So what's the difference between Bias and Radial ATV tires anyway? This is a common question that we receive from customers each day, so I thought I'd write a quick blog post in an effort to help more consumers wondering the same thing.
The main difference is within the actual construction of the tire. The carcass of all tires is made up of layers of rubber fabric or plies. The most common fabric used is polyester. The direction these plies are "laid" in relation to each other, differentiates between a bias ATV Tire and a radial ATV tire. The plies on a bias tire run 45 degrees to the center lin of the tread, alternating in direction with each layer. The net effect of this, is rubber plies running in 90 degree angles to each other.
The plies on a radial ATV tire, run 90 degrees to the center line of the tire and overlap instead of crisscrossing. This design allows the side walls of ATV tires to be more flexible, longer tread life, better steering control, and a better ride across the field.
So which ATV tires are best? It really depends on what you intend to use your ATV for. For pure off-road use, bias tires are probably the best choice. Bias offers better cleaning characteristics, keeping the tire from "balling-up" with mud in those extreme conditions. Bias ATV tires also tend to have softer rubber, allowing for better grip in off-road terrain.
Bias tires also have some disadvantages. They tend not to handle as good at high rates of speed due to their greater flexing. These tires also tend to wear faster.
Radial ATV tires should be considered when used on Quads in both on and off-road settings at high rates of speed. These tires handle better at fast speeds, and tend to allow for better steering as well.
Who makes the best Radial ATV tires? There are several great manufacturers out there. We tend to sell more Carlisle ATV tires than any other brand right now. Carlisle makes the A.C.T. ATV tire in radial design in addition to the Badlands A/R ATV tire. Again, I'm not saying these are the best on the market, but quite simply we sell these 2 radials the most.
For more information, visit our on-line store at http://smalltires.com
Until next time, The ATV Tire Guy is going to hit the trails!! Have fun, be safe, and enjoy riding your ATV!
I grew up on a farm in the late 70's and early 80's. Few of our neighbors had what we had......a 3 wheeler! We were the envy of many of our school friends when we told stories of riding our ATV on mud trails or through deep snow. Today, an ATV is a must on any farm or ranch. In fact, the ATV and UTV segment is one of the fastest growing markets in the country.
Directly proportional with the explosion of numerous ATV Makes and Models, has been an equal increase in styles and sizes of ATV Tires. So why so many different ATV Tires? Because these machines are designed for racing, working on the farm and ranch, taking a Sunday drive, hauling an Elk off the side of a mountain, plowing through knee deep snow, crawling through mud fields, and just about any type of activity you can think of! Pick an activity, and there is an ATV tire for you today!
There are four basic categories of ATV Tires. All Terrain tires, Mud, Race, and finally Sand ATV tires. All terrain tires are the most abundant and probably the most popular. They will last the longest and ride the best because they are not designed with huge lugs, but rather moderate tread design. Examples of this type of ATV Tire are the Carlisle 489.
Mud ATV tires are used in Mud terrains obviously. These tires have very aggressive lugs which are great for Mud, but hard on the back when used for trail riding due to their rough ride. These tires tend to wear much faster than less aggressive All Terrain types. Examples of this type of ATV tire are the Mud Wolf by Carisle, Kenda Executioner, ITP Mudlite, and many, many more.
Race tires are built for speed and for dirt tracks. I talk to numerous customers each day on the phone. It is always fun for me to talk with the Quad racers, because they are passionate about their tires! I find that a racer that is seeking a specific tire, will not be talked into another brand or style of the same size....they like what they like.....period! Once again, there are numerous brands and styles to choose from, but the most popular at our store are ITP Holeshots, Titan Fast Trekkers, and the Carlisle Fast Trax.
The final segment and becoming more popular each day, is the Sand ATV Tires. These tires are specifically designed for.......you guessed it.......the sand. Rear tires have paddles that help the Quad accelerate rapidly in the loose sand, while the front tires are fairly smooth with the exception of a center "fin" that helps the Quad steer. Some rear Sand ATV tires have a required "Right" and "Left" tread design, so make sure you understand what you are ordering if purchasing on-line. If you're not sure, it is always best to speak with a sales specialist prior to buying.
Well, this is quite simply a short story on why there are so many darn ATV Tires available today! I plan on writing about the many choices some of the main ATV tire brands offer in the future. Until next time, enjoy the outdoors on your ATV!!
For more information, check out our online store at www.smalltires.com
Welcome to our new blog! We will attempt to write about things that we receive questions on daily from our customers. With Spring rapidly approaching, we have been selling numerous lawn tires. The most popular lawn tires are those from Carlisle tires.
Carlisle makes numerous styles that can be used for lawn mowers, golf carts, etc. The most common question we receive from customers is what the difference in tread pattern is between the Turf Trac R/S lawn tire, and the Multi Trac C/S. The Multi Trac has a square shoulder, while the Turf Trac has rounded shoulders. What is the difference? One could argue that the Turf Trac will be less aggressive when turning on your lawn, causing less damage. They both are great lawn tires. They also both come in 2 and 4 ply, with their larger sizes coming in 6 and 10 ply.
Turf Saver and Turf Saver II tires are also from Carlisle. What is the difference? Turf Saver II's again have a rounded shoulder and only come in 2 ply sizes. The Turf Saver, has a more square shoulder, a wider array of size offerings, while also coming in 2 and 4 ply versions. Both styles come in the very popular 18-8.50-8 golf cart tire size.
Check out our site for more details www.smalltires.com
For now, the Lawn Tire Guy, needs to get back to the phones!
