I love my truck except for the tire vibration/steering wheel nibble when the tires are cold. After the truck sits for more than a day the steering wheel visibly vibrates until the tires are warm. The dealer has replace the tires and wheels but with the same BF Goodrich 18 inch tires it came with. The Ford engineer tells me the tires are developing flat spots after sitting for a while and they go away after the tires warm up.

I do not think this is normal and should be corrected.

I am wondering if anyone else has the same problem or if other tire brands have less problems?

Thanks.

 

Same tires & wheels as yours... Do not and have not experience what you described.

Screwdrive

 

This is very normal in colder areas. Have this problem in the winter with just about every vehicle and tire I have evr owned.
It takes a little time and temperature for the rubber to become pliable.

 

Hmm...I don't consider 60 to be cold weather. I've never had this problem with a vehicle in the Houston area - doesn't get that cold here.

I've noticed the longer the truck sits without driving the worse the problem is.

I drove an 04 XLT for a week as a loaner and it did not have the same problem but it had 17 inch Goodyear tires.

 

It is a bit colder here. I have BFG AT's on right now and have the problem the first couple miles. When I had the GY ATs on I had the same problem.

 

acarlisletx,

What tire pressure are you keeping your tires at? I've got 18" wheels with the BFGs and haven't had any problems. I've driven it with morning temps down to 5 degrees this winter. Even if it sits for 2 or 3 days, I haven't noticed any problems. I keep all four tires at 35 psi cold.

John

 

John,

All 4 tires are at 35psi where I normally keep them. I spoke with my step dad who is a retired automotive engineer (from Toyota). He says that since rotating and balancing the tires and then replacing them did not fix the problem they should try a different brand. Then they should try a different size.

Very frustrating because this has been going on for months. They've now worked on it enough times (dealer 3 times and Ford engineer twice) that I qualify for the lemon law in Texas.

Andy

 

I have to agree with the posters who agree that this is normal under certain conditions. My Lincoln town car with Michelin Symmetry tires do this, my other Lincoln with Michelin X-one tires do not. However my Camaro with Z rated tires also does this cold bouncing stuff. So first thing in the morning when I leave the house I drive like Mario Andretti and weave back and forth within the lane, while going down the highway at 65. I might get pulled over one day, hehe. It seems my cheaper tires do this more often. My Goodyear’s on the F150 have never done this. When the tires wear out, change the brand and it bet it goes away.