bias ply or radials?

[johnnybgood74]

i've been looking for some new shoes for my horse and have been checking out the swamper LTB's. they are a bias ply tire and pretty damn cheap. my brother told me to stay away from bias tires (he worked at les schwab for a few years). he said that they would not be a good choice for me unless it was a trail rig. he said they track funny, get flat spots, and wear out rather fast. i will be driving mine every day and hunting in the hills all the time for coyotes. he told me to stick with a radial. what do you guys think? anyone running bias ply tires or running swampers on a daily driver?

 

[joshm28]

I'm running a bias ply thornbird and I hate them. They are all over the road, they wear funny, and when the truck sets for 24 hours on a cold day it takes them forever to get back round again. You will be much happier with the Radials. Don't they make the LTB in a radial? The SSR might be another option.

 

[Broncobowsher]

When I got the Bronco it had some old bias plys on it. Repleced them with some used radials. On the street it was nicer to drive. Offroad I couldn't tell as I only had a trip or two on the bias and was working out other new truck bugs more then testing the limits of the tires.

 

[cgbexec]

My vote is Radials for safety, comfort and wear.

 

[byson1]

I've never run any swamper that was good on the road. The technology put into radial tires today make them ideal for on/off road use. Most bias ply tires are made with nylon and if you have any experience with nylon then you know how stiff it get when cold. That's why nylon based bias ply tires get flat spots until they warm up. For short wheel base vehicles like Bronco's the bias ply tires can realy make them a handful on the road.

 

[camomog]

I have run several of the swampers and they do get a flat spot if they sit but have never not been happy with the way they work. I like the SX and my father in law runs the LTB's. Radials are smoother on road but the sidewalls are less forgiving off road.

 

[Socal Tom]

Radials definetly. Bias plys try to follow seams in the road, ride bad and have stiff sidewalls, so they don't air down as well.
Tom

 

[JGbronc]

Definitely radials if you have a lot of street use.

 

[zeeman1]

Definitely radials if you have a lot of street use.

x2 on that, BIAS for a trail rider

 

[Mark]

I don't even like bias ply on the trail.
When you air down radials they wrap around rocks and obstacles for excellent grip. Yes, you do risk cutting the sidewall, but I'd rather have the increased tire grip.

 

[johnnybgood74]

thanks alot guys, appreciate all the good feedback. it will be driven alot on the pavement so i will get a good radial.

 

[weasel]

I would go with radials. the 33 SSR I have are allot quieter on the road then the mud terrain tires I use to have. Haven't had an issue with them yet.