Is 4.80-12 Radial or Bias Trailer Tire Better

Question:

Is a radial tire better than a bias tire? And why?

asked by: Donald S

Expert Reply:

It depends on the application, but for the majority of people, a radial 4.80-12 trailer tire is going to be better than a bias 4.80-12 trailer tire. The reason for that is bias tires have cords which run diagonally while radial tires have cords that run from side-to-side. What this does is result in radial tires flexing more, running cooler (which means they last longer), and providing better road traction.

The stiffness of a bias tire though means it is better able to handle the uneven, shorter trips of agricultural use. So for regular, everyday towing use a radial, but for agricultural purposes use a bias:

- Radial: Taskmaster 4.80R12 Radial Trailer Tire # TT48012C

- Bias: Kenda K353 Bias Trailer Tire - 4.80-12 # AM10062

expert reply by: Kyle S