Ed’s View: Radial vs. Bias Tires on Boat Trailers

Bob’s Discount Marine Supply has had some great customer interest lately in our store’s wheels and tire promotions. The store has had excellent prices on wheels and tires – realmarine saltwater wheels and tires.

People often ask me about putting radial tires on boat trailers. Here’s the deal: Radial tires are for going straight. They don’t have the tolerance for the kind of torque you put on wheels and tires when pulling, loading and unloading a boat on and off a trailer. 

When you back up a trailer, the wheels actually deform. Bias tires have strong sidewalls and carry high pressues. They allow more of a twisting motion and work in tandem together, like when you have six wheels working together in close proximity on a boat trailer.

We've had several reports and personal experience of the entire tread coming off of radial tires (like the 'alligators' you see laying on the side of the road). Sometimes, you’ll see a tire that should be straight and gets more and more crooked as the trailer moves. You’ll tear up the sidewalls of radial tires when towing and moving a boat. Not a great thing, especially if you’re traveling along the 7-mile bridge in the Florida Keys.

It’s almost as costly to replace a wheel as it is to replace a tire and a wheel. Cost is typically $79 to $109 for 13- to 14-inch wheels and tires, hot-dipped galvanized wheels (as opposed to Chinese galvanized, which is akin to gray paint).

Stop in and see our selection. Our prices can’t be beat.

Captain Ed Sabatini

Bob’s Discount Marine Supply

215 S. Spring Garden Avenue

DeLand, Florida

(386) 738-3701


Bob's Discount Marine Supply is your local source for the best deals and the most comprehensive selection of boating accessories and repair for saltwater, flats and freshwater fishing.

About Bob's Discount Marine Supply, DeLand, Florida

Your wife called...she said you can buy anything you want!

At Bob's Discount Marine Supply, Captain Ed Sabatini and staff are the local experts, suppliers and repair technicians for boats and marine supplies throughout Volusia County and beyond. We specialize in repairing, accessorizing and supplying vessels with the parts they need to perform their best, and sharing our boating and fishing expertise to help fishermen and women perform their best on the water.

No matter your fishing preference (flats, saltwater or freshwater) or your experience level, Bob's Discount Marine is your best source for hard-to-find, name-brand and quality parts.

Our inventory of marine supplies includes:

• Marpac marine instruments
• Winch reels
• Minn Kota electric fishing motors
• Watersnake tracers
• Safety equipment
• Fire extinguishers
• Life jackets
• Power poles
• Trolling motors
• Bilge pumps
• Slip-ring anchors
• Danforth anchors
• Teak oil
• Translucent finishes for boats
• Clear plastic restorer and cleaner
• Vinyl cleaner and shampoo
• Protectant
• Milder stain remover
• Salt terminator
• Cleaners and waxes
• Boat wash
• Deck cleaner
• Magic wadding polish
• Hull and bottom cleaner
• Cleaner and disinfectant
• Chains (coated, stainless steel, galvanized)
• Lights
• Dock lines
• Costa del Mar sunglasses

Your boat's electrical system

There are several options for boaters when it comes to lighting up their vessel and surrounding water, and can't-do-without electrical components as well. Here's Capt. Ed Sabatini with more information on boaters' lighting an electrical options.

Selecting a Trolling Motor

There's a lot to consider when selecting a trolling motor for your boat. You may be amazed at the technology available to you, too.

Here's Capt. Ed talking about the different kinds of trolling motors and how to select the best one for what you want to accomplish on the water.

Around the Store



Trolling motors

Trailer hitches and tires

Winches

GPS systems and fishfinders