Radial vs. Non-radial Tires: What's the Difference?

There is so much more going on inside your tire than what meets the eye. Most people don't give much thought to the actual science put into tires. They probably just see a round-shaped rubber object and move on with their lives.

But when you're shopping for such a critical item responsible for your family's safety and comfort, that's no way to do business. It's better to research the ins and outs of a product and find out as much as possible to make an informed decision.

Don't worry. We're here to help. Today we're going to explain the difference between radial and non-radial tires with a few excellent options to help make the best decision for your situation.

Radial vs non-radial tires

Let's define radial tires, the most common version found on today’s vehicles.

Radial tires are manufactured with cords laid bead to bead at 90 degrees that run perpendicular to the direction of travel.

So, why would you care about a tire's cord configuration? It's simple. The cord design prevents internal friction by stopping plies from rubbing against each other. This means less friction and reduced heat build-up, which in turn helps facilitate a softer and more comfortable ride.

Next, steel belts are built into a radial tire's tread to increase stability. The steel belts hold a tire's tread flat, creating a consistent contact area with the road.

Radial tires deliver a softer ride because of the layout of the tire's plies and the flex of the sidewalls, ensuring more stable contact with the road’s surface and a smoother ride. You'll also feel less vibration as you drive.

But a smooth ride isn't the only benefit of radial tires. Other advantages include reduced fuel consumption due to less rolling resistance. Who wouldn’t want to save fuel with the crazy high gas prices these days? And with less heat generated by the tire, you can expect extended tire life. Sweet!

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Radial vs bias-ply tires (What are non-radial tires? And why buy them?)

Non-radial tires are also known as bias-ply tires. These are typically made with nylon cords that are layered, creating plies that extend diagonally from one bead to the other. That means the tire's sidewall and tread have the same structure.

Each consecutive ply is laid at an opposing angle to the first, forming a crisscross pattern. The tire's stability is created using additional layers. This layering system makes for a remarkably durable tire with high puncture resistance.

The graphics from Bridgestone Tire Company above illustrate radial vs. non-radial tires.

Why would you want bias-ply tires as opposed to radials? Think off-road vehicles and those who like to play in the mud. Non-radial tires are also used with construction, farm equipment and trailers because they're less expensive and easier to repair. Their crisscross patterned cords create more rigid sidewalls, leading to a smoother ride on rough surfaces.

Since a bias-ply sidewall carries some of the load, it allows sidewall lugs to extend beyond the shoulder to expand the available contact surface. Bias-ply tires conform more readily in the tread, offer a more compliant ride off-road, and typically cost less than equally sized radial tires.

Despite the advantages bias-ply tires deliver off-road, they have numerous drawbacks. Because of the construction of bias-ply tires, they don't provide the high-speed stability that a radial does. Increased rolling resistance and heat build-up means bias-ply tires will wear more quickly if used extensively for highway travel.

How to know if you have radial or non-radial tires

Finding out whether your vehicle has radial or non-radial tires is super simple. You just have to look at the numbers, letters and symbols found on the tire's sidewall.

For example, 205/65 R 15 is a very common tire. The letter R refers to the construction of the tire: R for radial, D for diagonal, and RF for run-flat. Most likely, your tires have an R on the sidewall, meaning they are radials.

If you're looking for tires that are good on the trail and exceptional on pavement, stick with radials. But if you're a hardcore weekend warrior with an off-road vehicle looking for some extreme fun, you might want to check out some bias-ply tires.

More FAQs about radial tires

What's the difference between radial tires and regular tires?

Radial tires are regular tires unless you drive a truck or heavy equipment. Since the early 1980s, radial tires have been a standard issue on cars sold in the U.S. 

What is the difference between radial tires and run-flat tires?

Run flats have built-in designs that allow you to drive for a short distance -- preferably to a tire shop -- if your tire is punctured or loses air. You can't drive on them indefinitely; they offer limited support to get you off the road safely, usually about 50 miles. Radial tires do not have this feature, and typically vehicles with radial tires include a spare tire in case of flats.