Changing from Radial to Bias tires

[nelly5]

Hi Everyone,

I'm shopping for some new tires (heavily leaning toward the Avon Trekriders), when I discovered that it's not recommended to change from Radial to Bias. I looked in the manual, and it's pretty clear. I did some research, and found that the bike is supposedly set up for Radial tires and changing to Bias will drop the sky on you, or something like that.
I know many, many people put a more aggressive tire on their bikes, and most of those are Bias. Is this something to really worry about?

Also, any thoughts on the Trekrider? Or any other 50-50 up to 70-30 style tire?

Thank you.

 

[RCinNC]

Here's a bit of information about the differences between radial tires and bias ply tires: https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/why-things-are-bias-ply-and-radial-tires

I really don't think it's catastrophic, regardless of what the manual says. Lots of guys on here run Heidenau K60 Scouts, which are bias ply tires, and swear by their performance and longevity.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Many of us have changed from one to the other without noticing a difference.

 

[markbxr400]

Hi Everyone,

I'm shopping for some new tires (heavily leaning toward the Avon Trekriders), when I discovered that it's not recommended to change from Radial to Bias. I looked in the manual, and it's pretty clear. I did some research, and found that the bike is supposedly set up for Radial tires and changing to Bias will drop the sky on you, or something like that.
I know many, many people put a more aggressive tire on their bikes, and most of those are Bias. Is this something to really worry about?

Also, any thoughts on the Trekrider? Or any other 50-50 up to 70-30 style tire?

Thank you.

Aw, they just don't want you to have any fun. I took the OEM tires off at around 2-3,000 miles and put Mitas E-07 Dakars on. Fantastic tire on road and off.

 

[holligl]

I switched to Mitas E07 Dakars from Battlwings. Scrubbing in was a little unsettling, but really like them as an all around tire after a couple hundred miles. You do lose some speed rating but I ride well below their limit. It was pointed out to me that you should switch both at the same time. Don't mix bias and radials.

For what its worth, they are a little noisier and the gas mileage seems to be less than the OEM tires.

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[bnschroder]

According to the Revzilla article, some bikes even come factory equipped with a bias/radial mix, and I have been running a not-quite-dead bias Mitas in the back and a radial Metzler in the front ('cause I am cheap), and the bike hasn't caught fire yet or run me off the road at above-limit highway speeds.

 

[tubebender]

Everything is a compromise.

When I changed to K60's from the stock Metzlers, I felt a big difference. I wondered where my bike went.
On pavement, initial tip-in was vague and overall steering corrections were slow. However, on dirt I did gain better front grip and the tendency for the front to wash out was reduced significantly.
I never did like the rear on the hard pack roads here in southern California, it was too easy to spin up. In softer soil (sandy) they were OK.

As I no longer care to ride this bike in the dirt as I used too, I have some TKC 70's on it now and I have my bike back.

 

[Don T]

I believe the reason for the manual to recommend Radial tires only is because the speed rating on Bias tires don't match the topspeed of the S10.

Several tire manufacturers have Bias tires specially developed for bikes like the S10.
When running a set of Bias tires, you just have to keep the speed rating in mind to avoid issues.

I have been using Radial tires so far on my bike (Bridgestone BW-502, Continental TKC 70, Michelin Anakee 3 and Pirelli Scorpion Trail II), but as I plan on doing more dirt riding in the future, the time has come for me to try some Bias tires.
I do lots of long distance touring and love how the S10 behaves on tarmac with the tires I've been running up until now. I'm concerned about what I'm giving up in regard of road manners, by switching to more dirt worthy Bias tires - but I have decided to give it a go non the less.

For my needs and the kind of riding I plan to do, I've boiled the options down to the following tires:
Heidenau K60 Scout
Mitas E07 Dakar
Avon Trekrider
Motoz Tractionator GPS

All of the tires on the list will perform much better in the dirt, than any of the Radial tires I've been running.

The first 2 on the list have been on the market for a long time. Both have received lots of praise - and some criticism. My impression is that you will give up quit a bit in regard to on-road handling with either, compared to more road orientated Radial tires.

It have proven very difficult to find reviews of the Trekrider. The few I've found have mostly been very positive, but one was the complete opposite (as always with tires). The thread pattern doesn't look like it will offer a very smooth ride on tarmac, and in my experience this type of pattern will very likely result in significant Heel/toe wear over time (especially on the front tire) - I might be wrong..?

Reviews of Tractionator GPS (not to be confused with the Adventure version) are very positive so far. I havn't been able to find a negative review yet. Besides that a friend of mine are running a set at the moment, and according to him - https://rtwpaul.com/2018/01/21/tires/ - they feels like street tires on tarmac (both dry and wet). At the same time he find that it offers just as much grip in the dirt as any other 50/50 tire he have tried (with includes Mitas E07 and K60 Scout). It sounds almost too good to be true, but unless I hear something new about the tires before it becomes time to replace the Scorpion Trail II's I'm currently running, I believe Tractionator GPS will be my choice as the first set of Bias on my S10.

 

[nelly5]

Thank you everyone who took the time to reply. I really appreciate it.
I think maybe I’ll give those Trekriders a try. I can always switch if the manners are unsettling.


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[bigbob]

I do not feel I gave up anything with the E-07 Dakar. Last year running the devils highway US 666 (191) in Arizona I scrapped footpegs multiple times. Both front and rear were over 10k miles.

 

[Madhatter]

if your on radials and switch to another brand style of radial you will feel a difference , as you switch from different bias tires there are differences.... from radial to bias differences , nothing as far as safety to worry over... bias don't like lots of heat which is why they have lower speed ratings than radials. that's pretty much it. I got 10000 miles out of original radials , 10000 miles out of the k60 bias tire, and I'm probably going to get the eo 7s to 10000 miles soon. ive had good service from bias tires , the rubber compounds are as good as any tires that are radial. different tires have different shapes that is what you will notice first. k60 to EO 7, like going from work boots to tennis shoes in how they felt. EO 7s feel normal after 7000 miles , what tire next that want feel different , heck new EO 7s will probably feel different than the old ones on the bike now.... it will be ok.

 

[holligl]

I do not feel I gave up anything with the E-07 Dakar. Last year running the devils highway US 666 (191) in Arizona I scrapped footpegs multiple times. Both front and rear were over 10k miles.

Probably like new on the edges! My rear seams to square off faster than I'd like.

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[markbxr400]

I do not feel I gave up anything with the E-07 Dakar. Last year running the devils highway US 666 (191) in Arizona I scrapped footpegs multiple times. Both front and rear were over 10k miles.

Ditto. Same tires ripping through the tail of the dragon, Cherohala skyway, etc. Great cornering grip.

 

[EricV]

Everything you read in a Factory Manual has been run by Lawyers for liability concerns. That's not a bad thing, nor are Lawyers, (I'm married to one), but it's not necessarily point of fact.

Radials and Bias Ply tires do have differences. But you can mix and match w/o too much real concern if you're not riding 10/10ths. (Either yours or the bikes)

It also, REALLY, depends on how you use the bike. I use mine as a tool to take me places. If I was all about carving corners on pavement, I'd be running strictly street radial tires. For multipurpose riding with dirt and gravel and pavement, 50/50 bias ply work pretty good for me and last a lot longer than 80/20 radials do.

Decide for yourself based on what riding you do. Don't stress about radial Vs bias ply too much. The world doesn't end and you won't immediately crash if you change from one to the other or even mix them. Black and Round generally rules the day. Black and Round With Tread is even better.

 

[nelly5]

Everything you read in a Factory Manual has been run by Lawyers for liability concerns. That's not a bad thing, nor are Lawyers, (I'm married to one), but it's not necessarily point of fact.

Radials and Bias Ply tires do have differences. But you can mix and match w/o too much real concern if you're not riding 10/10ths. (Either yours or the bikes)

It also, REALLY, depends on how you use the bike. I use mine as a tool to take me places. If I was all about carving corners on pavement, I'd be running strictly street radial tires. For multipurpose riding with dirt and gravel and pavement, 50/50 bias ply work pretty good for me and last a lot longer than 80/20 radials do.

Decide for yourself based on what riding you do. Don't stress about radial Vs bias ply too much. The world doesn't end and you won't immediately crash if you change from one to the other or even mix them. Black and Round generally rules the day. Black and Round With Tread is even better.

Thanks so much. I appreciate the response!


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[bigbob]

Black and Round generally rules the day. Black and Round With Tread is even better.

What you have never played the game where you have a rear tire that is mostly black but has those nice white lines in the middle? You know the game where “will I make it home?”

Much more fun on a Monday holiday weekend Sunday!