Radial versus Bias ply

[Kyle.malone]

OK.. I have done multiple searches with no results.

Radial versus Bias
I'm looking at the Pitbull Rockers in a 37" Tall tire.
The bias ply is $25 cheaper than a Radial.
Bias is 36.5" tall and 14.68 Wide and the Radial is 37.25 and 13.4 wide.
With a rig that is going to do on and off road, would one rather have a radial or a bias ply?
Would airing down and up a radial tire break the tire up internally for offroad driving to get them to flex on the rocks?
Will a bias give you a happy medium of street and offroad?
Will a bronco be able to squish the sidewalls better on a radial or a bias.
Trying to figure out which way to go on a new set of tires.
If you can think of anything else about why to go one direction please add.

 

[craigaria]

I'm not an expert on which is better offroad but I will tell you that radials are 100 times better for the street. My last tires were bias and overnight they would flat spot. They would drive like complete crap until they warmed up and they would smooth out. Radials are smooth driving, even after sitting parked for weeks...

 

[broncoitis]

Go with the Radial hands down! Much better on the street by far. Your truck will drive alot better with the Radial vs. the Bias ply. Reason being is that based on my experience and what I have read the bias ply WILL cause your truck to WANDER on the road.

In saying that, what I mean is that as a result of their inherently more flexible construction vs. a radial they will tend to follow the contour of the road and its inherent irregularities. I don't know if this makes sense but if you ever drive with some for any amount of time you will understand what I mean. My .02!

 

[68 Broncoholic]

I've heard the Irok Bias do well on the street.
Radials will run smoothest on road. When aired down, they flex and grab onto rocks very well but the side walls are weak.
Bias has stiffer/stronger side walls and requires further airing down to get the same performance off road.

I'd go with the SSR or Iroc Radial is you see more street than dirt. If you only see dirt I'd go Irok Bias.

 

[broncnaz]

I think all around the radials are going to be better. But if you can live with the minor flat spot issue the bias plys may stand up to more abuse offroad. The thread on bias ply flexs more than radials but as was said the sidewalls dont flex as well. Also rim width is more of a concern with bias ply tires.

 

[Tito]

Bias on the street are pretty lame, they can be stood but no comparison to radials. For $25 a piece upgrade, its worth it for the Radial. Not sure where you are finding it for only that much more, last I checked it was closer to $100 each more. I went with the bias Mad Dogs. Holding my opinion on them for now, I am not Pit Bull/Tire Mart's biggest fan.

 

[SpareParts]

You will hate the bias Pit Bull on the street, I do drive mine on the street when I'm at an event but I do not like it. I would look into 2 sets, even the radial Pit Bulls are not going to get much life on the street. That's my opinion at least, wheels are cheap to find and you can keep your 35's to run down the road. Mine don't look the best but not bad with my 37's running down the road. The 40's make it look a lot meaner but I was tired of watching them eat away on the highway.

 

[Rob_B]

Shows you how dumb I am..Didn't even know they still made bias. lol

 

[Explorer]

If you're worried about the sidewalls, look at the rating. BFG A/T's are 8ply sidewall rating. Having been around since before radial tires, no way I'd go back to bias ply.

 

[Apogee]

Bias ply construction tires have their place, but for a dual purpose street/off-road rig, I'd go radial every time. The only way I'd go bias ply would be if you like to wheel in places or conditions that like rip out the sidewalls, and even then I'd more than likely consider two sets of tires/wheels for street and wheeling.

 

[ep67bro]

Bias plys suck on the street. Had a set of Mickey Thompsons that were only 33s and they couldnt be balanced worth a dam. So I sold them and got some BFG radials.

 

[Kyle.malone]

Ordered the 37" pitbull radials. I'll be happy if I get two years out of them. ;D

Now just got to get my beadlocks ordered (Will have to wait until the pocketbook gets back to normal).

 

[SpareParts]

I'm curoius to see how they do, wanna follow me next time we wheel at the same place? I don't know if they'll use the same compound in the rubber or if they will make them harder to last longer on the street.

I'm on my almost 3rd year with my bias ply, but only around 5000 miles on them and they are 1/2 tread.

 

[Kyle.malone]

I'm curoius to see how they do, wanna follow me next time we wheel at the same place? I don't know if they'll use the same compound in the rubber or if they will make them harder to last longer on the street.

I'm on my almost 3rd year with my bias ply, but only around 5000 miles on them and they are 1/2 tread.

Sure I will follow you.. I will get them broken in at the LEBC roundup and a couple trips to Clayton or Disney. It definatly won't be the same rig that you saw at this past OCBR. My list keeps getting longer with the upgrades. (My currie 9" housing showed up today)

 

[SpareParts]

Sure I will follow you.. I will get them broken in at the LEBC roundup and a couple trips to Clayton or Disney. It definatly won't be the same rig that you saw at this past OCBR. My list keeps getting longer with the upgrades. (My currie 9" housing showed up today)

I have been trying to keep up with all your upgrades! Should be very capable, maybe I'll catch you at Disney.

 

[craigaria]

It is too bad they don't make bogger radials. They just look tough to me but they ride like shiot:-X;D

 

[Kyle.malone]

I have been trying to keep up with all your upgrades! Should be very capable, maybe I'll catch you at Disney.

I'll give you a heads up when I take it out for the first time.. My tranny was suppose to be finished yesterday, but it now looks like late next week. Oh well, give me time to weld everything up over the weekend.

 

[SpareParts]

I'll give you a heads up when I take it out for the first time.. My tranny was suppose to be finished yesterday, but it now looks like late next week. Oh well, give me time to weld everything up over the weekend.

Sounds good, I would like to make it to the spring Disney run that I have heard about. Probably won't do much till then.