Radial Or Bias?

When considering what application is going to best suit your needs there are some key take away advantages & disadvantages of both you should be aware of. The two are constructed very differently and both have vastly different riding characteristics.

Radial Constructed Tires

In this design, the cord plies are arranged at 90 degrees to the direction of travel

Added pros of a Radial tire will typically be a much longer tread life, smoother overall ride,  improved steering control,  better fuel economy as a result of less rolling resistance against the tires.  Radial tires are also far better suited for today's higher speed driving.  

A few of the cons are some sacrificed clean out compared to bias, less tire to surface conformity in rough, rocky terrains & due to there more rigorous construction you can also expect to find a higher price tag on Radial constructed tires.  For the serious rider this is mostly offset by the added life expectancy of the tires in addition to the improved ride quality so normally well justified.

We found Radial tires we gaining more traction with SXS owners as there added strength makes them the more suitable option for larger load capacities and the added life expectancy in comparison to Bias.

Bias Constructed Tires

A bias tire consists of multiple rubber plies over lapping each other. The crown and sidewalls are interdependent.

Added pros of a Bias tire. 

Bias tire sidewalls share casing plies and as a result flex more. This flexing action allows for the tire to conform better your riding surface and give you added grip in rough, rocky terrains, Bias tires also tend to yield better clean-out in mud, and used more in the extreme off road field where traction and grip are a must at all times. 

Bias tires will carry also lower price tag.

Cons of a Bias tire.

All this added flexing that gives you some highly desired advantages for more extreme riding conditions also presents some unfortunate trade offs.  Bias tires will have a higher rolling resistance, less responsive or (slushy) at higher speeds with less precise control, tend to wear quicker and develop flat spots. The added flex can also be more susceptible to punctures as it fully absorbs that one in a million shot we all hit like a million percent of the time!

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