Okay I understand the difference between a radial tire and a bias ply. I also understand your going to get a smoother quiter ride out of a radial on the street. But since we are sitting on top of noisy four wheeler riding on rough trails and deep mud. What is the benefit of a radial tire, on the street you get a little more rubber on the road but on the trails at 5-6 lbs of pressure the gain is not going to be very much.
So why should I buy a radial and not bias ATV tire, anybody have a clue?
Okay I understand the difference between a radial tire and a bias ply. I also understand your going to get a smoother quiter ride out of a radial on the street. But since we are sitting on top of noisy four wheeler riding on rough trails and deep mud. What is the benefit of a radial tire, on the street you get a little more rubber on the road but on the trails at 5-6 lbs of pressure the gain is not going to be very much.
So why should I buy a radial and not bias ATV tire, anybody have a clue?
If you trail ride alot with the raidial you don't get that bounceing feel and jar you get with the bias ply tire. The tire will take more of the bumps then the shocks so to speak with the radials. I never ride on streets so I don't know about that part of it. I had the same questions as you until I got a set of Radials...now hopefully thats all i will ever have unless i'm Mud Racing or riding all the time. IF you have back problems and need smoother ride on the trail, get Radials...it will make a huge difference on SRA atv's as well. Jusgt a smoother easier ride on the trail.
I've noticed a lot of the radials don't have as big of a lug as the bias i.e. mudbug radials. Any idea why? Are they just designed more for ride comfort than mud?
Okay I understand the difference between a radial tire and a bias ply. I also understand your going to get a smoother quiter ride out of a radial on the street. But since we are sitting on top of noisy four wheeler riding on rough trails and deep mud. What is the benefit of a radial tire,
Actually, in most cases the radials are more noisy than a bias ply when off-road.... this comes as a result of the softer rubber and weaker side-walls that give them a "dragging" sound similar to that of a flat tire... and when properly inflated they actually look to be low on air.
Radials usually don't have as good of puncture resistance (back to the softer rubber thing)
The radial tire will usually give an unparalleled smoothness of ride, and a much more sure-footing when climbing and traversing potentially slick surfaces (due to more contact area)
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on the street you get a little more rubber on the road but on the trails at 5-6 lbs of pressure the gain is not going to be very much.
You'd be surprised. Case-in-point is the Rincon, they come from the factory with radials... and there is a WORLD of difference. As far as traction, cornering, and overall performance on dry trails.... WOW. But not worth a crap in the mud.
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So why should I buy a radial and not bias ATV tire, anybody have a clue?
No clue, it's a personal preference. Just like whether you want an IRS or SRA machine..... they each have their pro's and cons.... in the end it's all about what you're looking for.
If you're going to be on smooth dry trails with occasional light mud with an average chance of encountering puncture hazards... then radials are right for you.
If you're going to be mudding, hauling heavy loads, driving over protruding objects and need bigger lugs for more traction... then go with bias ply.
Sorry Ccrane...... LOL! I going to have to disagree with weaker side walls and softer rubber. You can easily get 5,000 miles out of a set of Bighorns and they have a tougher sidewall than any tire i have had and i have had a few. They are a true 6 ply...not just rated. The lugs on mine are 1 inch. Lugs on Mudlite XL's are only an eighth of an inch deeper. As far as noise i can't tell any difference in that. Most radials are a true 6 ply though. Not a 4 and rated as a 6 as you find in Bias Ply tires.
Sorry Ccrane...... LOL! I going to have to disagree with weaker side walls and softer rubber.
Don't be sorry!!! That's what makes the world go round!
Truth be told, the only radials I have an experienced-based knowledge of are the factory Dunlops on the Rincon. (good tires, but they always seem flat no matter how much air is in them) Even the Radial Outlaws that High Lifter used to make always seemed to look flat to me whenever I saw folks running them on hard-pack at rides.
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You can easily get 5,000 miles out of a set of Bighorns and they have a tougher sidewall than any tire i have had and i have had a few. They are a true 6 ply...not just rated. The lugs on mine are 1 inch. Lugs on Mudlite XL's are only an eighth of an inch deeper.
The Bighorns are a great-looking tire, actually been considering them for the Rhino... but never payed enough attention to realize that they were radials! I guess we learn something every day!
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As far as noise i can't tell any difference in that. Most radials are a true 6 ply though. Not a 4 and rated as a 6 as you find in Bias Ply tires.
I did alot of my early riding in Lake Whitney, Tx. which is HEAVILY infested with cactus... so something with lots of plies, lots of green slime, and lots of dodging was mandatory. I guess I'm still in that mind-set.
Then again, the last set of tires I bought were Mudzillas... go figure... LOL
The toughest tire I ever bought was a Carlisle (before they went to crap) they made an atv tire called the "Trax Max" those damn tires were SOLID!!! When they brought em out to show em to me I laid the thing on it's side and stood on it and I could barely tell it gave any at all (before it was mounted on a rim!) You could run over ANYTHING with those meats.... I ran them bald and sold the bike with em still on it. Never found any like em again.
I want to correct myself on something. I said all Radials are a True 6 ply..... I was wrong!!! LOL! I talked to the ITP Rep yesterday at work and was talking to im about this. The Terra Cross are not a true 6 ply....only 4 rated 6. THe Mudlite XTR's are a 6 ply form what he said. I stand corrected. LOL! He said the Terra Cross Dealer nickname is Terriable Cross. Lots of complaints about Hole in the sidewall again. Same as the regular Mudlites. Trying to save on weight by making the sidewalls thin.
them mudlite xtrs are radials. i know that, but i was wounderin. Are they a true 6 ply or just rated as a 6 ply and what about their sidewalls? did they weaken them to save weight like the mudlites?
yeah i have those rawhides on my foreman.my buddy gave em to me for free they look a little wierd but it still works. i have a friend with zillas on his ranger and that thing is pretty good in the mud i still like outlaws better
