Bridgestone/Flintstone tires?
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,053
Likes: 29
From: lyman, utah
Many will flame me off of my stump for stating this; but, here goes.
It is a bad mistake to attempt to adjust ride quality by lowering tire air pressures.
The absolute best pressure to run in a tire, especially failure-prone radial tires, is the maximum stamped on the sidewall, and then some in my case.
If a vehicle then rides/drives peculiarly, there is probably something(s) worn out that just hasn't been found yet.
To improve the ride of a 4x4, replace the negative-arch springs with a set of positive arch and you will think it is a Cadillac.
Every day, we replace a set of P-rated tires that someone, usually a car-dealer, has installed on a 3/4 or 1-ton truck, in an attempt to save money.
In every case, the owner is complaining of the truck squirming around, following ruts, and laying over in curves.
Put him on a set of LR-Es and 80PSI and problem solved.
I will also say this:
You have named the two worst tire brands that I have ever dealt with, except General, and they don't count.
Firestone truck tires will fly apart, taking mirrors, lights, fenders, and fuel-lines with them.
Many is the Firestone that has completely shed it's tread, leaving only the casing.
In their defense, nobody makes a better BIAS tire than Firestone.
Their farm and mining/logging tires are second to none; they just can't make a radial.
It is a bad mistake to attempt to adjust ride quality by lowering tire air pressures.
The absolute best pressure to run in a tire, especially failure-prone radial tires, is the maximum stamped on the sidewall, and then some in my case.
If a vehicle then rides/drives peculiarly, there is probably something(s) worn out that just hasn't been found yet.
To improve the ride of a 4x4, replace the negative-arch springs with a set of positive arch and you will think it is a Cadillac.
Every day, we replace a set of P-rated tires that someone, usually a car-dealer, has installed on a 3/4 or 1-ton truck, in an attempt to save money.
In every case, the owner is complaining of the truck squirming around, following ruts, and laying over in curves.
Put him on a set of LR-Es and 80PSI and problem solved.
I will also say this:
You have named the two worst tire brands that I have ever dealt with, except General, and they don't count.
Firestone truck tires will fly apart, taking mirrors, lights, fenders, and fuel-lines with them.
Many is the Firestone that has completely shed it's tread, leaving only the casing.
In their defense, nobody makes a better BIAS tire than Firestone.
Their farm and mining/logging tires are second to none; they just can't make a radial.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,457
Likes: 95
From: KENTUCKY
Mostly personal observations and experience, my own and that of others I must deal with every day.
I was born behind, and grew up in, a big full service tire business, servicing everything from hand-dolly tires to huge rear tractors, and all in between.
What I have stated may just be my opinion; but, it is an opinion cemented in numerous years of first hand experience of what works and what doesn't.
"The customer is always right"; but, I have seen a lot of them be "right" to their own expense.
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 620
Likes: 0
From: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
I put 55,000 scary miles on a set of Firestone Steelteks(spelling?), company truck, E350 van. That edited by admin thing swam all over the place, no matter what tires pressures were. I tried different pressures etc. Hated them. This last CTD I bought had a set on it with decent tread, I picked it up 750 miles from home and my first thought was to replace them as soon as I got home. They were fine, not so much as a drift even, no weird swimming action either. My only experience with Firstones, still don't know what to think, I doubt I would chance it purchasing them now though.
Last edited by Totallyrad; Jun 25, 2007 at 10:38 PM. Reason: Profanity
Thread Starter
Administrator
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,084
Likes: 235
From: Southern California
Well I think I found my problem, today I went to my tire shop Tucker Tire
http://www.tuckertirecompany.com/ind...&id=3&Itemid=5
that I pretty much have been going to since back in 1968 and ask the guy at the counter why my truck rides so bad and if I thought they were the tires, he came out and looked at them and said Yes it is those Bridgestone’s they are really good tires but out of everything we have sold they have the stiffest sidewalls of any 10 ply rated tire. He said they will ride fine on a big RV with a lot of overhang and weight but they will beat you to death on a pickup with a stiff suspension. He also said the earlier generation of the same tire was not as bad so that is why my previous set were survivable.
He said they do not stock them any more but they are available on order.
So I ask what can I do about it and he said he would buy back my tires and I could get a new set or I could buy a new set and still get a good deal on them So I will probably sell my 6 tires and get some new ones next week.
The ones I am looking at getting are the LT12585R16 LTX M/S Michelin E rated tires.
http://www.michelinman.com/overview/ltx_m_s/27.html
Has anyone had any experience with these particular ones?
Jim
Any feedback on Continental tires?
http://www.tuckertirecompany.com/ind...&id=3&Itemid=5
that I pretty much have been going to since back in 1968 and ask the guy at the counter why my truck rides so bad and if I thought they were the tires, he came out and looked at them and said Yes it is those Bridgestone’s they are really good tires but out of everything we have sold they have the stiffest sidewalls of any 10 ply rated tire. He said they will ride fine on a big RV with a lot of overhang and weight but they will beat you to death on a pickup with a stiff suspension. He also said the earlier generation of the same tire was not as bad so that is why my previous set were survivable.
He said they do not stock them any more but they are available on order.
So I ask what can I do about it and he said he would buy back my tires and I could get a new set or I could buy a new set and still get a good deal on them So I will probably sell my 6 tires and get some new ones next week.
The ones I am looking at getting are the LT12585R16 LTX M/S Michelin E rated tires.
http://www.michelinman.com/overview/ltx_m_s/27.html
Has anyone had any experience with these particular ones?
Jim
Any feedback on Continental tires?
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,457
Likes: 95
From: KENTUCKY
Continental is General's new name.
We had so much negative feedback, on the one's that we stocked, that when we got a chance to return them for credit, we jumped at it.
Many new vehicles now come equipped with Continentals, especially SUVs.
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
From: Placerville, Ca.
Many will flame me off of my stump for stating this; but, here goes.
It is a bad mistake to attempt to adjust ride quality by lowering tire air pressures.
The absolute best pressure to run in a tire, especially failure-prone radial tires, is the maximum stamped on the sidewall, and then some in my case.
It is a bad mistake to attempt to adjust ride quality by lowering tire air pressures.
The absolute best pressure to run in a tire, especially failure-prone radial tires, is the maximum stamped on the sidewall, and then some in my case.
I fully disagree with you on this statement about running at the max. air pressure
Every vehicle manufacture has a "recommended" tire psi, and that is what the tire should be set at, as long as the tire is the same as the recoomended size listed on the spec card from the manufacture.
Tire manufactures list a max psi for under load conditions for that tires construction, they have no idea what vehicle you are putting the tire on or the loads you will be carrying.
Extra psi in your tires (above manufacture recommended) depends on the load you are carrying.
If you run at max psi and are loaded (extra weight) you will wear your tire down the middle only and effect the wear mileage of your tires. If you then decided to warranty your tires due to mileage, the tire shops will inform you that your warranty does not cover mis-inflated tires.
Big
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
From: Placerville, Ca.
Having sold just about every tire under the sun, and discounting the fact that I am sponsored by BFG, MAXXIS and Pro Comp, the Michelins you are inquiring about are an excellent tire. If I ran stock size tires, and I was not sponsored as listed above, I would be running Michelin's
Big
Big
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
sakisaki400
3rd Generation Ram - Non Drivetrain - All Years
23
Dec 31, 2006 10:17 PM
Xplorer
Performance and Accessories 2nd gen only
6
Oct 27, 2003 09:57 PM