re: BIAS or Radial Tires???

I've heard good things about conchas. It's not too far from Santa Fe huh?

 

[NMplayer]

Re: BIAS or Radial Tires???

Close to Santa Rosa