Looking to get some new shoes for the bikes... Are any of you buying bias ply tires?

 

Yup. Bias ply Michelin Commander II on the front and rear of my Dyna. wouldn't trade them for anything else!

 

Yeah, same here. The Limited came with bias ply tires and that's what I replaced them with. Michelin Commander II's.

 

I haven't done it myself but know a guy who mixed the two. From what he said the results were less than desirable.

 

I haven't used Bias Ply tires since 1984! They look old school and perform the same. Radials. I can still remember the Dunlop radio ad from 1984: Tired of slippin' and slidin' on your sickle? Get Dunlop 291's... they'll let you put your ear on the ground before they'll put your *** there!

 

Bias has served me well for a good many years. Ran Avon tires (3 sets) then went to CommanderI II 's

Have American Elite's on the Ultra right now.

Tried a set of Avon radials a few years ago. Mileage wasn't so good and just felt different to me. Stayed with the bias since.

WP

 

Don't all new Harleys (especially Touring) come with Bias Ply tires? Here is some info I found on the differences in Bias and Radial. Sounds to me like bias are best for heavy bikes and radials are best for sport bikes.

Bias-Ply

A bias-ply tire gets its name from how it is constructed. The plies that are used to build up the tire are laid on a bias (diagonal) from bead to bead. The next ply is laid over the top of the previous ply in the opposite direction, creating a crisscross pattern. Bias-ply tires carry a rating of strength at 2 ply, 4 ply, 6 ply and on. In the past, these ratings directly correlated with the number of plies used during the construction. Now because of the advancement in the materials that are used, manufacturers do not need to use as many plies and the rating is now based on strength.

The construction of bias-ply tires makes the sidewalls very stiff, which makes them a great choice for heavier motorcycles or bikes with heavier loads. The stiff sidewalls will also help prevent the tires from washing out while cornering. Bias-ply tires are known for their high mileage capabilities as well. Bias-ply tires are the only tires that can be used with a tube, which is needed for spoked rims and off road riding.

One of the main downsides of bias-ply tires is that they do not dissipate heat very well. They are not a great choice for high speed motorcycles as they can overheat and deteriorate quickly. The fact that the stiff sidewalls do not flex very much in corners, limits the amount of contact patch between the tire and the road.

Radial

The way that radial tires are constructed is what sets them apart from bias-ply tires. The plies are laid down perpendicular (90 degrees) from bead to bead, or to the direction of tread. The plies run over the face and down the sidewall of the tire to create a wrapping effect. Many radial tires are then belted (usually with steel), which helps to stabilize the tire and reduce wear.

The sidewalls of radial tires are thinner than bias-ply tires, which makes them weaker. In order to make the sidewalls stronger, some manufacturers use materials like Kevlar for reinforcement. The softer sidewalls do however help to provide a smoother ride by acting as a "spring" to absorb bumps. The tire also will flex more in corners compared to bias-ply tires, which helps to keep more tread on the riding surface for more traction.

The greatest benefit of belted radial motorcycle tires is their ability to dissipate heat well. The weight of the motorcycle is distributed more evenly throughout the tread of belted radial tires to accomplish this. This allows motorcycles to go faster because the heat doesn't build up to a critical point. One downside of radial tires is that the thin sidewalls are more susceptible to punctures. They are also not recommended to be used with a tube.

Bias-Ply w/Radial

In some instances, motorcycles can be ridden with one bias-ply tire and one radial tire. When this happens, the bias-ply tire is always on the front. This is a good mix for motorcycles with a tall tire in the front and a wide tire in back, like for choppers. The radial should never be on the front of the motorcycle.

 

Nah, not true. My 2009 Yamaha WR250X Supermoto came OE with radials, and wide, spoked rims (not mags) with tubes in 'em.

Ridden back to back/off and on with an '09 Sportster commuting on a 4 lane all year, the radials outperformed the bias HD Dunlop D402's by a noticeable amount. On the WR, tar strips, and especially longitudinal lines/expansion joints (running with the direction of travel) went virtually unnoticed. The Sporty on the other hand, would track those same areas like a dog pulling its leash. Not frightening, but enough to get my attention. I have ridden worse, but there sure was a performance difference there. Possibly a function of a stiffer, alloy framed bike? Sure, but I have also ridden bikes that I've taken from bias to radial (on skinny, non-radial designed rims in the early '90's) that radials both helped overall ride/handling immensely with one brand and killed it with another. So who knows.

Wish they someone made a radial to fit the skinny rims of my '99 FX, I'd try 'em.

 

On my Gen 1 Vmax, added a wider rear rim and changed both front and back to radials. Much better at cornering. Vmax is a pretty heavy bike. What does the vrod run?

 

Thanks for all the feedback... I think I'll stick with radials for now.