Bias Ply Tires
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 81
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Bias Ply Tires
I want the new size of Super Swamper LTB's (35 x 12.5) that are coming out in April. I know bias tires develop flat spots when parked and handle worse on the street compared to radial tires.
Someone with experience with bias tires (LTB's if possible) please give some specific information regarding handling: Can you go freeway speed and still control the jeep? Is the problem mainly with shaking or does the jeep also wander? Is it hard to keep in your lane of travel? Of course they are louder, but I don't care.
These would mainly be for off road, but some of the off road places I go are far from home and I have to drive there. Thanks for feedback.
Someone with experience with bias tires (LTB's if possible) please give some specific information regarding handling: Can you go freeway speed and still control the jeep? Is the problem mainly with shaking or does the jeep also wander? Is it hard to keep in your lane of travel? Of course they are louder, but I don't care.
These would mainly be for off road, but some of the off road places I go are far from home and I have to drive there. Thanks for feedback.
JK Super Freak
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,623
Likes: 5
From: Lawrenceville, NJ
Back in the day...there were no radials...and a Bias Ply Tire was the normal tire...so its not like they don't work.
They tend to be tougher off road, and, be less precise on road...
If you get LTB's...as they are very aggressive lugged tires...MOST of the street issues will be due to the fact that they have big lugs that slap into the road as you drive, and giant gaps of air, inbetween giant rubber islands, etc.
A racing slick, in comparison, the paradigm for a ideal handling pavement tire....has as much rubber on the road as possible, and no voids.
A rain event racing tire on the other hand, adds channels to pump the water out from under the tread, etc.
So the real adjustment most need to make for an LTB/Bias ply tire, is that at first, its a bit flat on the side that was on the ground when parked...and, as you warm it up, it gets rounder, and finally, drives normally. A block or two is a normal range for this to fix itself.
They tend to be tougher off road, and, be less precise on road...
If you get LTB's...as they are very aggressive lugged tires...MOST of the street issues will be due to the fact that they have big lugs that slap into the road as you drive, and giant gaps of air, inbetween giant rubber islands, etc.
A racing slick, in comparison, the paradigm for a ideal handling pavement tire....has as much rubber on the road as possible, and no voids.
A rain event racing tire on the other hand, adds channels to pump the water out from under the tread, etc.
So the real adjustment most need to make for an LTB/Bias ply tire, is that at first, its a bit flat on the side that was on the ground when parked...and, as you warm it up, it gets rounder, and finally, drives normally. A block or two is a normal range for this to fix itself.
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
Thanks a lot for the specifics. The best answer I could find before is, "They are no good on the road." I think I will buy the LTB's. I have a Rubicon, so I will put my BFG's back on when I plan to do any road trips. I bet I find a lot of improvement on trails with LTB's.