Radial or Bias Ply Tires for S/A Trailers

[Woody-jh]

My single axle trailer (towing 20 ft Regal, 1995) has radial tires (ST-205-75R14) and a Bias ply spare. I'm not the original owner, so I don't know how I got this combination...presumably someone bought new radials at some point.
Lucky for me, the starboard tire "disintegrated" just as I was parking back in my driveway. The tire looks brand new, but the rubber was heavily cracked and the steel belt was showing for about 6" length in the tread area. The rest of the tire looks great. Obviously a writeoff, typical of trailer tires that sit for long periods, on concrete, I am told.
An experienced tire retailer told me that I should be using Bias ply tires, especially since I only have a single axle. He said this was due to the handling characteristics of Bias Ply relative to the weight rating of the tires. I always thought radial tires were a step above. Comments folks...should I use Bias Ply tires on the road, and keep the radial as my spare, or purchase a replacement radial and keep the Bias as spare. You can bet that I will have the other radial tire checked out to make sure it too is not about to disintegrate.

 

[bubbakat]

Re: Radial or Bias Ply Tires for S/A Trailers

I personally left the bias tires out of the equation because they are hard to find and more costly most of the time. On radial tires you need a st tire to take the sway out of the side wall. I use a 6 ply on my 17 footer and 8 ply on my toon.
The bias tire won't sway as bad but will dry rot real quick and the radial will dry rot to if left untreated.
I would put some good year marathons on it made for a trailer and let her ride.

 

[rndn]

Re: Radial or Bias Ply Tires for S/A Trailers

Vote number 2 for Goodyear Marathons.

 

[ozzydude]

Re: Radial or Bias Ply Tires for S/A Trailers

Bias ply tires anticipate the heat very well but are bouncy until warmed up. Radial tires track the road very well but they do get hot. We sell alot of trailer tires and i would say it's 80-20 in favor of radials.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Radial or Bias Ply Tires for S/A Trailers

Radial tires track the road very well but they do get hot.

That's actually backwards. The main advantage of radials over bias is that they generate less heat.

This is what this article says:
"While it is true that a bias-ply tire can provide more side-to-side stability than a radial, a bias ply also runs hotter than a radial"
http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/infoSeparationAnxiety.dos

Marathons are good tires but unfortunately are now made in China along with most other brands. That is why you can't find the Towmasters anymore...my former favorite tire. They were made by Goodyear at a US plant that is no longer making either tire.

 

[rheyboer]

Re: Radial or Bias Ply Tires for S/A Trailers

Thanks for the timely link. Had a flat last night!