racsw

Hello,
The BFG tire, although extremely popular, has some historical balance issues. I would really appreciate feedback from current owners of BFG's concerning tire model, tire size, steel or alloy rims, and the amount of beads or Equal that it took you to get the tire running smoothly.
I'm trying to develop some historical data for other customers when they order beads for these type tires to make sure they get the correct amount. The data will be eventually posted on-site.
Your help is greatly appreciated. You can email me direct at:

robert@innovativebalancing.com

or reply to this thread.

Thanks,
Robert

gamiller31

I have BFG Long Trail TA 265/75/r16 on stock steel rims. Each wheel has about 10 ounces of lead, so they are not well balanced tires from the factory. I have never tried the beads, but would like to.

racsw

I guess I had better say thanks to everyone all at once, so I don't waste thread space doing that for eveybody that contributes

My thanks to all.

Robert

CrewCabCummins

I run 35's on mine.. I just replaced the rear's.. one used 4 ounces and the other one ASKED for 10 ounces .. So the guy turned the tire 180 deg and then it only wanted 4 1/2 ounces. I run 16.5 alloy with all terrain tire. I'm gonna try those bead's... Someday

surfram

I worn out several sets of 285/75/16 BFG ATs on my 1998 1500. I never had any problems with them and they were probably the best sand/snow tires I ever ran. I will probably put 285/70/17s on my new truck but I have been considering the new Nitto Terra Grappler size of 295/70/17.

BIGHEAD

I am running 305 BFG M/T's. They are great. When I balanced them up, 2 of them took less than an ounce of weight. One was 1.5 oz & the other maybe 2.25. I thought that was quite amazing for the kind of tire they are. My next set will be another of the same set. I try to remember to rotate them every 5000 miles. My tires ride great.

CDRAM

I run 35 bfg m/t's , I 'm balanced with 8 oz. equal all the way around. Best tires I've ran yet.

racsw

I can't assume anything here for the data, so would you guys please post the actual tire size?
"35's" doesn't give me enough information.

surfram, need the weight it took to balance your tires.

Thanks again,
Robert

racsw

bighead,
Are these 305/75/R16?

Robert

racsw

crewcabcummins
are these 235/75/R16.5?

Robert

racsw

Well, we live and learn...

After a phone call, I find out that "35's" mean 35x12.50R16.5D

That is one big tire

Robert

pind

I hae run BFG Mud T/A's on all of my 4x4's over the years, 33/12.50/16.5 and 35/12.50/16.5 on my 85 GMC gasser, and now 285/75/16 (33.10 inch overall height ) on my 01 quad cab diesel. Yes, I have had minor balance issues over the years, but, with an occasional rebalance, they have done well. The 35's on the old gasser didn't do badly at all, never did have those ones re balanced, and got over 150,000 on and off road km on them. The 33's on that truck did 200,000 km, and the 285's on the new truck are at 74,000 and still well over 50% tread left.
I work these trucks and tires, through ice, snow, sand, mud, stumps, rocks, etc, and they do very very well for me.
Overall, I think the M/T's are a good choice, however, I did find out that the A/T's wear out wayyyyyy too fast.

Just my $.02

John_P

racsw:

I have run the BFG All-Terrain KO 285/75R/16 tires on my
1996 Dodge CTD almost since it was brand new. The truck
has over 230,000 total miles now and it has probably had
five to six sets of them on it since new. I am running a
Sendel Aluminum Wheel (16X9) and this combination
generally needs about 6-7 ounces of weight on each
wheel/tire. Occasionally over the years I would get a
"bad" tire which would sometimes have to have 10
ounces on it, but very rarely. IMO, the BFG All-Terrains
wear very, very well and I get around 40,000 miles
per set, however, my experience has been that you
have to keep them rotated and balanced (about
every 5,000) to get that type of wear from them.

Hope this data has helped you some.

---------
John_P

ddestruel

I have run 3 sets of 285/75 R16's 1 was the old style and the othere sets were the KO style. The KO's were a definate improvement. I am now on my third set of 315/75 R16's My last set had horrible problems with two bad tires and over 14 oz of lead to balance them in 18oz on one and it still beat you to death.

But that was and unusual set, had a sidewall blow out too at 35000 miles from the one that always vibrated, when i finally got rid of them, Les Schwab would never stand behind replacing them they said they were within spec's, Guess i won't be buying from Les schwab again. I think they were a bad batch because my current ones run straight down the road (no pulling), all used 2-8 oz of lead to balance out. typical life span at 75-80% wear is 45000-50000 miles consistantly. And in all the miles of running them i have never had the problems that i had with the last set. I rarely have time to rotate them so two or three rotations in a life is all they get. I imagine the life would longer if they could be rotated more often

These are run on 16x8 American racing aluminium Outlaw II wheels. I have run the 315's on 16x10's and did not like the way the tire tracked and wandered the 16x8 has been a better combination

Excellent Snow, Ice and mild-moderate off road tire very stable while towing heavy loads even with a GN.

BIGHEAD

Hey ROBERT, they are the 305/70/16's which are 33 inches tall. The BFG 315/16's are 35 inches tall. The bfg 285/75/16's are 33 inches but just a little skinnier than the 305's. I don't know why you guys are having to put so much weight on these tires. I have balanced several sets, with none over 4 ozs. Oh well, who knows? For what they cost, they ought to be perfect out of the molds, RIGHT?