Bias-Ply (Cross-Ply) Tyre

A bias-ply or cross-ply tyre has a carcass made of layers (plies) of fabric cord running diagonally from bead to bead, each layer at the opposite angle to the one below. This criss-cross structure makes the sidewalls and tread work together.

Bias-ply tyres have stiff, strong sidewalls, cope well with heavy loads and are cheaper to build. They are standard on most off-road, enduro and motocross tyres, on many cruisers, classics, scooters and small bikes. Radial tyres, with cords running across the tyre at about 90°, run cooler at speed and give a bigger footprint, so they dominate on sports and touring bikes.

Do not mix radial and bias-ply tyres unless the manufacturer allows that combination. Check the tyre's speed and load rating against your bike's specification.