Yesterday I had the stock tires replaced with Goodyear Silent Armor 265/75R16 "E" tires on stock rims (I assume 16 x 6.5"). I seem to be getting a significant amount of sidewall flex with these. As soon as I am carrying any speed at all, any quick lane changes or turning and it feels like the back end is a half second late to follow.

I realize there are a lot of posts related to tires (brand vs. brand, 245 vs. 265, etc.). Prior to my purchase I read a lot on this forum and others about the experiences others have had with 265's on these stock rims. Seems to me that most praised the Silent Armors although I know some suggested they wear quickly. I don't recall anyone mentioning bad sidewall flex with these. Anyone else experience this?

I tow a 34' fifth wheel with a 2200# pin, but haven't hooked up yet with the new rubber. The sidewall flex is with the truck empty. At this point I am seriously considering dropping back to 245's since I can't afford new rims right now. I really don't like the small size though! (argh!).

Makes one wish GM just put 7" or 7.5" rims on the classics even if they put the 245's on stock! I too am on the fence all summer whether to go with 265's and maybe spring for wider rims or just change the Bridgestone m773's to something better and keep the 245 size.

:rant: I soooo wish the rims were wider. Like others have said - I feel like a nerd when I pull up beside someone's half ton and my awesome Heavy Duty Diesel truck has such tiny skins. Aaaargh !!! I think I'm getting them swapped back to Silent Armor 245's. :bawl::bawl::bawl::bawl:

Exact same problem with my Cooper 265's. You need to really play around with the air pressure. Also, I changed to Bilstein yellows and that made a huge difference. Go figure.

I also just put on 265's but haven't had the sidewall flex,Toyo Open country A/t (e).very happy with so far. Al;)

You want the the sidewall to flex. Otherwise you will jar your teeth everytime you hit a bump. There is naturally going to be more flex in a larger tire, because there is more sidewall there to flex. The tread is not really moving, just the sidewall moving back and fourth a little more than before. Also, the fact that 265's need to be on a 7 to 8 inch rim will have a little to do with that. I have them on my truck and they seem fine to me.

The longer you drive them the better they will feel. After a while, you won't even notice it. They may take a little while to get used to. I never noticed a change when I switched.

I run 50 to 55 psi in the front and 35 to 40 in the rear when not hauling or pulling, 65 in rears when pulling.

Exact same problem with my Cooper 265's. You need to really play around with the air pressure. Also, I changed to Bilstein yellows and that made a huge difference. Go figure.


I found the same thing with the Michelins when I first had them installed. Eventually, I found that 55 front and 65 rear stopped the wandering feeling on the highway when changing lanes.

I was ready to go out and buy another set of 245's at first also.

It all depends on sidewall flex and tire pressure.

My wifes jeep has load rang "B" tires on them and there is some gawd aweful tire sidewall flex on those things. I think its more tire specific then size specific.

What people fail to realize is that different size tires are usually made differently. (IE a 245 may load range E may have a different tread pattern than a 265 or 285 load range E for example).

Make sure those side walls are 3 ply and not 2 ply. That will make a big difference as well.

However, you said that they were load E range tires which *should* be ok, but then again its tire / air pressure specific. So check the tire pressure and see if u are running ~55 front / ~50 rear.

Also there is "tread squirm" that you can get for the first few hundred miles until the compound heats up and basically "finishes" the Vulcanization process. (cureing of the rubber to a harder compound).

I think you really need to give the tires a thousand miles or so before you judge them.

I put chrome Dodge wheels with 265/70/17s on them over a year ago and have been very pleased with them other than the worthless tread pattern on the michelin LTX A/S tires. I just can't wear them out though, not enough HP (bone stock)?

I am planning on replacing them with Silent Armor ATs when I can justify it.

So - visited the tire shop yesterday. They are willing to be very accommodating about switching them out, but their first comment was "lots of people change to 265's and nobody has come in with this problem". I had one of their techs drive the truck with me and the problem was VERY noticable. This isn't just a "bit" of roll.

He suggested, however, that the delayed response may not be tire roll (or at least not all of it). They did a wheel alignment for me at the time and he says that certain toe-in or toe-out adjustments may cause this. Anyway - scheduled for a re-alignment with this in mind. They will still help me out if it doesn't work.

Duromax04 - you said you didn't notice a problem when you put yours on. I would suggest that you didn't have the same problem then. This is quite noticable - even by the shop's tech when he drove it. In my opinion it is also quite unacceptable in its current state. I agree with some of the posters that it is probably a combination of tread flex, sidewall flex and newness of the tire. Higher air pressures should undo some of it - but I am running 60 and 80 since I expected to be towing my 5'er this weekend.

Thanks all - for the input. Off to check on alignment possibilities now...

I've 255/85-16 and they've got a lot of sidewall, they actually handle better IMO than the 285/70-17 I run for summer tires.

I also have had the new tire squirm w/ the BFGs before and it goes away after a week or so.
I also run 50 or so psi unless I'm pulling trailer then go up to 65.

Welcome to the squirmy tire club. I have had the EXACT same problem... my story is that I bought a set of dodge 17" wheels and they came with the lousy Michelin LTX A/S tires - last forever but no winter traction...

So I figured I'd change them out for a set of Bridgestone REVO's based on all the praise they get on the www.tirerack.com and places like that. BUT if you read the reviews carefully, most of the guys with the 3/4 ton trucks DONT like them due to the sidewall flex problem. I bought a set of 265/70/17 load range E REVO's for the truck and got rid of them after a few weeks...

And I replaced them with 285/70/17 Load Range D tires - Goodyear Silent Armor's... well - they have a little less of the sidewall flex than the REVO's but they still have it and it's noticable. The 285's also rub - but only on the aftermarket sway bars... (Hellwig sway bars on the truck).

So at this point I'm thinking that probably most tires have this problem, except ones that probably suck in the winter.

I have lowered the air pressure in the tires and I'm still experimenting with it... so far I'm debating if I want to keep the 285's or go back down to a 265. The good thing is both Bridgetone and Goodyear have 30 day ride guarantee's on their tires, which means the tire store will take them back and exchange for something else.

Tread squirm can happen with new tires and like stated already, give the tires some miles to firm up. I run 265's on stock wheels with no issues at all. They handle the 2000+ pin weight of my 5er without a hickup.

give them a couple hundred miles or so. the cords have to have time to "wear in". i learned this in a goodyear tire seminar years ago. you can play with pressures, but during break in it is best to let them run at the suggested psi.