Tire change, now handling problems

[olddieseldude]

When I first got my truck it wandered a little and that was later fixed with new ball joints and alignment. I recently purchased the Transforce HT tires for my truck. I like them, they ride great, really softened the ride of the truck, but they do tend to let the truck float a little. The truck wandered really badly right after install but the kid putting them on the truck had put 80psi in the rear and 50 or 60 up front for some reason. I run empty most of the time so the high pressure in the rear was too much and the low pressure in the front didn't allow the tires to respond very well to steering input. I worked with the pressures and the wander is almost non-existant 70 all around seems good empty, probably could put 80 up front. I'm thinking the kid probably intended to do that but installed the tires on the wrong end of the truck in the end. I don't think you can ever get rid of it all on the 2wd front suspension and these tires are just a little softer than the old tires that I replaced. I think the earlier comment about the tread depth is important too, there is a lot of tread on these tires.

265-75x16 tires

[knoweigh]

yes, not sure what size you just put on but guessing either 235/85 or 265/75
the 235/85 (pizza cutters) don't handle as good as the 265/75 IMHO

I just got new transforce AT's (tried both sizes in 1 week period) and ended up w/ the 265/75/16
Anyhow, what I did notice is that after about 5,000 miles the sloppy feeling I had right out of the tire shop, went away. I'm guessing 1 of 2 things happened

1. I just got used to the feeling

2. The tires are slightly more rounded when fresh and just a few thousand miles flattens the tread out a bit translating into a bit more stable feel.

I suspect is was 2 in my case.

BTW I run 75-80lbs all around as that seems about right for me. (anything less and they're bagging a bit too much for my comfort)
But then again, I have around 800lbs of gear in the bed all the time, and pull up to 13k lbs on a fairly regular basis.

[OhioGTX]

A big Thanks to everyone for their feedback.

From the posts it appears as though this is not that uncommon and can be attributed to in some degree to the tire design ( deep lug), tire size ( true pizza cutter wheels 215/85 ), air pressure and possibly a weaker sidwalll than the tire they replaced ( goodyear ATS).

The tire dealer asked to inspect them thinking they could have a flaw or warrantable problem...I doubt it, but it is going in this weekend for inspection.

The truck still wanders and finds any and every groove in the road but I am stuck with these tires for now and will drive them thru the winter....hoping as noted that a few more miles on them will help. Next spring I start towing the trailer again, if it has not cleared up by then I guess it is time for some new meats...

[PSDWILDERNESS]

After reading about new tires causing handling problems and wondering how that could be it happened to me. Was on the road with the 5er in tow and had a rear tire seperate. The Discount Tire dealer where I was didn't have the brand I have been using so put another brand on both rears. When I got back on the road it handled like the rear tires were on ice! At highway speeds with or without the 5er in tow when I would turn into a turn I would actually have to turn the wheel back to keep from going onto the shoulder, dirt track style! It was white knuckles for the 800 miles remaining on the trip. It didn't get one bit better from start to finish with the other brand tires. Tire pressures were set to spec's and the front tires were almost new. When I got home I went to my local dealer and he swapped out for my previous brand/style tires and all is back to normal. Randy

[PerryB]

Deep lug/open tread designs all do this when new. Its called tread squirm and is a common and maddening experience!

[Matt0987]

I only use 80# in my 1 ton when I am carrying a load. Other wise It is 60# or 70# empty. I would try a lower pressure than the 80#

[Flywheel]

Originally Posted by OhioGTX

From the posts it appears as though this is not that uncommon and can be attributed to in some degree to the tire design ( deep lug), tire size ( true pizza cutter wheels 215/85 ).

With this tire, you have a lower weight rating than stock - which lowers your overall carrying capacity by 724 pounds in the rear. They are rated for 2680# compared to the stock 3042 of the 235 series tire (at 80psi).

The rear of your truck weighs about 3000 - 3500# which leaves you with about 2360 - 1860# for cargo (on the rear axle).

If you are pulling a 10,000lb trailer and have it loaded with 15% on the tow hitch, then you are at roughly 4500 pounds in the rear with a full trailer and empty truck - or 860 - 360lbs extra.

Now if you are only filling your tires to 60 - 70 psi, then you are overloading your tires as the carrying capacity of the tire decreases with PSI.

Your 215/85 tires are marginal for your load and you might consider bumping up to 235s while you can still trade them out with the dealer.

Larger tires will run cooler and last longer than the 215s that you are overloading.

[lap1lot]

I have a 2002 Ford E-350 XLT 1-ton 15-pass van. I have had the same trouble at times too. I have gone from the Goodyear Wranglers to off brands and back to the factory brand/model (Goodyear Wranglers, which I now have to special order where I live). My big van takes the exact same size tires as yours.

The last set of tires I put on (the Goodyears) also had the same symptom. The Goodyear tire dealer and I went around about it because that is why I went back to the same make/model that was on the van when we bought it from the factory! They (the Goodyear tire dealer) have found that with ANY “E” series tires (and only with “E” series) that some combinations don’t like being ran together (in my case all were even Goodyear Wranglers!) We found that when we moved the rears to the front and the front to the rear the problem changed (got better) slightly. We had to move one side at a time to figure it out.

The tire dealer was familiar with the “E” series problem and was willing to change one of the tires at a time out for another new tire until we found the culprit. He said he doesn’t see it with passenger car tires nor does he see it with “F” series and up tires, only “E” series tires. He also said it doesn’t matter the brand or model, they all can do it; he has even seen it with all 4 new tires and of the same brand as well. Basically it doesn’t matter brand or if some are used.

It does not have anything to do with aggressive tread design. I have not found that having a wheel alignment done or tire pressure makes a difference either, which is good; because I would not want to run underinflated tires! I generally carry heavy loads most of the time, my large family (...which is why I need a 15-pass van. Suburban’s and Excursions do not have enough seat belts.)

In my case, I too had to replace one tire while on vacation with a cheaper “E” series tire so I now have three Goodyear Wranglers and one off brand, all “E” series. As long as I leave my tires where they are at (front are front and rear are rear) I’m fine. If I rotate them, my squirrely handling comes back. So that is where they stay in place for their life until worn out. Then I go through it all again.

As for the Ply Rating, “nashvillebill” said pretty much most of it. It’s an out-dated system. I have used Actual 10-Ply tires and Rated 10-Ply (actually only 7 and 8 ply’s) tires as the same. Both are max. 80lb tire pressure. Both rode and handle the same. In fact, the off-brand tire I had to buy on vacation is a 7-ply rated at 10-plys and is working fine.

As for Firestone, GOOD LUCK! I once had (yes, had) a J.C. Penny Lifetime Maintenance Free battery. When Firestone took over J.C. Penny Auto Centers, they would no longer honor the J.C. Penny warranty. That’s a whole different story not appropriate here. I have had good luck with the Goodyear tire dealer though.