what are the pro's and cons of going from a radial to a bias tire on my 1976 f250 4x4
highrider76

 

The pro to radial is they dont suck as bad as bias. The con to bias is they arent as good as radial. Thats why they invented the radial tire.
Sorry, Im sarcastic. My experience off-road...Radial tires flex better, grip better, and resist wear and punctures far better than bias tires. My experience on-road, the same results. Go with a radial tire, they're safer.

 

Depends on your off-road driving.

Off-road I like bias tires because driving through the woods radial tires tend to get slashed/poked more easily in the bulge area and a bad sidewall injury is the end of a radial. But, a bias can be patched from the inside and still used (though I would not race or tow with it). Bias is usually cheaper and for some treads, they only come in Bias.

For on road use, I can not think of any advantage a bias tire has and in snow/ice/wet traction almost any radial will out do the equal to it in a bias tire. Plus, radial will give you better gas mileage, probably at least 1 mpg if inflated to the load rating for the tire.

For any heavy towing (over 1,500 pounds) I think it would be crazy not to use a radial tire on the tow vehicle. imo.

 

True enough. The buldge in a radial can be your downfall, especialy air'd down. I dont spend nearly enough time in the thick woods or rock crawling to go as far as running bias tires. I spend most my time in the open of South Texas, or the sandy beach. So yes, it sure does depend on your driving habits.

 

i do alot of backroad muddin in thick claylike soils. I also do some hunting and light towing. I am thnking about entering my truck in the local mud bog/ drag the tires i am considering are tsl 33 1250 16.5 or 34 9 16.5 my main concern is tread wear and durability and are the adverse effects on handling and towing make radials worth the extra cost.
and do you guys have any raidal mud tire suggestions priced below $130 in a 16.5
thanks

 

Advantage for bias ply tire: being capable of low air pressures with regular profile. I can air my 37s down to about 18 psi and still have the same height. Very wide contact patch. Awesome traction at lower pressures without popping bead.

Advantage for radial belted tires: Low rolling resistance. Decent sidewall deflection. Good load carrying. Narrow contact patch.

Disadvantage bias: Gas mileage sucks. Hard surface traction is not great. High speed traction is non existant. Flat spot tires suck to drive on.

Disadvantage radial: Not low air pressure friendly. Popped beads really suck off road. Sidewalls are typically weak.

Depends on what you need the tire to do. That's why I keep a couple sets mounted and change when I need to.

 

> do you guys have any raidal mud tire suggestions priced below $130 in a 16.5

I do not think you can find that combination (radial, mud, 16.5) for under $130 unless you go with a good retread. Any two of those items, maybe under $130. Not all three.

http://www.high-tec-retreading.com/sizes.html

 

Keep looking!!! I found a guy here in New Mexico that sold my friend some 40" Ground Hawgs on 16.5 rims for $100. They are almost brand new! The same guy gave me a set of 36X14x16.5 mud tires for FREE. Their out there, you just have to look.

 

Wow tell him to send me some IM looking for some 40s if I can find them cheap in good shape. The thing is i spend a lot of time on the road so id like a radial tire but i want a 40 and they don't make radials in a 40 so i cant win.