updated radial tire vs. bias ply tire

[digitaldust]

I have been reading a bit about the radial tires. with the stock deuce rim can you get away with out tubes ?

I can get radial tires for very cheep. Is radial really better ?

what is the tested better way you have gone

1 using stock NDT tires nothing to mod them no chains ,, In winter

2 using a tire grover to cut the tire into a snow kinda pattern

3 using radials 9.x20 r somethings

4 what working for you, why did you change. Was it worth it.

 

[armytruck63]

The stock rim is a two piece unit and is not air tight. You would be better off using a tube and a flap with a tubeless tire - it can be done. Another possibility is finding a modern one piece 20 inch wheel with the same bolt pattern and offset.

Good luck!

 

[Barrman]

Tubes work great with radial tires. Just make sure you get radial tubes. Yes, there is a difference between tubes meant for radial tires and tubes meant for bias ply tires.

 

[parlusk]

nice post.. wonder how good they wear?

 

[hoop]

Only radial tubes are made now. There are some NOS out there also

 

[deathrowdave]

You may not want to change wheels, but if you want to I run 11r22.5 radial tubeless. If you get something in the tire you can plug it tempo. tilll you can make repairs! Save tire changes on the side of the road !!!!

 

[pctrans]

And radials make it drive SOOOO much better.

 

[glcaines]

Only radial tubes are made now. There are some NOS out there also

I just bought some new tubes for my NDTs that were labelled by the manufacturer as suitable for either bias-ply or radial tubes. These were not NOS.

 

[m16ty]

You can use radial tubes in bias tires but you can't run bias tubes in radial tires. That is why they only make radial tubes anymore, they will work in either tire.

The only way you can go tubeless is to change wheels. While 22.5 tubeless wheels with the deuce bolt pattern aren't the norm, they are out there if you look. I've actually got a civilain trailer that runs 17.5 tires with the deuce bolt pattern.

 

[Bob H]

I like my radials They ride & handle so much better on the road! & I kinda like the looks of 'em.
NDT's are bias ply and are very hard. Due to the center bar they are not good on wet and/or snowy pavement. Sipping or grooving will help.
NDT's, aired down, will go through some snow.

 

[digitaldust]

how do radials do when aired down for snow ?
How bout mixing ndt and radials in the rear like inners radial outers NDT front radials ?

 

[armytruck63]

Mixing tire types is a bad idea. You would probably end up with squirrelly handling on the highway. Plus, it would be almost impossible to match diameters.

Switching to radials is an all or nothing proposition.