Tyres have been engineered to provide the best performance and durability that is required for different terrains, weather conditions etc. There are two classification of tyres based on the construction and its features. The two classifications of tyres are Radial Tyre and Bias ply tyre or Cross ply tyre.
Radial Tyre:
A radial tyre basically features transverse radial plies which run perpendicular to the direction the tyre rolls or travel. The purpose of this feature is to reduce the buildup of heat and provide a comfortable ride. Radial tyres are manufactured in a way that the plies are laid radially which results in a flexible tyre wall.
Bias ply tyre:
Bias ply tyres are manufactured in such a way that the plies are laid diagonally which results in the walls being less flexible. A bias tyre consists of multiple rubber plies that over lap each other. The center-tread area of the tyre and the sidewalls are interdependent and the plies that are overlapped form a layer that is thicker and not so much flexible resulting in the tyres being more sensitive to overheating.
Also See:Radial Vs Bias Ply Tyres: Differences Explained
Advantages of radial tyre:
The following are the advantages of radial tyres over bias ply tyres:
- Radial tyres provides good steering control because of the flexibility that the tyres offer which results in better control of the vehicle .
- Radial tyres offer better sensitivity of contact with the road surface as they have better grips or traction on the outer part of the tyre surface.
- They Provide better driving comfort due to flexible sidewalls which results in taking shape of the surface and absorbing the bumps.
- The radial tyres are know to generate less heat when driving at higher speed on a smooth highway or a bad section of road.
- They offer high resistance against tread-related damages
- Provides higher number in terms of fuel economy of the vehicle
Disadvantages of Radial Tyre:
Even though radial tyres are better than bias ply tyres, there are few disadvantages which are mentioned in the following:
- Radial tyres have low lateral stiffness which causes the tyres to sway which increases as the speed increases which results in lesser stability.
- The chances that the tyres become vulnerable to the abuse when overloaded and under-inflated is high. The sidewall are prone to bulge in such situations which can cause a puncture or damage the tyres completely.
- The Radial tyres offer less shock absorption as the outer wall is constructed with stiff steel belt.
- Radial tyres are more expensive than a bias ply tyre.
