ok i just put on 2 235/85/16 BF goodrich AT Ko, on the back of my truck and the fronts are 255/70/16 some off brand HT, but after they where installed i started driving and at about 60ish it i turned the wheel at all the back felt like it was trying to swing over infront of me, it felt like i went from true truck tires to a pair of Bicycle tires . does this sound like Under/over inflation, a weak suspension or just the tires.


also it never did this before with 255/70/16 ht's on the back

 

I run 80 psi in the rear at all times 45 up front what are yours at? tire stores sometimes just put in 35 psi in everthing.

 

at first i was running 80 in the rear then cut it back to 55 and it cut down on it some and the front is 45

 

You ve got the right idea on the tires. Play around with the inflation pressure. New aggressive tires, even the All terrains tend to squirm a lot when new. I take a piece of chaulk and rub it all the way across the tread area of the tires and keep adjusting the pressure until I get a good contact pattern all the way across the tire. The "Pizza Cutter" tires on the rear and wider tires on the front is also part of the reason it squirms around. The 255's are an inch or so wider than the 235's. You may not get what you want in handling with that set up no matter how much air is in them.

 

I will bet that your 255-70-16 tires are plain old P255-70-16, and your new 235-85-16 tires are Load Range E, ten ply rated, LT235-85-16.

I have never seen a 255-70-16 that was anything other than P=passenger rated.

If this be the case, it will not perform as it should until you get the LT=Light Truck tires all the way around.

Look at your tires and let us know if your 255s are P or LT, just for curiousity sake.

 

I have noticed tire shops around here pump the tires up to 80psi, just because it says max inflation blah, blah, blah. I run the fronts at about 55-60; rears when not towing around 50-55; 80 when loaded. I have never had a problem with new tires squirming, but then tires would be hard to differentiate from the rest of the qulaity suspension and steering.

Daniel

 

I bought 265/75/16 b.f. goodrich commercial t/a's and I feel like I'm driving on marbles,I'm running 60 psi in them.I wonder if I should change the pressure? marc

 

Try the chaulk trick. If the edge of the tire isn't rubbed off after a very short straight run, try dropping the pressure a little at a time until it does. The recommended tire pressure on the door sill is usally for a full load. If I run 80 on the rear I need about three tons of brick back there to even things out. I'm running 42 in the duals and 65 on the front. I'm thinking about dropping the rear some more just to ease the ride some more. I will need tires before the next state inspection in June. I'm looking at the BF Goodrich commercial traction tread. They are the cheapest thing in town right now. $804.00 mounted and balanced out the door

 

These are my thoughts!! The only LT rated 255/70/16 I have seen is the BFG A/T, which is only a load range C. I honestly think the two tires are working against each other. I would compare it to walking down the street with a different type of shoe on each foot. You need to get two more of the BFG A/T in the the load range E for the front.

 

Boatnic,I'm also running commercial t/a's on my ford 1 ton,I've got about 50,000 on them right now and have no problems at all.Good wearing tires Imo,I didn't have the marble feeling with my dually that I had with my dodge,when it dries out I think I'll try the chalk trick. marc

 

The more I think about it the more I agree with merrillr4. You should probably go ahead and replace the front tires too. What you have may be an accident waiting to happen. Even a couple of used 235/85's would be better in this case.

 

That review on the commercial T/A's makes me feel better. I think I will shop around and see what I can get them for locally. The truck is my daily driver and I don't want to make a thousand dollar mistake. I hope you find that happy medium on the tires.

 

I know buying 4 tires is hard to do,but 6 is a tough pill to swallow,good luck with your purchase. marc

 

I'm running on Toyo open country 10 plys all 4 @ 80psi. As long as i stay on pavement i'm good

 

We have three tires on our floor that sell themselves; all we have to do is point the customer in their direction and not say a thing.

The three are:

TOYO Open Country HT, especially in size 235-85-16, many old-time Michelin men have switched to them and not looked back.


MAXXIS BUCKSHOT MUDDER, wears like iron and will climb a tree.


WANLI 7.50R-16 Rib Load Range G/14PR, the absolute best looking gooseneck trailer tire I have ever laid eyes on; sell a man a set of these and he no longer looks in the mirror and wonders if the trailer tires are going flat; they stand up and carry the load.