Any difference towing: radials vs. bias ply trailer tires?

[390pi]

I have bias ply now.

Anyone switch to radials? Any benefit to radials?

Any difference towing?

 

[andy k]

radials are a smoother ride and cost alot more, from my understanding that is about it

 

[wvsundancer]

The last boat I towed was my 240DA I switched to Goodyear rad. and it performed better in the rain no doubt. plus in the mountains OF WV it felt it "tracked" better behind the rad.

 

[Spot]

bias ply do not track the road grooves as bad as the radial's. As noted radials are smoother and look cooler. This the case if you have one axle. if you have 2 or 3 go radials.

 

[keokie]

I'll add my .02. I've towed boat and horse trailers since the mid '80's. I have tried radials several times, including recently, and have always found them far more vulnerable to blowouts than bias ply. Belt seperation and sidewall failures have been far more common with radials.

I have had the best luck by far with bias ply light truck tires.

I had this conversation with a "tire guy" recently. He said radials just can't take the kind of flexing necessary due to the crude suspensions of trailers.

Whatever it is, I'm done with radials on trailers.