Bearings for fire retardant dryer seals, fire retardant dryer seals, and related methods are provided herein. A fire retardant dryer seal can include an elongate, flexible base substrate having a first end and a second end. The base substrate can also have a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. A fire retardant dryer seal can include a bearing having a first end and a second end with the bearing including a needlepunched nonwoven having a reinforced scrim and fibers with silicon therein. The first end and the second end of the base substrate secured to the first end and the second end of the bearing so that the bearing and the base substrate forms an annular shape. A heat resistant coating can be disposed on at least the first surface of the base substrate.