Are Radial or Bias Ply Tires Better on a Trailer With 3 Axles

Updated 05/03/2012 | Published 05/02/2012

Question:

I have a 3 axle trailer, what type of tire would be better because of the dragging of the frount axe when making a tight turn? bias vs radial

asked by: Gary

Expert Reply:

If the option is available I would recommend a radial tire over the bias tire because the radial tire will provide better stability and more ground contact resulting in a more comfortable ride.

A radial tire is going to have better tread wear over the bias ply tire, but when your front axle drags during tight turns it will still take a toll on the tires. Some times drag cannot be prevented, but the best thing to help with this issue is be sure you are towing your trailer as level as possible. A lot of times when the front axle drags that means the tongue is too high or there is too much weight in the back of the trailer.

The radial tires will also run cooler and give you better traction. A cause for many tire problems is heat build up, especially when under a load, and the radial tires will dissipate that heat better than a bias tire.

Bias tires have stiffer sidewalls and are better suited for off road applications.

When replacing your tires you will want to make sure all of the tires are of the same size and construction. Do not mismatch your tires. I also recommend inflating all of the tires to their specified psi rating and to always check tread wear.

I am attaching an FAQ article for tires that may be of some help.

expert reply by: John H