New tires, new problems, long discourse

woodgo

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2006
Location
CLAREMONT, NC
I just recently installed a set of 33x12.50x15 Goodyear MTR's, and so far, they are the worst riding tires I've ever had.
Of course they were balanced before bolt-up, and felt fine at low speed. At 40 to 46 mph, I thought they would vibrate the wheel out of my hands. Faster speeds seemed smoother, but the vibrations may have become closer together so that it just felt smoother.
Back to the shop I went; they took each tire off and re-balanced them which made practically no difference.
Well, I thought, "It's time for a new stabilizer." But a new Rancho didn't help at all.
So then I took the tires to a different tire shop that used an on-vehicle tire shaver to true them round. When that made very little difference, I went back to that shop for more re-balancing with little improvement
The violent shake has lessoned, but it's still annoying. Is it a problem with these tires?
While driving around to diagnose the shaking, I discovered a definite and disturbing pull to the right that had not been there prior to the tire purchase. "Ah ha, I need an alignment," I said to myself. After a visit to my favorite alignment rack, I could tell no difference; if I turn loose of the wheel, the pull will put me in the right highway ditch.
Now I swap right and left front tires--NADA; I check drag on all the brake shoes--NADA.
Is there anything about the MTR's that would not only cause unusual vibration but also cause tracking problems?
I kind'a think I made a bad choice in replacement tires.
Anybody have any help?
 
What kind of vehicle? Did you change wheels at the same time?

If they are able to balance the tires on a machine, there is likely nothing wrong with the wheel/tire combo. Were there any other changes made other than the new mtr's?
 
Also, what size and condition were the previous set of tires?
 
I have had more than my share of shaking tires. What I have learned is to put vehicle up on good jack stands on a stable surface like concrete and have someone accelerate to different speeds. If it it's 4x4 spin all 4. A stick of wood is handy to gauge run out and the vibration will become apparent. You may be lucky and just have 1 or2 bad tires. At least you will know which ones are bad. It took 6 Michelin LTXS s to get 2 good ones to complete a set of 4 that would go 70 with out spilling my coffee
 
Mtrs are terrible road tires, that being said , I doubt it is the tires. What condition were your tires before replacement (also what size brand and model)?

What vehicle is this on ?

What style of balance did they do?

I can't begin to blame a tire with out that info.
 
CThurmond said:
Mtrs are terrible road tires, that being said , I doubt it is the tires. What condition were your tires before replacement (also what size brand and model)?

What vehicle is this on ?

What style of balance did they do?

I can't begin to blame a tire with out that info.
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strange1 said:
What kind of vehicle? Did you change wheels at the same time?

If they are able to balance the tires on a machine, there is likely nothing wrong with the wheel/tire combo. Were there any other changes made other than the new mtr's?
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strange1 said:
What kind of vehicle? Did you change wheels at the same time?



I'm sorry for the lack of identification. I thought my vehicle was profiled in my signature line.
My truck is a '73 Jeep J4000 with a closed knuckle D44 in the front and a D60-II in the rear.
I traded in a set of 33" Mud Dawgs--4 row heavy lugs--that I ran for eight years without these symptoms. I traded because of dry rot, and I was prepping for a Pisgah Mtn gravel road excursion with fellow full sized Jeepers.
The tires were balanced all 3 times on free standing "electronic" machines.
The wheels are 15x 8 Pacer 9 hole aluminum that the Mud Dawgs were on.
I have lifted the rears off the surface one at a time and accelerated to a comparable speed and found no unusual shaking. One rear still seems to be about 1/4" out of round with the stick (brick) test but didn't shake. I haven't done the fronts.
Thanks for all your responses and suggestions.
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If it's the steering wheel shaking , it's front axle problem.

Have you rotated the tires?

Did you alignment guy check your ball joints and hubs for play?
 
Did the machines show that it balanced correctly?
 
I've swapped the fronts, not the rears.
I have king pins in the old closed knuckle axle; the alignment printout indicated no mechanical problems.
The balance-er said they were good to go.
 
Exactly. They may just need to be spin matched or the tires could be bad. Either is very possible.
 
Worst tires I ever had. All my Swampers have felt better than my MTRs. Throw 10oz of airsoft beads in them and they'll balance themselvees
 
I'm still having a hard time wrapping my brain around the fact that they have supposedly been balanced several times and they all say that they balanced fine. But when on the truck, not so great. I'm not convinced it's the tires.
 
Some have had good luck with MTR,s. Mine were this exact way, you couldn't get them to ride good/ balance. Two different discount tire stores. That gladly took them back
 
strange1 said:
I'm still having a hard time wrapping my brain around the fact that they have supposedly been balanced several times and they all say that they balanced fine. But when on the truck, not so great. I'm not convinced it's the tires.
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They are just not very good tires
 
I had some 33 15.50 15 SS SX's on my 84 Toyota that had wheel weights all over new 10" wagon wheels when they were mounted, one had lead halfway around the wheel, it would shake @ highway speeds but not real bad and steered fine. The problem was the weights kept flying off and getting knocked of while 4 wheeling causing more shake at all speeds until rebalanced. I finally had stick on weights put on the center of the wheels and it rode smooth as hell to 70mph where the truck sounded like a turboprop plane taking off!!!! I still miss those tires I wore out after 10 yrs.
 
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Since they are balanced properly try to get them aligned if you haven't and have them check camber setting. Set them to factory tolerences, That's what I had to do to mine to get my tires to ride better.
 
Bought a Brand New 92 Cherokee once; came with Goodyear ATs. It shook, & vibrated. Dealer couldn't solve the problem, so sent me to a Goodyear Dealer. One New tire had a bulge in the sidewall, so they replaced it, & re-balanced all the tires.
they were out of balance, from the Jeep Dealer. I drove it & it Still had a shake, but not as bad. They blamed it on the Jeep! For some reason, I've forgotten, I went to another Goodyear Dealer. Manager pulled the right front wheel, & put it on balancer. That seemed to be the worst tire. Yep, out of balance;[STILL?]! He spun it, & added the weights. Then spun it again, > out of balance; Wait, What? Changed weights, spin, no balance. WTF? SEE, No one else Re-checked their Balance!
He broke the tire down, & their was probably 12 oz.s of Water, in the tire!!! SOB, That was the only one, but That Shop was the only one that re-checked the balance!:shaking:
 
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