Greetings - I finally replaced my 245's with 265's and they really look better on this truck. The tires I just replaced were BFG TA KO's, and I now have the Goodyears. I'm using the OEM rims. The new tires are definitely quieter and have a softer ride. But, the truck now handles somewhat mushy - definitely not as tight at with the BFG's - and I'm wondering if this is normal for these tires? Or, is it related to the wider, taller tire on the 6.5" OEM rims? I'm thinking the softer ride is the result of more flexible sidewalls on the Goodyears vs. the BFG's. When I give the truck a quick and slight left-right turn of the wheel and back, the truck adds another left-right of it's own before settling back into straight and level flight. I s'pose I can get used to it but it's somewhat disconcerting at the moment. Anyone with an answer/opinon/thought on this?


Thanks!


Don

BFG have 3 ply sidewalls and i'd say the goodyears are 2 ply plus the little extra sidewall height is going to compound the squirmy feeling.


A couple of days and a little playing and the comfort level will come back.

I think it is pretty much the brand. I went from the stockers to
285/70-17 BFGs and I don't notice much difference in handling. No
side-to-side instability like you describe.



Dennis

I had that same problem with the bridgestone revos. Switched back to stock size, and though the "squirm" is still there, it isnt as bad as with the taller tire. Do a search under revo and my post should be there.

Thanks for the replies - I think it is a tradeoff between smooth, quiet ride and stiff, tight handling. I'm already getting used to it some but it still catches me by surprise sometimes. I did a trial tow of our 10k fiver Sunday and it seemed OK. Goodyear gave them to me with about 55 psi in each tire and I aired them up to 80 and it made no appreciable difference in what I was feeling. So, I'll run them for awhile and see how they do.


Thanks again!

I run my Goodyear AT/S tires at 45 front/40 rear (when unloaded). Ride is great. If I go higher, it gets squirmmy.



L8r

I noticed a little more squirm with revos 265's but I put the pressure
up to the same as I ran the stock 245's and they feel great.

I have Wrangler AT/S 275/65R18s on my truck they are squirmy
while braking hard and seem to be wearing fast. I'll be replacing
them with something else when the time comes....

Ox

When you guys changed to different size tires did you maintain the same load rating? If not, it would certainly help explain the different feel.

JMPDMAX - Interesting - I would expect just the opposite. Goodyear sent me home with them at 55 psi and I upped them to 80 psi and noticed no difference. I just completed an 800 mile r/t tow with the 5'er and found it handled fine. I think I'm getting used to them, though. Now that I'm done with the 5'er, I'll lower the pressure to what you're running and try that.


Mav3 - I kept the E load rating on the 265's. That's the main reason I switched from BFG as they don't make an E rated 265 in their AT.


I just finished a hunt in SD this week and drove off road, including up some pretty good inclines and never needed 4wd - 2wd worked fine with these tires. That part is very nice - as it was with the BFG's. And, the Wranglers are much smoother and very much quieter. I don't know if I would have shot any better with BFG's on my truck, though. A few roosters still flying that shouldn't be http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley1.gif


Thanks again to all!