Farm customers ask the same question every season: radial or bias? Both tire types have a place on North American farms, and most distributors need to stock both. Here’s how they differ and how to split your inventory.
How the construction differs
Bias-ply tires are built from layers (plies) of cord laid diagonally across the tire, crisscrossing each other. The sidewall and tread work together as one stiff unit. Bias tires are sized like 18.4-38 and rated by ply, such as 10PR or 14PR.
Radial tires run their body cords straight across from bead to bead, with separate belts under the tread. The sidewall flexes on its own while the tread stays flat on the ground. Radial sizes look like 380/85R28 or 480/70R34.
Radial vs. bias at a glance
| Radial | Bias-ply | |
|---|---|---|
| Footprint | Longer, flatter footprint | Smaller, rounder footprint |
| Traction & slip | Better traction, less wheel slip | Good traction, more slip at high power |
| Soil compaction | Lower, especially at low pressure | Higher |
| Ride & road use | Smoother ride | Stiffer ride |
| Sidewall toughness | More flexible sidewall | Stiff, tough sidewall |
| Price | Higher upfront cost | Lower upfront cost |
Who buys which
- Radial buyers: larger row-crop farms with high-horsepower tractors that spend long hours in the field and care about fuel use and compaction.
- Bias buyers: smaller farms, hay and livestock operations, loader tractors and older equipment where low price and tough sidewalls matter most.
- Implements and trailers mostly run bias tires — see implement tires and flotation tires.
Stocking both from one supplier
SEHA builds both types in Türkiye. The AGRO10 radial tractor tire covers 100+ sizes from 16″ to 54″, including row-crop sizes like 320/90R46 and 380/90R46. On the bias side, the SH39 rear tractor tire comes in 50+ sizes from 8.3-24 to 20.8-38, and front tractor tires cover the steering axle.
Because radial and bias tires can share a container, you can test radials with a few sizes while keeping your bias best sellers in stock. Our guide to planning a mixed container shows how.
Get pricing on both
Send your radial and bias size list through our wholesale quote form for EXW pricing and a load plan.