10-01-2013, 12:29 AM
Don't get me wrong; I doubt putting bias-ply tires on a bike that came with radials caused anybody to crash in and of itself. As ferret said, it probably just feels "different." Could it make a difference in a panic maneuver? I don't know, but if it did, it would (again, probably) be a very minor difference.
The truth is more riders are going to crash because their tires are worn, are brand-new and still have the mold wax, are under/over inflated, or are not the right model choice to begin with (like running knobbies on wet pavement) than because they picked tire model "A" over "B".
What would be the advantage of bias-ply over radials? Cost? I wouldn't think they'd have better performance; seems like if they did, more bikes would come with them. Radials cost more to produce, and we know manufacturers like to cut costs anywhere they can.
The truth is more riders are going to crash because their tires are worn, are brand-new and still have the mold wax, are under/over inflated, or are not the right model choice to begin with (like running knobbies on wet pavement) than because they picked tire model "A" over "B".
What would be the advantage of bias-ply over radials? Cost? I wouldn't think they'd have better performance; seems like if they did, more bikes would come with them. Radials cost more to produce, and we know manufacturers like to cut costs anywhere they can.