I had BFG AT 285-70-17 tires and my truck was running smooth. I switched to nitto terra 305-70-17 and could feel a vibration in my pedals and steering wheel from 45 to 70 mph. So after three balances, thinking it was the Nittos, I switched to BFG TA 315-70-17's but the vibration is still there!
So I took it to a mech today, he drove it and said he deff feels it, but that he can't find anything wrong with my truck. Says he thinks it's just that they're bigger tires...
So did you guys experience this? Any idea what's going on here???

Thanks

 

Anybody??

 

I have 35x12.50 mud grapplers. I get minor steering wheel vibration, no pedal vibration. The only thing that comes to mind is either a problem with one of your rims, maybe bent or something when they were mounting a tire. Or possibly an out of balance driveshaft. I have a 6" lift, and I had to take my front driveshaft to a shop and get them to rotate one end 90 degrees to make the u-joints on both ends line up then balance it. The instructions with my lift said vibrations can get bad if I didn't do this. I don't know if that would apply to yours being just leveled

 

Im assuming the mech checked the alinment. How much tire pressure do you have in them.

 

I think you're going to find that regardless of tire size, unless you use a Hunter Road Force Balancer - and have all four come out balanced and with a fairly low road force number, you're going to get some vibration. That's one of the side effects of the new, stiffer frames.

 

Yea he said the alignment was fine. 35 pounds of pressure...

 

Never heard of this Huter Balancer... Also, I didn't have ANY vibration running the 285's...

 

Could just be the individual tires. My previous BFG KM2s weighed 67 pounds each and I had a bit of steering wheel wobble at 55mph+. My new Toyo MTs weigh 81 pounds and there is zero wobble at high speed.

 

Yea that's what I was thinking but since I switched from new Nittos to new BFGs I kinda ruled out there being a bad tire/s.

 

To start with, you were running them way too low as they are either a LR D or LR E tire. One with a max of 65, which should not have been run lower than about 40. The other with a max of 80 which should not have been lower than 45 and 50 would have been better.
If you have not had a road force balance done, then they really have not been properly balanced, especially after having problems the first time around. That is the only way to tell if the problem is a tire, wheel, or something else.

 

Getting a second opinion cant hurt.

#1 thing i think of is an out of balance wheel/wheels.

Alignment wont generally produce a vibration at certain speeds. not that it cant but I dont normally see a vibration due to being out of alignment.

Have they checked your inner & outer tie rod ends, front axle shaft assemblies(if 4wd), ball joints & hub/bearing assemblies?

 

That I couldn't tell you... I took it in yesterday morning and dropped it off. They drive it and spent a few hours checking for what problems they thought would make for vibration at certain speeds. Said Thr truck had no issues so it had to be the feel of a bigger tire. I just don't buy that! I be rode in trucks with BIG tires and don't remember feeling any vibration like this...
I had 45 lbs in the nitto 305's but still had the vibration. They recommended the 35lbs in the BFGs.

 

how are the tires balanced right now? with weights on the outside edge or weights on the inside width of the rim?

 

Whoever recommended 35 for the BFGs, stay the he!! away from them. They haven't got a clue.

 

I had BFG AT/KO's 285/70/17 and switched to 295/75/18 Nitto Trail grapps. I havent experienced any vibration after changing tire & rim size.

I would do as kingfish says and verify your PSI on the tires. Set that to an acceptable range and go from there. Sometimes mechanics get lazy and if it is not obvious will just send you down the road. I would take it to another reputable mechanic or the dealer for a diagnosis.