Discount Tire Policy Problem

[VegasDMax]

First the background:

I have 285-75-R16 tires mounted on the factory 6.5 inch wheels. I bought these at Discount a little over 18 months years ago. Now, I've identified one of the tires with some kind of balance problem. It balances okay on their machine, but on the truck, it produces a come & go vibration that sometimes is pretty severe. On a recent trip to Cedar City, the truck was smooth on the way up, but on the way back I stopped 3 times to look at the tires because of the severe vibrations. I identified the bad tire by swapping the spare around until the vibration stopped. This tire has nothing visibly wrong, it's not perfectly round, but it's very close to perfect.

Anyway, long story short, I just want to buy a new tire of the same type to replace it. Now Discount tells me they can no longer mount a new tire of that size on that rim, as it's a safety issue. The tech told me this is a company policy, not a federal law or anything. Does anyone know a tire shop in Vegas that will mount the tire for me?

I have no real quarrel with Discount, they can make any company policy they want. But I've had two of these trucks with the PYO wheels, and on each truck I've had the 285 tires. I've lost count, but I think I've had 6 sets all together. I've never had any kind of problem related to the wheel size. If it's truly a safety issue, somebody show me the accident report where the fault was placed on the 285 tire/6.5 inch rim.

I would just like to solve my balance problem for the moment and when I need a new set of tires, I'll worry about the issue again at that time.

Thanks for any help...

[heymccall]

We talked about mounting non-recommended sizes here. 285/75-16's on my Burb
Still looking for "proof".

Find someone else with a "road force balancer" in your area.
try here http://www.gsp9700.com/search/findgsp9700.cfm

[VegasDMax]

Originally Posted by heymccall

We talked about mounting non-recommended sizes here. 285/75-16's on my Burb
Still looking for "proof".

Thanks McCall, I know the issue has been discussed here before. But my favorite Discount Tire mounted those tires even after I had seen on here that company policy wouldn't allow it. I'm just trying to get a problem fixed without having to get 4 wheels or 4 new downsized tires.

Originally Posted by heymccall

Find someone else with a "road force balancer" in your area.
try here http://www.gsp9700.com/search/findgsp9700.cfm

All the Discount Tire locations in Vegas are listed as having these balancers. Are you suggesting the one I'm using has something wrong with it? I even tried balancing beads in my tires and they didn't help. Discount removed the balancing beads for this one in their last balancing try.

[heymccall]

If you can drive 2.5 hours with no issues, yet, turn around and drive the other way with a horrible shake, logic dictates that it MAY not be the tire. A cold tire is more apt to shake that a warm one is.

A tire balancer is only as good as A) it's calibration, and b) the technician using it (especially selecting and using the proper hub adapters). If nothing else, a road force balancer will indicate how many lbs of variation there are in that tire. I believe that anything over 20# is unacceptable, but 10# and under is preferred. Did they share how many #'s of force were still present?

Can you have it checked at another store (Discount or otherwise)? Could you not "convince" them to pursue the matter further?

Heat over time would be where the issue arises (in my mind), leading me to suspect dragging a brake or a dry U-joint, both of which can be checked with an inexpensive point and shoot laser thermometer, after taking a longer drive.

[Dmax 5th Wheel]

I knw of a place (In Vegas) thatll mount the tire(s) not sure if they are still open nut I can give the address if youd like? When I find it I'll post it.

[VegasDMax]

Originally Posted by heymccall

If you can drive 2.5 hours with no issues, yet, turn around and drive the other way with a horrible shake, logic dictates that it MAY not be the tire. A cold tire is more apt to shake that a warm one is.

I agree with you in principal, but it doesn't always work that way. Sometimes it shakes when cold, but sometimes it takes a while. It's totally illogical. This truck is very well maintained, and your suggestion further down in your post about a dragging brake or some other heat source near the tire isn't the case. The vibration follows the tire too. It was on the front going to Cedar City, but on the back today as I drove to LA and back. It still shook at random times, although you can't feel it as much on the rear, you can tell it's back there instead of the front now. I've spent a lot of time isolating to this tire, and though it will cost me money, to me the next logical step is to replace it and see what happens.

Originally Posted by heymccall

A tire balancer is only as good as A) it's calibration, and b) the technician using it (especially selecting and using the proper hub adapters). If nothing else, a road force balancer will indicate how many lbs of variation there are in that tire. I believe that anything over 20# is unacceptable, but 10# and under is preferred. Did they share how many #'s of force were still present?

Good thoughts - no they haven't shared any of that info with me. I assume those force figures are before balancing? Seems strange you could take away 10# of force with a couple ounces of weight.

Dmax 5th Wheel - If you post the address, I'll check them out.

[heymccall]

Originally Posted by VegasDMax

Good thoughts - no they haven't shared any of that info with me. I assume those force figures are before balancing? Seems strange you could take away 10# of force with a couple ounces of weight.

Bottom paragraphs here http://www.gsp9700.com/technical/4202T/5THEO004.htm

RFM limits
http://www.gsp9700.com/technical/limits.htm

[sfcjones]

FWIW they will not road force a tire unless you asked them too, and it generally cost a few bucks more to do this....

[Franka548]

VegasDmax,
Make sure to check the wheel for cracks, it is possible that the tire is ok, and a cracked center in the wheel will give you random vibrations depending on its loading, including side loads.
Frank

[VegasDMax]

Originally Posted by Franka548

VegasDmax,
Make sure to check the wheel for cracks, it is possible that the tire is ok, and a cracked center in the wheel will give you random vibrations depending on its loading, including side loads.
Frank

It's been in the back of my mind that it could be the wheel. They dismounted the tire to take my balancing beads out, you would think they would have checked the wheel. Wouldn't it lose air through most any crack? It doesn't. If it is the wheel, I might as well buy wider ones and avoid the width/policy problem.