What do you guys think?

I just replaced my Michelin LTX AT's (LT265/75R16) with BFG AT LT285/75R16's. While the tires look awesome, I must say I am less than pleased by how my truck now drives.

Running at highway speeds my truck seems to have a slight, but constant bounce or vibration, almost like a tire is out of round. At any speed even the smallest bump now makes the truck really bouncy. My truck now feels more like an 02 F350 4x4 I test drove a while back.

Tires as mounted by the local shop were pumped up to 50 psi. After lowering to 40, bouncing improved only slightly. Lowered again to 35 psi and a little more improvement.

What do you guys suggest? My truck a 98 F150 4x4 supercab now has just shy of 110K on it. There was no bouncing or vibration problems until replacing the Michelin's to the BFG's. Are these BFG's typically rougher in ride quality? My shocks appear to be good.

What should I do to return the ride of my truck to what it was vs riding like a 1 ton like it does on BFG's.

Thanks in advance!

 

I just put a set of 285/70/17's on my new screw. I noticed very little change if any and I'm running them at 65psi right now until the bead set in then I'll drop to 55 psi.

I would go back to the tire shop & talk to them. Maybe balanced wrong or ? The BFG's are alway's a stiffer ride than most. They are a pretty thick durable tire & sidewall.

 

I have the same truck and the same tire as you and I have no problems at all.

I agree you may want to return to the tire shop and have the tires checked. The tire can be out of round but still balance. Have them balance the tires and watch the hop on the balancer, If the tire "hops" have them brake the tire down and rotate it 180 then remount and balance. If the problem still persists break it down again and rotate 45...


LOL I just noticed you live in henniker.....I live in contoocook....



good luck

 

After I got new tires, I lowered the pressure down to about 31-32psi - if I go any higher when the truck is unloaded the truck is VERY bouncy.

If you are feeling a hop, jack the rear of the truck up, have someone put it in gear and give it some gas and watch the tire to see if hops up and down compared to a point on the frame, then look at it from behind to see if it wobbling from side to side.

You can also have it road forced balanced - a machine pushes on the tire replicating the weight of the truck as it balanced. This allows the tire to be balanced the best possible way on the wheel.

 

Guys

Thanks for the suggestions. As soon as it warms up a bit, I will give things a try.

FYI talked to the guys at the tire shop, Mr Gee's, and they recommend that I run the tires in the 40 to 45 psi range. They were concerned that the sidewall wont get enough support below 40. These guys have been pretty good about things in the past, so I did what they said. Was suprised at the changes I noticed, bouncing got worse, but my steering feels a bit lighter.

Contoocook, very cool. I had a suspision, I may have seen your truck before. Ever been up at Middle Dam on the Richardson Lakes, in Maine. Your truck reminds me of one I encountered up there a couple summers ago. What are you running for shocks?

Thanks

 

Ford recommends 35 psi (cold) in our trucks - I think the tires guys may be a little too pessimistic about the durability of the sidewalls.

I also have a problem with the bouncing, and the tire shop I went to recomended I lower the air pressure in the rear tires even more to try to help. All that did was increase the wear on the tires.

 

I like mine, i run them @35P.S.I

 

Ford recommends 35 p.s.i. for the tires that come on the truck. If you replace the tires with something other than the stock brand/size/load range/etc., you should adhere to the p.s.i. recommended on the sidewall of the tire . There are many different tire types that can be put on a f-150 and the manufacturer of the tire designs it to perform to certain standards and air pressure affects that perticular tire's characteristics. Vehicle manufacturers cannot possibly encompass all the possible tire pressures in their recommendations, so they only give pressure recommendations for the stock tire that comes on the vehicle.

It amazes me that ppl just don't get this concept.

Example: Ford recommends 87 octane for the engine, but if you install a SuperChip, you have to run the octane recommended by SuperChips (91 or better). You have changed the stock ECU characteristics with the chip, just as you have changed the tires' characteristics when you change tires.

 

Rebel ,
Hey Good point's.
What are you running you 285/70/17 BFG's at ?

I probably asked you this already, but are you planning on staying with stock rim's or going to aftermarket ?

I can't beleive the difference in appearance that those 285's made on my truck. Even with the stock 10 spoke's it look's so much better.

~Fall~

 

Fall...

Yeah, i think you asked me or maybe asked us all about stock rims. Anyway I will stay with the chrome factory wheels. they look pretty good in my opinion. Good enough that I can't justify the unbelievable price of wheels to buy new ones.

I love the look of the 285's, but after seeing that FASTRNU put 315's on his with just a little valance trimming, I kinda wish I had gotten 315's instead. Have you seen the pics he posted? Looks great!. Except for he mounted them black letter out. (I prefer the white letter out myself.)

Do you check your fuel mileage? Was crious how much of a decrease in mileage you experienced after going up in tire size. Mine dropped from almost 15 to around 13 (odometer not corrected though).

 

My truck is to new yet to tell about the milage. I'll keep ya posted on that. I did'nt really notice any power loss. I think the 3.73's help with that though. I know what you mean about the stock rim's. I know you don't like the 10 spoke's but with the tire's they look pretty good. Don't know if I can justify for rim's either,but I will keep looking in case something strike's me. I think the A/R Atlas polished would look good though. It get's tempting.

Later...Fall

 

Fall...

i don't think I said I didn't like the 10-spokers. If I did, I didn't mean to. I just think they look a little..ummm....fancy, I guess is the word. As long as you like them, that is all that matters.
Oh yeah, the A/R atlas is a great looking wheel. If I did intend to change wheels, that would definitely be on my list of possibles!

3:73 gears! Man, I wish I had that gearing! Don't think it was offered in '01 for the SCrews. Wonder why, since you can get it on the SC or reg. cab?

 

Ford recommends 35 psi max/cold in the stock "P" passenter type tires most (not all) F150's come with, which is what is printed on the tires, 35psi MAX.

My LTX A/T's are a "LT" type, 6 ply, C load rated, 50 psi MAX. When empty I run them at 46 psi front, and 40 psi rear for a good ride. When loaded up, its 50 psi all around, for much better load handling than the original passenger tires. Never had a problem with bouncing with either the stock P tires or after market LTX A/T's when inflated to match conditions.

The most (not all) BFG A/Ts are also a "LT" type, 8 ply, D load rated, 65 psi MAX.

"LT", 10ply, E load rated tires have a 80 psi MAX rating.

You should always adjust the tire psi for your truck load, type of tire, and even tire wear, and handling needed for your truck.

What is printed on the truck door panal ONLY applies to the original stock tires.

 

You should NOT use the max rating on the tire unless you are hauling a load. If you look on the tire it gives a load rating with the MAXIMUM pressure rating (i.e. - do not exceed). If you run less than the max psi, then you can't haul the full rating of the tire. If you run the max pressure all the time you will have excessive wear in the center of the tire. If you run too little pressure you will have excessive wear on the edges.

It amazes me that ppl just don't get this concept.

My truck came with LT tires and it still has a recomended pressure of 35 psi. I run about 31-32 psi for everyday driving, increase to 50 psi when hauling, and when playing in the dirt I drop them to 20-25 psi.

A 'C' rated tire will have max cold pressure of 50 psi regardless of the manufacture. A 'D' rated tire will always have a max psi of 65, and an 'E' rated tire will always have ~85 psi (off of the top of my head) max cold pressure. This is not the manufactures recomended pressure to run all the time.