3" 6.5TON 14000lb BLUE Tow Strap 20ft 3x20 winch sling off-road ATV UTV recovery

Although tie down webbing might look similar there are key differences between the three types of webbing material.  To determine which material works best for tie downs we will compare fiber stretch, UV protection, water resistance,  break strength, abrasion resistance, and overall safety.

Fiber Stretch

Polypropylene is a form of plastic and can stretch over 50% while under load.  Nylon tends to stretch between 20 to 30% under a 2500-pound load. Polyester stretches only 5 to 15%, making polyester webbing ideal for heavy loads. When towing, rope stretching becomes dangerous, making Polyester the safest material to use. 

UV Protection

Polyester is highly resistant to UV radiation which means it can stand more prolonged exposure to the sun than Nylon or Polypropylene without the material breaking down.

Water Resistance

Water can affect the strength and durability of tie down webbing materials.  Polypropylene and Polyester repel water and are more mildew resistant than Nylon which will absorb water.  Nylon webbing becomes much weaker when it is wet and will stretch when it is damp or wet. Polyester webbing can be wet and still be a very strong webbing for tie downs.

Break Strength

The break strength of a webbing material is the maximum stress or load that can be applied to the fabric before failure or it breaks. Polypropylene has a break strength of 700 pounds, Nylon is 2,500 to 7,000 pounds and Polyester is 2,000 to 10,000 pounds.