: Radial vs Bias ply Swampers


Pebbles
03-24-2002, 04:58 AM
I am currently looking for a new set of tires. I have a set of 35x12.5 SSR's that I have had for a year.I have been happy with them, other than the side wall strength. I will be starting a new job in the next two weeks that will be requiring less driving on the street so I am looking for a different (cheaper) tire. I have been looking at both the Radial and Biasply TSL. I am just wondering which will handle better on the street-for the 2 hour drive to Paragon and the fact that this will be my DD. Either one that I get I plan on grooving and siping. I know the sidewall strength will be greater with the Bias, I am just worried that my future wife won't like the ride (flat spots) when she takes the Jeep out.

yjtj
03-24-2002, 05:02 AM
thats an even better reason to run a tire with flat spots, it will keep her away from your rig.

MOGXJ44
03-24-2002, 08:16 AM
agreed. ;)

jeepnbob1
03-24-2002, 10:00 AM
I have been totaly happy with my 36-12.50x15 tsl radials. No problems on the street or trail. Decent tread life good traction.

thenodnarb
03-24-2002, 05:23 PM
flat spots dont last more than a few miles dont they?
let me get this straight...you PUNCTURED an SSR? I know you can gouge them and lose some rubber on the sidwalls, but i never hear of slicing them open or puncturing them.

Keith
03-24-2002, 10:02 PM
Originally posted by thenodnarb
flat spots dont last more than a few miles dont they?
let me get this straight...you PUNCTURED an SSR? I know you can gouge them and lose some rubber on the sidwalls, but i never hear of slicing them open or puncturing them.

Hmmmmm......? Ever been wheeling?

redruM
03-25-2002, 04:21 AM
happy with my TSL Radials (36x12.5.15)

only sliced one last year off road
have 15,000 miles on them with 3/32" tread loss

Fred Wilson
03-25-2002, 03:48 PM
Though I haven't ripped an SSR myself, just two weekends ago, two people on the run that I was on ripped the sidewall on them. Note, though, that *any* tire can be ripped. I saw, first hand, a sidewall on a SX get ripped a couple of months ago.


:)
Fred

Weezer
03-25-2002, 04:07 PM
If you are going to drive mostly on the road get the radials, if you plan on doing ANY driving off road get the bias. Radials are great for posers:flipoff2:

Lil8itch
03-25-2002, 07:49 PM
does the tread life on the radial last longer? And is there problems running on bias tires for a few hours?
Peace
Andrew

Rob Kosinski
03-26-2002, 10:12 AM
Or wait for the 37x12.5 MTR. Best of both worlds in my opinion and awesome on the paragon rocks. Last two tires I ran were both bias ply 34 inch swampers. Yes they flat spot but its no biggie. My next tire would be a SX but the MTR is the shiz.

badassjeepguy
03-26-2002, 10:17 AM
Originally posted by Keith


Hmmmmm......? Ever been wheeling?


thats what im saying, i got a brand new ssr with a 3 to 4 inch slice, gash, whatever you want to call it, it dont hold air no more......go biased ply...... and the flat spot disappears in minutes......


where you from? 2 hrs from paragon? im in pittsburgh 4 to 5 hrs from paragon

Chrisjeep7
03-26-2002, 11:48 AM
Originally posted by Weezer
If you are going to drive mostly on the road get the radials, if you plan on doing ANY driving off road get the bias. Radials are great for posers:flipoff2:

gone bias and never looked back...i have some slices in my tsl's but they hold air! i drive 20 miles to work and back with a welded rear and have not seen that much tread ware in the last year...

Chris G.

RoCkSkuLLz
03-26-2002, 12:47 PM
I love my TSL's, never wanted radials! :flipoff2:

Fred Wilson
03-27-2002, 04:28 PM
Rob, if you're saying that the MT/R is "the best of both worlds" due to side strength, be aware, that out here in AZ, people rip the sidewalls out of the MT/R's about as often as the SSR's.. FWIW


:)
Fred

Archie_G
03-27-2002, 04:32 PM
Not sure where you are on the 'East Coast', but up in the Northeast, MTR's will get you laughed at. IMO: SS Radials for the DD, Bias Ply for the Trail Rig - decided which your is, its one or the other.

Jakesteramalamajama
03-28-2002, 05:19 AM
Originally posted by Lil8itch
does the tread life on the radial last longer? And is there problems running on bias tires for a few hours?
Peace
Andrew

Yes radials last longer because they run cooler at high speed. Bias plys generate more friction. To answer your other question--No. It won't hurt bias plys to run them for extended periods, they'll just burn off more tread because they'll be running hotter.

Bias plys have much stronger sidewalls, but don't always respond as well to airing down because of the thicker, stiffer sidewalls.

Jake