The vibrational characteristics of a radial-ply (155SR13 4PR) and a biased-ply tire (6.15-134PR) were investigated for examining the effects of tires with different structure on the ride characteristics of the vehicle. The natural frequencies at the tread band, mode shapes, and damping factors of two tires at the state of plane vibration were determined experimentally. The test work was performed at four levels of the inflation pressure, ranging from 171.7 kPa to 245.2 kPa, and three levels of the vertical load, deviating by 10% from the standard load designated by the Department of Transportation of the United States of America. The following results were drawn by the analysis of the test results: 1. The first-order natural frequencies of the radial-ply and the biased-ply tires at the tread band were 112 Hz and 159 Hz, respectively, at the state o f the free vibration when the inflation pressure of 196.2 kPa was applied. It was known that the biased-ply tire has higher resonant frequency than the radial-ply tire and the natural frequencies of the both tires move to the high frequency range as t he inflation pressure is increased. 2. The vibration modes of both tires were quite different. No big difference in mode shapes was examined as the inflation pressure was increased. But the natural frequencies of two tires were changed. For the radial-ply tire, no difference in mode shape was found whether the vertical load was applied or not. But a significant difference in mode shape was examined for the biased-ply tire. 3. Any difference was not found in damping factor as the different inflation pressures were applied. 4. When no vertical load was applied, damping factors of the radial-ply and biased-ply tire at the state of the natural vibration ranged from 2.6 to 5.9%, and from 4.1 to 7.8%, respectively. It was estimated that the radial-ply tire would have better cushioning than the biased-ply tire since the vertical spring rate of the radial-ply tire was much less than that of the biased-ply tire, even though the damping effect of the radial-ply tire was smaller than that of the biased-ply tire.