tanden axle trailer question about heat bias vs radial

[rentprop1]

I saw a trailer at the ramp that had bias tires on the front axle and Radials on the rear, now I thought you were not supposed to mix them and the argument on why is as old a Coke vs Pepsi...after striking up a conversation with the boat owner ( supposedly worked for a tire store ) and claimed since neither axle was under power like a car and no brakes were installed each axle ran independently of the other, he also said that radials run cooler than the biased and that was why they were in the front for better cooling ?? direct air ??

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: tanden axle trailer question about heat bias vs radial

I can't imagine that it matters if you mix them, aside from outside diameter differences between brands. As long as you have the same type of tires on one axle, and the other type on the second axle, it shouldn't make any difference. The brakes also have nothing to do with it. I also don't think "direct air" is going to make much difference to the cooling of the tire. Towing speeds and pavement type/air pressure is going to have a bigger affect on tire temps than air flow.

 

[spdracr39]

Re: tanden axle trailer question about heat bias vs radial

Your not supposed to mix brands of oil either but the "End of Existence as we know it" has never occurred when I did. Actually nothing happened.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: tanden axle trailer question about heat bias vs radial

As long as you aren't mixing side to side on an axle, its fine. Even diameter differences aren't much of an issue, most tandem trailers are walking type axles and have no problem compensating for a slight difference in diameter.

I'd also run the bias in front, but not for cooling. Most of the time, you have one tire that is going to scrub during a tight turn. At least in my experience, on a boat trailer, its usually easier for the front one to scrub, and the bias is going to have less traction. The difference is probably so miniscule it doesn't matter though. (might also be worthwhile to have the cheaper set of tires in front, aka probably the bias. The front set is more likely to pick up any road debris.)

 

[ONEGA]

Re: tanden axle trailer question about heat bias vs radial

The front set is more likely to pick up any road debris

In most cases the front tire would actually lift it up and it gets stuffed in rear.

For a long haul I prefer truck radials on both axles. For a short distance I wouldn't care what tires are there as long as they have no dry rot.

 

[alldodge]

Re: tanden axle trailer question about heat bias vs radial

I like bias ply on trailers all the way around. Had radials blow out on me more then any bias ply. Last one blew out after 150 some miles with perfect tread. Did my air checks prior to starting the ride and it still went out. Since then and old guy (older then me so that makes him real old) tell me that radials are great so long as they get used. Bias ply are best for stuff that does a lot of sitting. It could just be luck but knock on wood, no tire blow outs or other throuble fo a long time now.

PS: I also get the heavy 6 to 8 ply tires also, and that may just have a bit to do with it also.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: tanden axle trailer question about heat bias vs radial

In most cases the front tire would actually lift it up and it gets stuffed in rear.

For a long haul I prefer truck radials on both axles. For a short distance I wouldn't care what tires are there as long as they have no dry rot.

I was thinking more like baseball size chunk of concrete laying in the road. Enough to slash a tread or sidewall, and the first tire that hits it will toss it to the side. (replaced a front tire on a vehicle for exactly this, managed to put a gash into the sidewall, but the rock went flying straight out to the side.)

 

[ONEGA]

Re: tanden axle trailer question about heat bias vs radial

I was thinking more like baseball size chunk of concrete laying in the road. Enough to slash a tread or sidewall, and the first tire that hits it will toss it to the side. (replaced a front tire on a vehicle for exactly this, managed to put a gash into the sidewall, but the rock went flying straight out to the side.)

Yes, I agree. There are virtually hundreds of ways to damage a tire.

 

[ONEGA]

Re: tanden axle trailer question about heat bias vs radial

I like bias ply on trailers all the way around. Had radials blow out on me more then any bias ply. Last one blew out after 150 some miles with perfect tread. Did my air checks prior to starting the ride and it still went out. Since then and old guy (older then me so that makes him real old) tell me that radials are great so long as they get used. Bias ply are best for stuff that does a lot of sitting. It could just be luck but knock on wood, no tire blow outs or other throuble fo a long time now.

PS: I also get the heavy 6 to 8 ply tires also, and that may just have a bit to do with it also.

We all develop our preferences on personal experience and common sense and share that experience with friends.

 

[Nbailey2008]

Re: tanden axle trailer question about heat bias vs radial

The difference between a bias ply tire and a radial tire is negligible and the mixture aspect is irrelevant as well. As was mentioned previously the outside diameter must match to prevent irregular wear. Almost all problems with trailer tires are caused by inadequate load range rating and even more commonly because of incorrect tire pressure. People often think that their trailer tires should get the same air pressure as their car tires which is not the case! You can mix bias ply and radial as well as different brands all you want so long as tire pressure matches what is written on the tire, and load range matches gvwr on the rig. Don't believe salesmen!

 

[H20Rat]

Re: tanden axle trailer question about heat bias vs radial

The difference between a bias ply tire and a radial tire is negligible and the mixture aspect is irrelevant as well. As was mentioned previously the outside diameter must match to prevent irregular wear. Almost all problems with trailer tires are caused by inadequate load range rating and even more commonly because of incorrect tire pressure. People often think that their trailer tires should get the same air pressure as their car tires which is not the case! You can mix bias ply and radial as well as different brands all you want so long as tire pressure matches what is written on the tire, and load range matches gvwr on the rig. Don't believe salesmen!

The important part is to keep the axle's matching. Never put a radial on one side of an axle and a bias on the other side. Because of differences in construction, outside diameter will NEVER match between those two.

 

[Nbailey2008]

Re: tanden axle trailer question about heat bias vs radial

The important part is to keep the axle's matching. Never put a radial on one side of an axle and a bias on the other side. Because of differences in construction, outside diameter will NEVER match between those two.

Of course the ideal would be to have all four tires matching. I was thinking the question implied some other reason for mixing bias ply and radial like availability, etc. The two types will perform differently simply as a result of their characteristics, not as a result of their location. Location on the trailer certainly doesn't effect wether or not you will reach your destination-but obviously if you want them to wear exactly the same you should have four identical tires.

 

[dingbat]

Re: tanden axle trailer question about heat bias vs radial

Because of differences in construction, outside diameter will NEVER match between those two.

One goes 1238 rpm and the other goes 1240 rpm...what does that matter? I would be more concerned about the increased side loading on the bias tire.

 

[Outsider]

Re: tanden axle trailer question about heat bias vs radial

One goes 1238 rpm and the other goes 1240 rpm...what does that matter?

Think about that for a second, one of those 26" diameter tires will try, but fail to go about 13 feet further than the other ... and that doesn't matter? I guess that depends on one's perception of what matters ...

 

[Grub54891]

Re: tanden axle trailer question about heat bias vs radial

Yes, I agree. There are virtually hundreds of ways to damage a tire.

Ran over a pair of pliers,front tire kicked em up,opened them,the back tire was empaled very nicely...: (

 

[Nbailey2008]

Re: tanden axle trailer question about heat bias vs radial

One goes 1238 rpm and the other goes 1240 rpm...what does that matter?

Think about that for a second, one of those 26" diameter tires will try, but fail to go about 13 feet further than the other ... and that doesn't matter? I guess that depends on one's perception of what matters ...

13 / 8436.13333 = 0.00154099034. Thirteen feet out of eight thousand four hundred and thirty six feet is about one tenth of one percent difference. Since you asked: No, one tenth of one percent difference in wear does not really matter. That is probably the definition of quibbling over nonsense. Um, 1240 rpm would be 94 miles per hour by the way. Slow down and don't roll your eyes at me young man. Haha!

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: tanden axle trailer question about heat bias vs radial

One goes 1238 rpm and the other goes 1240 rpm...what does that matter?

Think about that for a second, one of those 26" diameter tires will try, but fail to go about 13 feet further than the other ... and that doesn't matter? I guess that depends on one's perception of what matters ...

completely wrong... your statement implies that there is a solid axle connection between the tires forcing them to rotate at the same rpm.... in truth they are acting independently and will both roll exactly the same distance... neither will "try" to do anything else

 

[rbh]

Re: tanden axle trailer question about heat bias vs radial

Personally, I would stick with one or the other.
If one axle has bias and the other radial The Bias axle will be diving?? into the corner as compared to the axle that has the radials on as there is more give/flex in the side walls on the bias ply tire than the radial tire.