Bias or Radial Tires

[Jack O'Brien]

The poll asks which type of tires your trailer presently has.

Regardless of which you have, please opine here which type you think is better for a trailer, and why.

[Chip Hindes]

When I added the axle to my trailer, I got radials for the new one. I kept the original bias on the original axle and on the spare. No other reason than to save about $150 on two more new tires. When it comes time to replace the originals, the new ones will be radial.

Radials are supposed to wear better and run cooler, and I guess they do, but since I added the new axle at the same time as adding the two new radials, I have no means by which to separate the effects of the two changes.

I will say, that on the original setup: single axle trailer, bias tires, probably overloaded, in high speed trailering the tires ran way too hot for my peace of mind.

[Moe]

Radials have less tread squirm and run cooler internally. In curves and turns, with lateral load, they allow the tread surface to remain more flat on the road rather than try to pick up the tread on the inside of the curve.

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Moe

[Robert]

I think radials are more compliant, they can give and recover better because they are built to flex more. To me that makes them better able to survive pot holes or hitting the curb.
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Radials definately have a better grip on the road, maybe that will help the trailer brakes and prevent sway and reduce the risk of jack knifing.
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I had bias ply tires on a car I used to slide a hairpin turn everyday on the way home. Then I changed to radials. Next time I tried to slide that hairpin turn, there was no slide at all, it stuck that turn so well I was affraid I might roll the car over.
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I read the sidewalls on the original tires on my Mac26X in 1999 as soon as I trailered home from my dealers very nice 3hr training how to sail maiden voyage. The sidewalls said bias ply tires with 1460# limit, so next day I swapped for a pair of GoodYear Marathon Radials rated 1860#. Never a tire problem since.